The first season of Mirzapur was dedicated to establishing characters. The characters that were largely in the backdrop of events in season one is now at the forefront of things. And what I really loved about the second season is its unpredictability in constructing the power dynamics. What we eventually end up seeing at the end of season 2 is definitely not something that would have been in our permutations of predictions. With really well fleshed out characters getting introduced along with some dramatic shifts in the plot, I would say it has all the stuff that someone who enjoyed the first season was looking forward to.
After the dramatic events at the wedding at the end of season 1, both Guddu and Munna are recovering from its aftermath. Guddu wanted to take revenge for his personal loss and Munna was angry at the fact that he couldn’t do the assigned job properly. Guddu and Bablu’s father Ramakant Pandit decides to move against Munna in a legal way. Guddu decides to approach Lala for his revenge plans as Lala also had his share of loss from what Munna did. What happens in Mirzapur as Guddu and Golu plot against the Tripathi’s, who are now going after political power is what we are getting to see in season 2.
The vastness one gets to feel as any good show enters a second season is there in the case of Mirzapur as well. Almost every character that we see on screen carries a history that we have witnessed in season 1. And thus when something happens in the power dynamics assigned to these characters, the drama we get to see becomes truly intriguing. We are the only ones who know who plotted against whom and thus when someone changes their side or stands in the series, it has that unpredictable nature to its credit. And the writing is such that they are creating characters with multiple purposes for the story.
Well, we all sort of know what’s the main motive that drives the second season; Guddu and Golu seeking revenge for what happened with Sweety and Bablu. The good versus bad angle in the story is pretty straight forward. But because of the level of dirt we have seen in the intrafamily equation and the inter-gang equation in season one, Guddu and Golu’s journey to the seemingly impossible power takeover becomes exciting. Guddu is no longer firing for fun and Golu’s anti-violence agenda is no longer there. Sharad and Beena are using their head to get things done. Thus the layering of the story one gets to see becomes more and more exciting.
The gender, caste politics in this series is also pretty interesting. Even though the caste angle isn’t getting used in an extensive way, I loved the way they placed the women in this screenplay. In a series that brims with masculine elements, the show portrays the vulnerability, desires, and smartness of women very elegantly and unapologetically. Just like the men, almost all the women in the picture are in that grey space. The only issue I could sense with the script was that at times it leaves certain characters for far too long. But luckily it wasn’t disturbing the rhythm too much.
The show’s creators Puneeth Krishna, Gurmeet Singh, and Mihir Desai have done a really fabulous job in presenting the gigantic pool of characters without the audience losing track of their involvement in the whole narrative. And some of the conflicts have that poetic nature. The scene where Maqbool and Babar talk about the loyalty they have for their respective chiefs was one of those moments where the end result was stylish and at the same time depicted the moral dilemma of loyal people. Sharad who is seeking revenge for his father’s death is using his head rather than going the bang-bang style of Guddu and Munna. Madhuri Yadav, the CM’s daughter is one character that expanded the whole universe of the series to a bigger level.
There are so many new characters that have gone through something harsh in this second season, that I am already kind of curious to know how the makers will handle this scale of the catastrophe that happened in the show in the next season. Abuse and violence were the signature element of this show set in the backdrop of UP and this time also we get to hear all that but in a rather intense way. Sanjay Kapoor’s visuals are soaked in that typical color palette and the framing has some tight shots establishing the tension in the relationships. The background score kicks in smoothly and sharply to give you that adrenalin rush.
Ali Fazal’s Guddu in season 2 is understandably a different human being. He has the rage in him for sure. But it’s not the love for violence we saw in season 1. He is tearing up more frequently and yet the determination has no fluctuation. Shweta Tripathi gracefully portrayed the transition of Golu here. Attitude is the only thing that could help her in making us feel that she is the right hand of Guddu in this operation and she gets that right. Pankaj Tripathi as usual did a fabulous job as the calm and composed Kaleen Bhaiyya. Divyendu Sharma as Munna maintains the same level of annoyance one expects to see in an insecure Munna and this time we are shown his humane side in certain areas. Rasika Duggal plays the part of the cunning Beena with ease. Isha Talwar, Vijay Varma, MM Faruqui, and Priyanshu Painyuli are some of the new additions to the cast of the show and the upcoming season will surely have them getting a broader space in the whole plot.
Whether you enjoyed watching the first season is a major factor here. A lot of people had this opinion that the first season was a wannabe Anurag Kashyap film and I personally never felt that intent. The second season of Mirzapur is edgier, darker, and at the same time rich on characters that are memorable. It’s a really engaging mix of style and substance and the show delivers what it offered.
With well fleshed out characters getting introduced along with some dramatic shifts in the plot, I would say it has all the stuff that someone who enjoyed the first season was looking forward to.
Green: Recommended Content
Orange: The In-Between Ones
Red: Not Recommended
