PremiumTaanav Season 2 Part 1 review: Shashank Arora carries the show on his shoulders
If you give it a lot of time and patience, Tanaav Season 2 Part 1 pays off slightly.
Last Updated: 12.53 AM, Sep 06, 2024
Umar Riaz and a few others are dead. But now, their family members come back to seek revenge. Kabir Farooqui has to get back on a mission to find the new terrorists and possibly bring an end to the war.
Following the events of the previous season, which included the death of Umar Riaz and the assumption of Hasrat by Shashank Arora's character Junaid, Gaurav Arora takes the lead in Tanaav 2. The show begins with the bag scene from the trailer, where Gaurav Arora remains largely unnoticed until he becomes the centre of attention. The scene stands out as the show's high point due to its brutality and the unintentional loss of life. The introduction music and visuals to Sudhir Mishra's show are intriguing, too.
The introduction of Kabir Bedi and Manav Vij leaves you wondering what each would bring to the table. This time, Kabir has a slighter edge over Manav. The latter's best shots come in close-up scenes. His breakdown scene also works pretty well. Not just that, Manav ends up becoming the angry version of Sunny Deol (he literally has a dialogue similar to Dhai kilo ka haath). All in all, he is a talented actor, and it shows.
Rajat Kapoor scares as much this time around, even though he's not the villain. As always, his expressions and dialogue delivery are on point.
Ekta Kaul is back as Dr. Farah, and she's just as caring as ever, even when she really shouldn't be. It is her emotional side that overpowers almost everything else on the show, and Ekta does a fairly excellent job at that.
Gaurav almost fits in the role of Farid Mir. He plays the lead role but shines only in a few scenes. Soni Razdan, as his ammi, is on the same wavelength throughout—devastated over everything that has happened and continues to happen to her family. She assumes power, but it is also fleeting.
The tone of Shashank Arora's Junaid remains consistent, except when he confronts his wife, Dr. Farah. Him defending Farah in front of Farid Mir while also threatening him is power itself. After that scene, Shashank brings terror to the table. After scaring Farid Mir, he shows his ruthless side by bringing up the Farah-Kabir controversy in front of her. It does not end there. Shashank brings terror to almost every scene he is a part of, till the very end. The actor goes on to prove, once again, that he's a master of his craft.
As expected, Kabir goes on and does as he pleases, even in this season. Sukhmani Sadana, as Kabir's ex-wife Nusrat, has a minimal role, and for her part, she does fairly well. Arbaaz Khan is back as Vikrant, too, and he's the same as last season. He joins in on the action this time around. Sahiba Bali appears in the same scene as Toshi. She, too, is the same as last season—she's both fun and serious. The one scene with 'Shadow' is what brings her to the limelight.
Satyadeep Mishra, Arslan Goni, and Amit Gaur also return as officers Udar Kunal and Muneer. Arshlan has a charming moment on the show, which he totally owns. Mir Sarwar, who plays Idris, is one of the last to appear on the show. He exhibits much more power than Gaurav in the first scene.
The set this time is definitely grander, but it wasn't exactly required. The additional VFX in the rocket scene does not work for the show, either. The way this series pays tribute to their own, though, is noteworthy.
Tanaav 2 has the pace but doesn't quite hit the mark. A few moments, like the terrace, are the ones that leave you at the edge of your seat. Apart from that, you really struggle to find a way to keep up with the show, mostly in the first three episodes. When the mission finally takes place, every moment is gripping (mainly because of what Shashank brings to the scenes).
There is a surprise towards the end of the show. A recurring cast member is here, but not in the role he originally was in (or is he?). This brings in the twist you were waiting for but did not expect.
Sudhir Mishra's Taanav Season 2 Part 1 sets the stage for what is to unfold. It takes a long time to reach its destination, but it does make some progress. You do not have action in every moment, so if that's what you're looking for, good luck, but probably you'll get it with Part 2. Taanav Season 2 Part 1 has Shashank Arora and Manav Vij, with Shashank hogging the limelight more than most. As for the story, it takes a long time to develop and goes around in circles. So, you need a lot of patience with this show. Eventually, it does pay off slightly (in comparison to all the buildup, the mission that intrigues is shorter). Watch this one only to follow what Part 2 will bring.