In 2020, when the first season of Paatal Lok premiered, people watched anything and everything offered on OTT platforms. After all, what else could they do, confined to their homes due to the COVID-19 lockdown? However, the series, with a then-unexciting name and Jaideep Ahlawat leading it, instantly captivated viewers. Amid a flood of crime-based stories set in Delhi’s crime scene, it turned out to be one of India’s most engaging web series. Another season was highly anticipated, and it finally arrived on 17 January 2025 on Prime Video. Trust us: every minute you spend watching it is worth your time. Why? Let’s delve into it.
The case revolves around the murder of Jonathan Thom (Kaguirong Gonmei), the founder of the Nagaland Democratic Forum (NDF), killed in Delhi before a crucial business summit aimed at securing crores of investments for Nagaland’s prosperity. Kapil Reddy (Nagesh Kukunoor) is the man in charge of facilitating a hefty investment for the state. However, Thom’s brutal murder casts doubt on the summit’s very purpose.
In Nagaland, Hathiram and Ansari, along with local officer Meghna Barua (Tillotama Shome), begin their investigation in Kohima and other local areas. The unfolding events reveal many hidden secrets from the realms of politics, daily life, and the business world.
Created by Sudip Sharma and directed by Avinash Arun and Prosit Roy, Paatal Lok 2 is a truly gripping tale spread across eight episodes. From the word go, it captures our attention. The story becomes even more engrossing when it shifts to Nagaland, a state rarely explored in Indian cinema. Hathiram and Ansari’s quest to uncover the truth behind Thom’s murder leads them to various locations, people, and possibilities. The series, seamlessly interwoven between the happenings in Nagaland and Delhi, flows smoothly throughout.
Coming to the highlights, it’s fair to say this is Ahlawat’s show all the way. He brings Hathiram to life so convincingly that it’s hard to imagine him in any other role. Season one introduced several key characters, like Sanjeev Mehra, his wife Dolly Mehra, hitman Vishal Tyagi ‘Hathoda’, and others, most of whom are missing this time—for obvious reasons. The new storyline demands a fresh perspective, characters, and backdrop. Enter Reddy, Barua, Daniel (Prashant Tamang), Asenla Thom (Rozeller Mero), Bittu Rehman (Prateek Pachauri), Esther Shipong (Mengu Suokhire), and more.
What sets the series apart and keeps us hooked is its fantastic, imaginative, and gripping narrative style. Though it’s a crime drama, it rarely goes overboard. Credit must also go to the writers—Sagar Haveli, Hardik Mehta, Gunjit Chopra, and Sudip Sharma himself, who also co-directed the series. Another major reason this season resonates is its backdrop and superb portrayal of Nagaland’s locations, life, and situations. It’s surprising why our films and series don’t explore the North-East more frequently. The effective screen presence of talented actors from that region adds to the series’ charm. We need to see more of such actors.
Besides the main plot involving Thom’s murder investigation, the series also explores Hathiram’s personal life back home. Gul Panag, as Hathiram’s wife Renu, holds this fort well, making those parts equally watchable. And finally, the climax. It’s simple but so effective. The climactic music, using the bugle and other marriage band instruments, simply blows you away!
Anushka Sharma’s Clean Slate Filmz has a winner in the Paatal Lok franchise, no doubt about it. Paatal Lok 2 is as compelling a watch as its predecessor.
Watch it!
Rating: 3.5 starsPaatal Lok 2 is available on Amazon Prime Video.
