What Is the Story About?
As Zafar is sent across the border to his father Shabbir Malik, the Special Force team leaves no stone unturned to trace Fareed’s whereabouts. Just when Kabir relooks at his relationship with Farah in a new light, a series of tragedies jeopardise his life. Meanwhile, as he tries to extract crucial information from Junaid, Fareed’s destiny takes a turn for the worse and he’s forced to make drastic decisions.
Performances?
Manav Vij’s stoic act, in the shoes of an emotionally and physically wounded officer, continues to anchor the show. While still not being outwardly expressive, he lets the viewer process the chaos within his head. Rajat Kapoor holds his own with an authoritarian portrayal of Malik, neither underplaying nor exaggerating his character. Shashank Arora, yet again, is a picture of poise, delivering a solid performance.
Veteran Kabir Bedi knows a thing or two well about making a terrific impact in a limited screen time and he brings an equal amount of steeliness and warmth to his presence. Gaurav Arora makes the most of a meaty antagonistic role with his expressive eyes and the likes of Soni Razdan, Ekta Kaul, Amit Gaur, Sukhmani Sadana, Udit Arora, Danish Husain chip in with assured performances too.
Analysis
As the second season of Sudhir Mishra and E Niwas-directed Tanaav comes to a close, it’s worth debating what the official Indian remake of the Israeli hit Fauda, stood for. While mirroring the internal chaos within Kashmir through an insider’s lens, avoiding done-to-death stereotypes, it shows how men and women at both ends of the law lose their loved ones and pay a costly price for their choices.
Clearly stating its idea of right and wrong, Tanaav adopts a humanistic outlook towards its characters. Just because they’re fighting for the right cause, Malik, Kabir and the team aren’t treated like saints and even if Fareed, Junaid and others are caught up in their own power struggle within a terrorist organisation, it doesn’t stop the creators from showcasing their merits and vulnerabilities (beyond their obvious beastliness).
After a sedate start to the follow-up season (episodes 1-6 of season 2, which were released a few weeks earlier), Tanaav’s second season gains its much-needed momentum in the final set of episodes, where the primary conflicts are resolved and the viewer is offered a closure about the Kashmir issue. It has the right mix of everything – jaw-dropping action, warmth in emotions, backed by quality storytelling.
Striking a perfect balance between the tenderness in its portrayal of interpersonal relationships and the brutality of on-ground issues in Kashmir, the show offers a multi-faceted perspective of its core problem – neither over-simplifying it nor complicating it beyond necessity. There’s no attempt to exaggerate and the directors do enough to lend a cinematic appeal to the show with the engaging treatment.
In terms of the story – the notorious Fareed is consistently on the edge, isolating himself from the family due to his problematic decisions, while support for him and his cause too keeps shrinking. Kabir is keen on taking charge of his personal life and sorting out his priorities beyond work – the strained relationship with his ex-wife, and being a doting father to his children – and embarks on a new beginning with Farah.
The screenplay is riveting, packed with events and internal conflicts, portraying the consequences of the characters for their paths. The show doesn’t shy away from several debates on the idea of religion, and the need to educate youngsters about it and make them understand what Kashmir stands for. Both, on an emotional level and with the detailing in the backdrop, Tanaav makes for a rewarding viewing.
If all the 12 episodes of Tanaav’s season 2 are viewed as one standalone film, one would say that the second half works better than the first, while the climax is the icing on the cake.
Music and Other Departments?
Karel Antonin’s background score is an invisible layer in the storytelling, never screaming for attention and submitting to the proceedings sincerely. Quais Waseeq’s sharp, slick cinematography is a sight to behold while Abhishek Seth’s seamless editing ensures a near-perfect viewing experience.
In terms of screenwriting, Sudhir Mishra and Adhir Bhat deserve immense credit for their adaptation, for dealing with a serious issue in all its nuance and offering the right mix of emotion and action for the restless viewer.
Highlights?
Superb performances
Slick, realistic treatment
Good detailing, emotionally rich
Drawbacks?
Takes time to grow on you (needs some patience)
Too many subplots (where you may lose track)
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Sure, if you have a taste for rooted, realistic crime stories
Tanaav Season 2 (Episodes 7-12) Series Review by Binged Bureau
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