Paatal Lok Season 1

Story:

Paatal Lok is an Indian Hindi-language crime thriller television series streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Created by Sudip Sharma, the show was written by Sharma along with Sagar Haveli, Hardik Mehta, and Gunjit Chopra and directed by Avinash Arun and Prosit Roy. Produced under the banner of Clean Slate Filmz, the series features Jaideep Ahlawat, Gul Panag, Neeraj Kabi, Swastika Mukherjee, Ishwak Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, Niharika Lyra Dutt, and Richa Chaturvedi in key roles. Loosely inspired by Tarun Tejpal’s 2010 novel The Story of My Assassins, the first season revolves around a disillusioned cop investigating an assassination attempt that takes unexpected turns.

The second season continues the story, set amidst political turmoil in Nagaland, with Ahlawat, Singh, and Panag reprising their roles. They are joined by new cast members including Tillotama Shome, Jahnu Barua, Nagesh Kukunoor, and Prashant Tamang.

The script was written in January 2017, followed by over a year of writing and pre-production. The series was shot across more than 110 real locations, making it the first series to be filmed in Chitrakoot. Cinematography was handled by Avinash Arun and Saurabh Goswami, with Sanyukta Kaza managing the editing. The background score was composed by Naren Chandravarkar and Benedict Taylor.

Paatal Lok premiered on Amazon Prime Video on May 15, 2020, and received widespread acclaim for its gripping storyline, strong performances, and compelling direction. The show was listed among the Top 10 Indian Web Series of 2020 by The Indian Express and was also recognized by Variety as one of the best international TV shows of the year.

Plot

Episode-1:

In Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishram Bhagat orchestrates the dramatic arrest of four individuals—Vishal Tyagi, Tope Singh, Mary Lyngdoh, and Kabir T.—after a high-intensity chase through the city streets. The four are charged with conspiracy to murder Sanjeev Mehra, a prominent journalist and editor-in-chief of his own national news channel. The high-profile nature of the case puts pressure on law enforcement, and the investigation is assigned to seasoned yet overlooked policeman Hathi Ram Chaudhary, along with his junior partner Imran Ansari.

As Hathi Ram and Ansari begin their investigation, they initially suspect Tope Singh to be the ringleader and work to establish connections between the four suspects. Meanwhile, Sanjeev Mehra faces his own challenges, entangled in a power struggle with his media bosses who are attempting to push him out of the network. His personal life is equally turbulent, as his marriage to Dolly Mehra is strained due to her ongoing battle with severe anxiety.

During their background checks, Hathi Ram and Ansari uncover that Vishal Tyagi, one of the accused, is a notorious criminal with a history of violent murders, yet he has never been apprehended before. This revelation intensifies the gravity of the case. The officers present this information to Sanjeev Mehra, but they struggle to establish a clear motive or any direct link between the suspects and the planned assassination attempt. With no apparent connections and mounting external pressure, the case quickly grows more complex, forcing Hathi Ram and Ansari to dig deeper into the shadows of the criminal underworld.

Episode-2:

As the investigation progresses, Hathi Ram Chaudhary and his team uncover that the four arrested individuals—Vishal Tyagi, Tope Singh, Mary Lyngdoh, and Kabir T.—were contacted separately and brought together to execute the murder as part of a larger, well-orchestrated plan. However, a crucial detail emerges: Tyagi was desperately trying to reach someone referred to as “Master Ji” before his arrest, suggesting that he may have been reconsidering the attack.

Determined to extract information, the police interrogate the suspects using various techniques, but their efforts yield little progress. Meanwhile, Ansari follows a lead to track down Taariq, a mechanic who was responsible for recruiting Kabir into the plot. However, before Ansari can capture him, Taariq manages to slip away, further complicating the case.

Convinced that the key to understanding Tyagi’s motivations lies in his past, Chaudhary decides to travel to Chitrakoot, the village where Tyagi spent his childhood and went to school. He hopes that uncovering Tyagi’s backstory will provide vital insights into the larger conspiracy at play.

Meanwhile, Sanjeev Mehra, struggling with both professional and personal turmoil, begins an affair with Sara Mathews, an investigative journalist at his news channel. As the case against the suspects builds, Mehra is called to the police station to identify them. However, he fails to recognize any of them, though his brief eye contact with Tyagi leaves a deep and unsettling impression on him.

Back on the field, the police conduct a search along the Yamuna River, where they successfully recover a mobile phone that Tope Singh had discarded just before his arrest. This discovery presents a potential breakthrough in the case, as the phone could contain critical evidence that ties the suspects to the larger conspiracy behind the assassination attempt.

