BOTTOM LINE: More Of The Same, Even More Compelling
Skin N Swear
No Skin; Lots of Swearing; Several Instances of Violence
What Is the Story About?
Netflix’s Jamtara Season 2 picks up the threads of the story from the massive cliffhanger at the end of Jamtara Season 1. Last season showed how Sunny (Sparsh Shrivastav), his cousin Rocky (Anshumaan Pushkar) and his wife-of-convenience Gudiya (Monika Panwar) spearheaded the phishing industry in the sleepy little town of Jamtara in Jharkhand. In Season 2, the colossal phishing industry of Jamtara has become even more bloated — and professional. But murky politics and depraved politicians, Brajesh Bhaan (Amit Sial) and Ganga Devi (Seema Pahwa) have now taken over the reins of the town in Jamtara Season 2.
Performances?
Every actor in Jamtara Season 2 — even the minor ones — has put in an impressive performance in the series. Sparsh Shrivastava, Monica Panwar and Anshumaan Pushkar keep us riveted with their realistic turns in the series. Amit Sial is simply terrific in every scene he features in. Seema Pahwa is a scene-stealer even in the limited time we see her on screen. New entrant Ravi Chahar is a superb find in all aspects. He portrays his borderline psychopathic role with assured skill. Dibyendu Bhattacharya and Aksha Pardasany lend gravitas to their limited roles.
Analysis
Jamtara Season 2 arrives on Netflix at a time when hundreds of Indians have been looted of their hard-earned money by an innocuous-looking WhatsApp message asking them to pay their overdue electricity bills online. Even highly educated Indians have been scammed of lakhs from their bank accounts due to a lax in alertness.
Yes, phishing is real; and Jamtara makes it look more real and more dangerous than ever. Dare we say, Jamtara Season 2 is even more compelling and gripping than the maiden season of the show. The first season suffered from a confounding lack of direction, dips in pace and inconsistent storytelling. This time around, director Soumendra Padhi and writer Trishant Srivastava have woven a tightly wound narrative that doesn’t waver in pace, consistency or tautness. Instead, it keeps us glued to our seats, amply invested in the goings-on in the story – something that was sorely missing in Jamtara Season 1.
The excellent performances, cinematography and detailing elevate the narrative by notches. The phishing scams are even more elaborate this time around — dating apps, a Kaun Banega Crorepati scam, lottery wins – everything is fodder for the phishing cannons of Jamtara’s crime warriors. But again, like last season, the story fails to probe the deeper complexities of the phishing industry, barely skimming the tip of the iceberg.
A standout element of Jamtara Season 2 is the obsessive attention to detail in every frame. The writing and direction manage to get the nitty-gritty right, thereby infusing a certain satisfaction to the viewing experience of the audience.
There’s a whole gamut of underlying issues that Jamtara Season 2 plays tag with. Cow vigilantes and their illogical violent streak; the 2016 demonetisation; the unrelenting power wielded by India’s political class; and so much more sneaks its way into the expansive yet contained story of Jamtara Season 2.
Another quirky part of the series, is the pair of perennially drunk hangers-on called Munna and Bachha. The two characters help keep things simplified and in perspective for us with their whimsical pondering, as they cast an eye over the calamitous goings-on in the narrative. Time and again, they draw parallels with events from the Mahabharata, adding an edge of despair to the darkness of the story. The two are played superbly by actors Rohit KP and Harshit Gupta.
To sum it up, Jamtara Season 2 is an eminently watchable follow up to the maiden season of the Netflix show. Fans of crime dramas can certainly give it a shot this weekend.
Music and Other Departments?
Sidhant Mathur’s background score and Boby John’s musical score are just apt for the series – ominous and foreboding most of the time. Cinematographer Sayak Bhattacharya has done a good job with the camerawork.
Highlights?
Excellent performances
Fast-paced, gripping narrative
Drawbacks?
A tad simplistic
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, for crime drama buffs
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
