The ‘Paatal Lok’ (Season 2/2025) show has taken us deep inside one of the soft underbellies of India, the border state of Nagaland. It is promising to note that the Indian mainstream entertainment world has finally depicted stories set in one of the North-Eastern States.
As its ‘Paatal Lok’ title suggests, it takes a closer look at the underworld or netherworld of India. So, in the ‘Paatal Lok‘ (Season 1/2020) show, we were served riveting crime stories set in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Series Review [Spoiler-Free]: Paatal Lok (Season 2, India, 2025) Hindi
In FOCUS: Hathi Ram Visits N-E India To Solve Complex Murder Cases In ‘Paatal Lok’
The Storyline
Only on rare occasions do the stories from the North-Eastern states of India (including Nagaland) get prominently featured in India’s mainstream series (and movies). So, we were pleasantly surprised while watching this complex yet evocatively penned contemporary tale set in Nagaland. The multi-layered story is neatly wrapped inside an Indian cop drama. This story takes a fresh look at India’s North-East states.
It also sheds light on the Indian democratic (Bureaucratic, Political, Police, etc.) institutional systems in place. Now, it is up to the viewers whether to treat these as the probable chinks in Indian armour.
The show creator Sudip Sharma and his fellow team writers (Abhishek Banerjee & Tamal Sen) have done a fantastic writing job. They have touched upon various burning issues confronting this border state and how the denizens of states end up paying the steep price. Moreover, they maintained the story’s authenticity by using local Nagamese Creole dialogues, besides Hindi and English.
It is undoubtedly a great screenplay. And Avinash Arun has made it a thrilling crime drama with his wonderful direction.
Poster
In season 2, the story moves eastward towards Nagaland.
Jaideep Ahlawat
Honestly, we never thought that Jaideep Ahlawat would be able to match the very high-acting masterclass that he displayed while portraying the protagonist Hathi Ram Chaudhary in season one of the Paatal Lok. However, once again, like the show creator Sudip, the lead actor Jaideep not only matched but also surpassed his performance.
His depiction of the Delhi Police Inspector, who has Haryanvi roots, is just too perfect. Unquestionably, he carries the entire show on his broad shoulder.
In the second season, Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat) of the Delhi Police faces a daunting path. Earlier in the first season, we have seen that despite his long-standing commitment and notable investigative prowess, he finds himself overlooked for promotion. While dealing with routine investigations, he unexpectedly comes across a lead that immerses him in a critical case involving the murder of Jonathan Thom, thereby establishing him as a pivotal character in the unfolding events.
Meet 5 Key Characters
| Imran | ACP Imran Ansari (Ishwak Singh), an *IPS officer of Kashmiri Muslim descent, finds his idealism challenged by the harsh realities of bureaucratic life. As he embarks on the investigation into the murder of Jonathan Thom, he must depend on his inner strength and personal evolution to overcome the difficulties associated with his new responsibilities. [*IPS: Indian Police Service] |
| Meghna | Meghna Barua (Tillotama Shome), an Assamese *IPS officer serving in Nagaland, has confronted and overcome bias to establish her career. In her assignment to aid in the investigation of Jonathan Thom’s murder, she faces the unique challenge of being both an insider and an outsider, adeptly managing the complex dynamics with Ansari and Hathi Ram to unravel the political intricacies of the region. |
| Rangthong | Rangthong Ken (Jahnu Barua), an esteemed leader within the Naga community, facilitates dialogue between tribal factions and government representatives during the Naga Business Summit. Confronted with the upheaval following the murder of Jonathan Thom, Ken’s skills in diplomacy are rigorously tested as he seeks to keep the summit aligned with its objectives amidst escalating political discord and competing interests. |
| Rose | Rose Lizo (Merenla Imsong), a Naga woman from Nagaland residing in Delhi, emerges as the primary suspect in the murder of Jonathan Thom. While Ansari and Hathi Ram pursue her, Hathi Ram uncovers her link to the missing migrant worker Raghu Paswan, prompting a renewed investigation. Rose’s involvement as either a crucial witness or a suspect heightens her importance in the case. |
| Daniel | Daniel Acho (Prashant Tamang), the loyal bodyguard of Jonathan Thom, travelled with him to Delhi for the Naga Business Summit. |
Ensemble Cast
Still, it would be wrong on our part to give all the credit to Sudip, Avinash and Jaideep. Mind you, it takes a village to raise a child. Kudos to the entire ensemble cast, we have shared their names in the details below. And in fact, the whole team of Paatal Lok (Season 2/2025) Series deserve credit. We loved the easy and realistic on-screen chemistry between the husband Hathi Ram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat) and his wife Renu Chaudhary (Gul Panag) in the show.
Another highlight was the depiction of the strong and beautiful friendship between Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat) and ACP Imran Ansari (Ishwak Singh) in it. Not to forget, this show gave a solid platform to the actors (males and females) from the North Eastern states of India. And, they have given admirable performances in it including the one mentioned above. All of them were quite good too.
The Conclusion
Season two took a long time to come to our screens. Thankfully, they released it. And what a smashing series it has been. We think, for its sensitivity and thoughtful depiction of N-E India, it is certainly a noteworthy and remarkable mainstream Hindi series. To conclude, the Paatal Lok (S2) series is an excellent show to watch, with its insightful stories and cool performances. A great way to begin a New Year 2025.
Rating
| Focus Magazine (FM) Rating | 4.15/5 |
Key Details
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Original Language | Hindi, English & Nagamese Creole (Nagaland, India) |
| Season | Second (2nd) Season | Season (2) Two |
| Episodes | Eight (8) Episodes |
| Creator | Sudip Sharma |
| Writers | Sudip Sharma, Abhishek Banerjee, & Tamal Sen |
| Director | Avinash Arun |
| Main Cast | Jaideep Ahlawat (Hathi Ram Chaudhary), Ishwak Singh (Imran Ansari), Gul Panag (Renu Chaudhary), Anurag Arora (SHO Virk), Jahnu Barua (Rangthong Ken), Nagesh Kukunoor (Kapil Reddy), Tillotama Shome (Meghna Barua), Merenla Imsong (Rose Lizo), Prashant Tamang (Daniel Acho), Rokibul Hossain (Guddu Paswan), Bendang Walling (Issac Longkumer), Bodhisattva Sharma (Siddharth Chaudhary), Rishi Kulshreshtha (Constable Tokas), Nikita Grover (Constable Manju Verma), LC Sekhose (Reuben Thom), Rozelle Mero (Asenla Thom), Theyie Keditsu (Grace Reddy), etc. |
| Network | (Amazon) Prime Video |
Trailer & Synopsis
The haggard and improbable hero, Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat), investigates a sensational murder (and missing person) case in the capital Delhi that takes him to the far-flung regions of North-East India, where he encounters strong opposition and personal tragedies in his relentless pursuit of the truth.
Bonus YouTube Video Link: Best of Jaideep Ahlawat (Hathi Ram) in Paatal Lok (Season 1/2020) Series
The Featured Image and Poster of the Paatal Lok (Season 2/2025) are courtesy of Amazon Prime Video India.