Episode-3:

In the past, a young Vishal Tyagi commits a brutal act of vengeance by murdering three of his classmates with a hammer after they sexually assaulted his sisters. This violent act marks the beginning of his transformation into the feared criminal he would later become.

In the present, Imran Ansari travels to rural Punjab to investigate Tope Singh’s background. He uncovers that Tope was deeply involved in caste-based conflicts in his village and was ultimately forced to flee in order to escape retribution. This revelation sheds light on Tope’s troubled past and the circumstances that led him to be recruited for the assassination plot.

Meanwhile, in Chitrakoot, Hathi Ram Chaudhary digs deeper into Tyagi’s past. He learns about the school incident and how it shaped Tyagi’s life, but he also discovers that Tyagi has had no contact with his remaining family for years. As Chaudhary continues his investigation, local journalist Amitosh provides him with cryptic but valuable information, leading him to the name of a powerful businessman and politician, Gwala Gujjar. This new lead suggests that the conspiracy is much larger than initially thought.

At the same time, Sanjeev Mehra conducts his own parallel investigation into Tyagi. He instructs Sara Mathews to gather background information, which he then sensationalizes and broadcasts on primetime television. This reckless move ignites a media frenzy, putting immense pressure on the Delhi Police, who had been deliberately keeping the identities of the suspects under wraps. Mehra’s actions disrupt the investigation, forcing Chaudhary and his team to contend with mounting public scrutiny and political interference.

Episode-4:

Sanjeev Mehra, determined to hold onto his position at the news channel, resorts to blackmailing his bosses to prevent his removal. In a strategic move, he also begins working with a former rival to orchestrate a takeover of the network, further entangling himself in corporate power struggles.

Meanwhile, forensic teams successfully retrieve data from Tope Singh’s discarded phone, uncovering surveillance footage of Mehra along with personal photos of him with a girl named Chanda. This discovery raises new questions about Mehra’s connection to the case and whether he is merely a target or has deeper ties to the conspiracy.

Another revelation shakes the investigation—Mary Lyngdoh, one of the suspects, is actually transgender, with her real name being Cheeni. Following this revelation, she is transferred to the men’s holding cells, a move that sparks internal controversy and later leaks to the media, causing a fresh wave of embarrassment for the Delhi Police.

Hathi Ram Chaudhary and Ansari follow a lead to Mukesh Talreja, a Delhi-based businessman who was responsible for recruiting Cheeni into the assassination plot. However, their questioning yields no tangible results, leaving them with more questions than answers.

The case takes a darker turn when Taariq’s body is discovered at the docks. He has been strangled to death, indicating that someone is systematically eliminating key figures connected to the conspiracy.

On a personal front, Ansari finally achieves a major milestone by passing the IAS exam. However, instead of receiving congratulations from Chaudhary, he is met with a cold and distant reaction, further straining their mentor-protégé relationship.

As the Mary/Cheeni controversy spirals out of control in the media, the Delhi Police come under intense scrutiny. The fallout leads to Hathi Ram Chaudhary’s suspension, effectively removing him from the case. With mounting political pressure, the investigation is officially handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), leaving Chaudhary sidelined just as he was closing in on the truth.

Episode-5:

Hathi Ram Chaudhary, despite being suspended, desperately urges DCP Vishram Bhagat to dig deeper into the larger conspiracy at play. However, Bhagat, while acknowledging his concerns, reminds him of his current status and firmly advises him to step away. With no official role left in the investigation, Chaudhary is sent home, leaving him frustrated and powerless.

Meanwhile, Dolly Mehra discovers her husband Sanjeev’s affair with Sara Mathews, leaving her heartbroken and further straining their already fragile marriage.

Chaudhary’s personal life also spirals out of control when his rebellious son, Siddharth, reaches a dangerous breaking point. After being bullied at school, Siddharth pulls a stolen gun on a classmate. The weapon, taken from a small-time goon, lands him in serious trouble, and Chaudhary is urgently summoned to the school to deal with the fallout.

Overwhelmed by his suspension and personal struggles, Chaudhary drowns himself in alcohol, sinking into a drunken stupor. However, Ansari, despite their previous friction, steps in to cover for him. This act of loyalty bridges the growing gap between them, and the two men reconcile, restoring their once-strong partnership.

Meanwhile, the CBI’s investigation unveils a shocking revelation—a larger plot orchestrated by Pakistan’s ISI, allegedly aiming to assassinate prominent journalists and create political instability in India. The agency briefs Sanjeev Mehra about this conspiracy, but instead of handling the information discreetly, Mehra recklessly exposes the ISI’s alleged involvement on his primetime news show. His revelation forces the CBI into action sooner than planned, throwing the investigation into chaos.

