PremiumTaj – Reign of Revenge Season 2 review: More betrayals, conniving advisers, scandals and drama, less bloodshed and gore
Naseeruddin Shah, Aashim Gulati, and Sauraseni Mitra put up commendable performances in this royal tale that now seems a bit of a drag
Watch Taj: Reign of Revenge Part 2 trailer here
Last Updated: 03.23 PM, Jun 02, 2023
Story:
Season 2 of ZEE5’s web series Taj, titled Taj: Reign of Revenge, which dropped in two parts, begins with a leap of 15 years. While the first season diligently showcased the origin story and set the premise of a now aging Mughal emperor Akbar (Naseeruddin Shah) on the lookout for a worthy successor to the takht of his sultanate, the second season delves deep into the interpersonal dynamics and politics at play – not only within the members of the royal family but also among the emperor’s advisers and queens (read: Kingmakers).
Akbar is warned about the impending doom and advised by Sheikh Salim Chisti (Dharmendra) to bring back Prince Salim (Aashim Gulati) – the rightful heir to the throne. While Akbar tries to make amends, Prince Salim has now become a rebel with the sole motive to avenge Anarkali’s (Aditi Rao Hydari) fate. On the other hand, Prince Daniyaal (Shubham Kumar Mehra) now fancies the Mughal throne and the power that comes with it, but in his heart, he is still fearful of his brother Salim.
The second season also introduces new characters including Mehr-un-Nissa (Sauraseni Mitra), Ali Quli Mirza (Rouhallah Quazim), Prince Salim’s sons Khusro (Jiansh Aggarwal) and Khurram (Mittansh Lulla) among others. While the first season had a lot of bloodshed and gore interspersed with the relationship dynamics of Akbar’s three sons – Shah Salim, Shah Murad (Taaha Shah), and Shah Daniyal, the second season is all about Shah Salim’s quest for revenge, Mehr-un-Nissa’s relentless pursuit of the throne via Salim (later known as Jehangir), Ruqaiah Begum’s hunger for power through Prince Khusro’s claim to the Mughal throne and the conniving court advisers like Badayuni and Abu Fazal who continue to plan and plot in order to place such an emperor on the throne who’d benefit and serve their ulterior motives.
Review:
Vibhu Puri takes over the director’s chair for Taj – Reign of Revenge from Ron Scalpelo who helmed Taj – Divided by Blood. He goes low on action, bloodshed, and gore and high on drama, politics, and conspiracies while bringing to light the true faces of the characters that inhabit this exquisitely created world of the Mughal sultanate. There are unexpected plot twists and turns, and if you've already watched the first season, you’d genuinely be hooked to see how the remaining episodes unfold more of the hidden motives and intentions of every character (i.e., if you’re able to move past the length of the episodes).
The characters and world-building are quite fantastic honestly, but the pace at which the drama unfolds in part two of season two ends up making you yawn at several junctures. While not much can be coloured when it comes to the plot, it’s evident that certain cinematic and creative liberties have been taken by the makers in their attempt to bring this tale to life.
The most interesting part about the second season remains how the various courtiers and advisers to the king try to control the narrative and conspire to place their favourite contender on the throne as the successor to Akbar. The queens residing in their Harem are also not far behind in their endeavors to influence and dictate the men around them.
It’s interesting to see how the screenplay seamlessly manages to have Salim’s son Khusro echoing (somewhat) Shah Murad in his pursuit of the throne and the charm of Mehr-un-Nissa won’t really make you miss the beautiful Aditi Rao Hydari’s Anarkali too much. While Anarkali didn’t really have much to do, in the second season Mehr-un-Nissa (who will later be called Noor Jahaan) is given more layers. Her journey from being married to Ali Quli Mirza to becoming Mallika-E-Hindustaan allows her to shine and do more than just look pretty on screen. However, we wish her character arc was given a little more depth.
Naseeruddin Shah continues to hold the show together with his stellar act. He portrays the worries of an ailing father and an aging emperor with subtle and understated nuance. The way he treads delicately to balance both aspects of his character is something only an actor of his caliber can pull off. Aashim Gulati shines in most parts as Shah Salim. He gets to portray one of the better-written characters with quite a few shades – a spoilt brave prince who’s least interested in the throne, is hopelessly in love, becomes a rebel seeking revenge for his lost love, turning against the brother he once loved and protected, being constantly at loggerheads with his father, his return to claim the throne and his equation with his own sons – there’s a lot at stake here and Gulati manages to deliver on most occasions.
Shubham Kumar Mehra is apt as Shah Daniyaal and does a fine job at transforming into a power-hungry prince from a meek, god-fearing one. Sandhya Mridul, Zarina Wahab and Padma Damodharan as Jodha Bai, Salima Begum, and Ruqaiah Begum too deliver well within the scope of their respective characters. However, in season two, Padma Damodharan’s Ruqaiah Begum gets a meatier part and she makes the most of it. While Jiansh Aggarwal seems a bit underprepared as Khusro, Mittansh Lulla aces his part as Khurram.
The visual effects seem a bit amateurish at several junctures in season two, especially in scenes showcasing the fleet of ships at Salim’s disposal. The background score too doesn’t really impress but does the job. In the second season, even though the series takes a leap of 15 years, none of the characters inhabiting it seems to have aged. The biggest hurdle in Taj – Reign of Revenge is the slow pace with which the narrative progresses, especially in part two which dropped on ZEE5 on June 2, 2023.
Verdict:
Taj – Reign of Revenge boasts of some stellar performances and an exquisitely created world of one of the most interesting chapters in the Mughal empire. If you have a knack for watching the history of the royals unfold, coupled with all the lies and conspiracies, give it a try. Despite the dragged pace, the series makes for an interesting watch.