PremiumTaaza Khabar Season 2 Review: Bhuvan Bam's spark lights the way, while the plot drifts in oblivion
Taaza Khabar Season 2 is hell bent on focusing only on one thing while there are 10 avenues floating around; Bhuvan Bam grows though.
Last Updated: 09.30 AM, Sep 27, 2024
Taaza Khabar Season 2 Review: Plot: The end of season one of Taaza Khabar left us with the mystery of whether Vasya (Bhuvan Bam) is alive or not. Season two begins at the very moment when everyone is grieving his death. His world is distraught, and there is no hope left for those remaining. But suddenly, after a few months, we see Vasya return, as he was hiding after having faked his own death. But from whom is he hiding? Why exactly? And what is the new rollercoaster that Taaza Khabar is about to take Vasya and us on?
Taaza Khabar Season 2 Review: Analysis
The fact that a self-made content creator turned actor has made an entire long-format show on his credibility—and not just made one season, but managed to get another season funded—is a victory for many like him. Bhuvan Bam is a beacon of hope for people who stand on the other side of the fence, looking at the glitz and glamour and thinking they could never achieve it in this lifetime. Taaza Khabar in itself is a show that stands tall in his resume, considering his grind wasn't that of a couple of years but a very long time. The show now returns with a second season, but can the single-focused approach that only looks in one direction work for a sequel that comes after a pilot season that was decently shaped with some very interesting characters?
Well, Taaza Khabar Season 2 opens with a promise that it will be equally dramatic, even more absurd (in a good way), and maybe a lot fleshier. But that doesn't happen. Directed by Himank Gaur yet again, with Bhuvan Bam and Rohit Raj serving as creators, Taaza Khabar Season 2 is written by Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal. What is interesting about this season is the fact that the makers are trying to take Vasya back to square one—literally where it all started. His arrogance and attitude made him lose everything, and now he is in the dirt again, but maybe not the kind he was probably comfortable with before. The intent to see him rebuild everything now while fighting a kingpin of sorts named Yusuf, played by Jaaved Jaaferi, indeed makes for a good plot.
But not if you keep coming back to square one for most of the season. Taaza Khabar Season 2 is written to be running in a loop, with blinders on, until the entire six episodes run into oblivion with no hope of return or redemption. Nothing is concrete enough to have a future in the second season. Vasya is trying to repay the loan to Yusuf while the latter keeps making life difficult for him. He keeps running and collecting money, and Yusuf keeps adding more debt to his back. I agree; this is a plot device to show helplessness, but it doesn't work when there’s nothing substantial happening around it. The plot circles back to where it begins, right up until the very final showdown, which is exciting.
When that moment appears, the flaws shine even brighter, because you realize there was no rising crescendo that gave you a similar high throughout the entire season. The dramatics are too dramatic, the absurdity is in check, but nothing creates the impact like the first season. The characters were originally shaped to be their own selves, but season two makes them revolve around Vasya and be at his service. Madhu, such a delightful character played by the amazing Shriya Pilgaonkar, had so much to do in the first season. She was a sex worker who wanted to become a fashion designer someday. This season uses her more as bait than as a fully realized character, which is quite a downfall in the writing.
Bhuvan Bam is the only consistent factor in the show that otherwise goes all haywire. You can see that he has worked on his acting chops, and now he can even confidently cry on screen without making it look like acting. Bam has certainly grown a lot between these two seasons, standing out even when the plot isn't strong enough to support his talent. However, the season keeps losing its grip. For instance, the writers wrote Vasya as a 25-year-old boy, and it's implied that not much time has passed since, as all of this is happening in the same year or maybe a year later. But if you look at it, there’s nothing that really shows him as a 26-year-old man. A twist takes him even further from his age in season 2, and you’ll see.
Special mention goes to Atisha Naik, a veteran Marathi actor who plays Vasya’s mother. She is such a scene-stealer when she is unhinged. There is a moment where she tells one of Yusuf's henchmen to get her medicines from the pharmacy. She gives him money and tells him to bring the change back, instructing him not to steal it, all without blinking an eye, exuding complete confidence. What a performer. Also deserving of a special mention is the amazing music album. Bhuvan has good taste in music, being a musician himself, and you can see that reflected in the shows he makes.
Taaza Khabar Season 2 Review: Final Verdict
Taaza Khabar could have been so much more than just circling around one thing for six episodes. Bhuvan Bam, Atisha Naik, and the music are the only consistent factors in a show that involves so many talented people.
Taaza Khabar Season 2 streams on Disney+ Hotstar from September 27, 2024. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.