At a highly publicized press conference, the CBI takes a decisive but controversial step. They claim that Kabir T., one of the four arrested suspects, is actually a Pakistani operative, presenting supposed evidence of Jihadi literature found at his residence as proof. However, Ansari immediately grows suspicious—he knows for a fact that Kabir cannot even read Urdu, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the CBI’s claims.

Sara Mathews, already skeptical of the official narrative, takes matters into her own hands. She secretly manages to obtain Chaudhary’s case notebook and begins digging deeper into the inconsistencies, determined to uncover the real truth behind the conspiracy.

Episode-6:

Unconvinced by the CBI’s terrorist narrative, Hathi Ram Chaudhary and Imran Ansari decide to conduct their own independent investigation, enlisting the help of Sara Mathews. Determined to uncover the truth, they dig into Kabir’s past and discover that his family was a victim of communal riots. His brother was killed by a violent mob, a traumatic event that shaped his life, but his father staunchly denies any claims of Kabir being radicalized or having Jihadi connections. This revelation further strengthens their belief that the CBI’s claims are fabricated.

Meanwhile, Chaudhary receives new information when a childhood friend of Cheeni reaches out to him. She shares Cheeni’s heartbreaking backstory—an orphaned vagrant who endured molestation as a child and struggled to survive. Despite her hardships, Cheeni had been working relentlessly to save enough money to escape her brutal reality, contradicting the CBI’s narrative that painted her as a hardened criminal.

In a separate development, Chaudhary’s personal life takes another violent turn. Raju, the goon from whom Siddharth stole a gun, faces pressure from his boss and retaliates by beating up Siddharth. When Chaudhary learns of this, he wastes no time in confronting Raju and his gang. He returns the stolen gun but delivers a brutal beating to the entire group, warning them that if they ever come near his son again, he will not hesitate to kill them.

Inside prison, Kabir is viciously attacked by another inmate, an incident that Chaudhary immediately suspects to be an inside job orchestrated to silence him. The attack raises further doubts about the CBI’s motives and strengthens his resolve to expose the truth.

Sara Mathews makes a crucial breakthrough in their investigation, proposing that Bajpayee, a politician from Chitrakoot with known ties to Gwala Gujjar, is the true mastermind behind the conspiracy. She asserts that the CBI’s terrorist theory is nothing but a smokescreen to divert attention from the real culprits.

Determined to verify this lead, Chaudhary revisits old newspaper archives and stumbles upon a revealing photograph. The image links Vishal Tyagi’s former high school coach to Bajpayee—an alarming connection that had been deliberately concealed. Chaudhary recalls that during their last meeting, the coach had withheld crucial details about Tyagi’s past. This new discovery suggests a far deeper and more sinister conspiracy, pushing Chaudhary closer to unearthing the truth.

Episode-7:

Back in Chitrakoot, Hathi Ram Chaudhary tracks down Tyagi’s former high school coach, determined to uncover the missing links in the conspiracy. The coach finally reveals that Bajpayee and Gwala Gujjar are merely operatives within a larger, more sinister network controlled by a powerful and enigmatic figure known as Donullia. A fearsome and reclusive overlord, Donullia wields immense influence over the region’s politics and economy, operating a parallel government from his jungle hideout, where law and order bend to his will.

The coach, who was once a policeman before becoming an informant for Donullia, had played a key role in bringing Tyagi into Donullia’s fold after the school murders. Over time, Tyagi proved his worth and ascended the ranks, becoming one of Donullia’s most trusted enforcers. The coach confirms that “Master Ji,” the figure Tyagi was desperately trying to reach before his arrest, is none other than Donullia himself. Despite his fearsome reputation, Donullia shares an unusual bond with Tyagi—both men have a deep love for dogs and live by the philosophy, “If a man loves a dog, he’s a good man.” However, the coach admits that he has lost contact with both Donullia and Tyagi in recent years and remains clueless as to why they would have wanted Sanjeev Mehra assassinated.

Meanwhile, the renewed focus on Mehra has unexpectedly benefited him. His channel, which was struggling, is now thriving, as he capitalizes on the intrigue surrounding the case. As Sara Mathews works more closely with him, she begins to see through his carefully crafted public persona. What she once believed was idealism turns out to be self-interest—Mehra is less concerned about the truth and more obsessed with boosting his own relevance and influence in the media industry.

Back in Delhi, DCP Bhagat, aware that Chaudhary has been conducting an unauthorized investigation despite his suspension, calls to warn him. He makes it clear that if Chaudhary continues down this path, he will be formally charged with insubordination, effectively ending his career. However, Chaudhary, driven by an overwhelming need to prove his worth—to himself, his family, and the system that has repeatedly undermined him—chooses to ignore the warning. Fully aware of the risks, he presses forward, determined to unravel the conspiracy, no matter the cost.

