Time and again, a cliche details combo (in the context of Bollywood, it’s the regional profanities) not just to remain with the public but also experiences massive success throughout a whole era. The ‘Raktanchal’ drama and many other movies and shows in recent years have been created in the manner of Uttar Pradesh’s purported ever-growing underworld, ably assisted by ‘Gunda-mawalis’ and the broader heartbeat of the province.
Filmmaker Ritam Srivastav missed noticing this—the misuse of legendary diegesis and its retrofitting far too many times—because in his rookie year with the surprise pick tv adaptation, Srivastav smartly stretches himself from India’s mainland and creates a new, although not entirely new, conflict zone: Mumbai. During the first few episodes, Mumbai Police displays army professionalism in apprehending the S.G Hospital bomb incident perpetrator. And besides, a dying source told a specific police officer that the mastermind’s refuge is along the Ganga’s riverbank. In another reality, Saraswati Devi takes an unexpected political decision: Waseem Khan becomes the new Home Minister.
If the initial ‘Raktanchal’ was about one guy’s vow to revenge his family’s loss, the story develops in ‘Raktanchal 2’. “If you really want to challenge a man’s reputation, give him control,” as the adage goes.
The brilliant writing duo of Sarvesh Upadhyay and Ritam Srivastav take the risk of departing from the safer area of predictable plot turns that every writer-director would have, sensibly, opted for. However, they must be applauded for taking the risk and presenting something more daring this time around. The second series lives up to the anticipation by introducing well-rounded and interconnected plotlines and actors. Do they all make it? No. Still, the effort should be applauded.
Intercity manhunts – and Dubai Don references – aren’t new to the world, shows of Bollywood in particular, but there’s something novel about it. However, calm and devious individuals, such as Ashish Vidyarthi’s Ramanand Rai, keep its continuance interesting. Whereas a few actors have been given more prominent ‘roles’ in the second season, others remain shallow and one-dimensional.
Nikitin Dheer’s Waseem Khan has fallen to nearly zero, but the performer appears to have lost his connection with the role. Similarly, Kranti Prakash Jha is the anti-hero viewers adore to despise, but for ‘Raktanchal 2,’ he has scaled back his ferocity and absorbed an uncomfortable feeling of sogginess. These key figures are good even when they are negative: any divergence from that and they end up losing their shine.
Soundarya Sharma remains the innocent Roli, while Mahie Gill’s part does not become too chaotic or innovative. The series’s followers should be pulling for the spectacular rise of the minor character-actors: such progress, with ultimate level.
Raktanchal 2 is a refined version of every Indian ‘The Godfather,’ or ‘Pulp Fiction’ wannabe in Bollywood history. However, one may take solace because the performers haven’t modelled themselves after the world’s Pacinos and Brandos: their power resides in their toughness. A daring show, to be sure.
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