Episode-8:

Hathi Ram Chaudhary tracks down Chanda, Tope Singh’s ex-girlfriend, who is now in a relationship with Shukla, the personal assistant to Bajpayee. She reveals that her involvement in the conspiracy was unintentional—she got caught up in Shukla’s efforts to recruit Tope Singh due to their past relationship. However, she remains unaware of the true motive behind the plot, leaving Chaudhary with more questions than answers.

Suspecting a deeper connection, Chaudhary begins working on a new theory and attempts to access DCP Bhagat’s phone records. Aware of the risks, he deliberately shields Ansari from getting directly involved, knowing that such an action could jeopardize his promising career.

Meanwhile, journalist Amitosh provides Chaudhary with another crucial piece of information—there is growing tension between Gwala Gujjar and Bajpayee, with Gwala planning to contest the upcoming elections against Bajpayee. This political rivalry suggests that the conspiracy might be linked to a larger power struggle rather than just an assassination attempt.

Determined to confirm his suspicions, Chaudhary breaks into the archives in search of critical documents that could expose the truth. However, just as he uncovers key evidence, he is ambushed and kidnapped by Donullia’s henchmen, pulling him further into the shadows of the conspiracy.

Back in Delhi, Ansari, now in possession of Bhagat’s phone records, makes a game-changing discovery. The intended target of the attack was never Sanjeev Mehra—it was the four suspects in the car. Bhagat had been instructed to eliminate them in a staged police “encounter,” but the unexpected arrival of a media van at the scene prevented him from carrying out the execution. This revelation turns the entire investigation on its head, proving that the suspects were mere pawns in a much bigger game. With Chaudhary missing and time running out, Ansari is left to decide his next move, knowing that exposing the truth could have severe consequences for everyone involved.

Episode-9:

Hathi Ram Chaudhary is taken deep into Donullia’s jungle hideout, where he finally confronts Gwala Gujjar with the truth he has pieced together. In a shocking revelation, Chaudhary states that Donullia has been dead for some time, a fact that has been deliberately concealed from the world. Gwala, who harbored political ambitions, sought to capitalize on this secrecy to position himself as the new power in the region.

Bajpayee, on the other hand, was well aware of Donullia’s death and saw it as both a threat and an opportunity. His greatest fear was Vishal Tyagi, Donullia’s most ruthless and loyal enforcer. Knowing that Tyagi’s wrath could destabilize everything, Bajpayee orchestrated an elaborate plot to eliminate him. To add legitimacy to the encounter and mask the real motive, he arranged for Kabir, Cheeni, and Tope Singh to be recruited into the fake assassination attempt, making it appear as though they were part of a larger conspiracy. DCP Bhagat was instructed to execute them in a staged police encounter, but the unexpected presence of a media van at the scene disrupted the plan.

To cover up their failure, the police and CBI worked together to fabricate a false terrorist plot, shifting public attention away from the real conspiracy. The entire case had never been about Sanjeev Mehra—it had been a high-level political maneuver disguised as national security.

Realizing that Chaudhary now knows too much, Gwala briefly considers having him killed. However, always the strategist, he sees a more beneficial opportunity. Using the additional leverage Chaudhary’s findings provide, Gwala strikes a deal with Bajpayee instead of opposing him, consolidating his own power and securing a higher political position.

Back in Delhi, Bhagat informs Chaudhary that his suspension has been revoked. However, this is not a reward for uncovering the truth but rather for keeping the delicate balance of power intact. The system in place—Gwala, Bajpayee, and the illusion of Donullia’s continued influence—was considered essential for maintaining control in the region. Chaudhary is reinstated, but the corruption and deep-seated power struggles remain unchanged.

As Tyagi is being transported to court, Chaudhary, in a moment of bitter honesty, informs him that Donullia is dead. The revelation shatters Tyagi’s entire world. Having devoted his life to a man who no longer exists, he is consumed by grief and betrayal. In a desperate final act, he overpowers a policeman, steals his gun, and takes his own life, choosing death over the emptiness of his newfound reality.

Chaudhary later confronts Sanjeev Mehra, delivering a devastating truth—Mehra was never the intended target of the conspiracy. His name was merely a convenient placeholder in a far larger cover-up. This revelation deals a severe blow to Mehra’s ego, as it dismantles the illusion that he was at the center of a grand political assassination attempt. However, unwilling to let go of his newfound relevance, Mehra chooses to manipulate the narrative once more. He spins the story that Tyagi killed himself to avoid testifying, continuing to propagate the fabricated terrorist plot.

Despite knowing the truth, Chaudhary watches as the system once again reshapes reality to serve its own interests. He may have solved the case, but justice remains elusive, buried beneath layers of deception, politics, and power.