- Date of Release: 06 September 2024
- Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Language: Hindi
- Watch On: SonyLiv
Tanaav Season 2 (Part 1 Of 2)
Introduction
The Israeli show Fauda is a tricky show to replicate and one of the reasons is that the conflict showcased on the show is unique to the area that it is set in. And hence, the dynamics of a show would drastically change if the setting of the show changes too. As a result, Tanaav the Hindi adaptation of Fauda had some huge shoes to fill while trying to replicate the scenes of the show against a new setting and a completely different conflict. And I did think that the makers did quite a good job in its first season although I did feel that the writing was a little loose at a few places and it could have been tighter. Come the second season, Fauda had begun to turn into a monster with further complications as far as the power dynamics was concerned, with even the power centers divided. In this regard, it was a further uphill battle for the makers of Tanaav given how binary the first season was with its power centers. So then does the second season of Tanaav (remember this is Part 1 of 2) manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
For folks who have already watched the original show Fauda would realise that the recreation of the scenes as well as its break-up is exactly the same here throughout the second season of Tanaav, part 1 of which comprises of 6 episodes of 30 odd to 40 odd minutes each. But if you look closely the conflict of Tanaav which is an extention of the previous season is nicely highlighted here. It is very early on in its second season where you are acquainted to the two power centers who try and stake their claim to the throne. And essentially, it is from this point that the power centers would also branch out in the season, something that is symbolic in its opening sequence. In the sequence, you see two different ideologies at play despite having a common goal in mind that ultimately triggers a tragedy, that kickstarts the season on a high.
You are reintroduced to the main players of the drama even as the Intelligence Report of nabbing one of the antagonists kicks in. The writing follows the similar beats of Fauda even in terms of the screenplay, as a result I was quite familiar with the tragedy waiting to unfold at the end of the first episode. But the flaw did come to the fore in terms of its staging. I missed the narrow lanes through which a car chase unfolds, something that added an intimate yet tense flavour to the proceedings. The slightly wider lanes wickedly allowed the tension to subside even before tragedy struck, an incident that didn’t have the same kind of impact on me, unlike the original. But credit to the writers for finding their groove again. I was thoroughly invested in the simmering character dynamics that did unfold against the backdrop of Kashmir, an area that itself is complex and requires understanding with respect to the power tussle which is essentially a three-way battle in reality.
I can’t emphasize how important was the setting here that played a crucial character in triggering the reactions amongst the characters. The tension created was palpable even with the onset of a cat and mouse chase that ensues. Now because this is just half of the second season (Fauda had 12 episodes in season two), this can best be termed as a sort of a buildup for the larger shift in the power dynamics which would transpire in the forthcoming episodes. And so this part of the season chooses to focus on the smaller trajectories and equations. Hence, you are privy to the underlying connection that Kabir has with Farah, even while both are individually a part of a forced relationship. You are also privy to Fareed even as he hatches a sinister plan with a fresh set of youngsters, even as his once subordinate Junaid finds himself in police custody. You are also privy to yhe diplomatic talks between two nations that also acts as a foundation of sorts for the rest of the drama to follow. And there is a layer of tension in each of these tracks that smears further into the more familiar sequences of cat and mouse while ending on an interesting note thereby setting up things well for the next part of the second season. So overall, the screenplay here is quite well adapted and makes for a tense and thrilling watch.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are cerebral and really well written that does create a stirring impact. Moreover, it stays true to the region where the drama is set in and I can’t emphasize enough on how important this aspect of the drama actually was. The BGM blends perfectly with the mood of the drama as well as the area where it is set in thus adding texture and authenticity to the drama. Also, the tension is builtup through the notes that definitely heighten the levels of intensity at various junctures in the screenplay. The cinematography comprises of frames that are a mixed bag to begin with. The tragedy of the first episode did not need a long shot but a more intimate closeup to bring the viewers at the cusp of the ultimate blast. But elsewhere the frames ooze of tension and allow the atmospherics to take over which was indeed good news. The editing is crisp and sharp and thus ensures that the simmering levels of tension that are builtup are not diluted. Directors Sudhir Mishra and E Niwas had huge boots to fill given the popularity of Fauda. Yet, they manage to do a splendid job here it driving this compelling tale of chaos that translates into levels of tension throughout the narrative, but after a wobbly start wherein the staging of an important incident could have been better.
Performances
The performances are terrific by the ensemble cast and it is yet another green tick in the report card of Mukesh Chhabra who is the casting director. Arbaaz Khan as Vikrant had a relatively shorter role, and he does a decent job here. Sukhmani Sadana as Nusrat is pretty good here despite a limited screen time. Zzamin Mansoor as Jamal is pretty good in couple of the confrontational scenes that he features in. Mir Sarwar as Idris and Danish Hussain as Shabir are such terrific actors and they definitely leave an impact despite a limited screen time. The veterans Kabir Bedi as Haider and Soni Razdan are wonderful to witness, and both deliver commendable acts. Rajat Kapoor as Mallik is wonderfully restrained, and he delivers quite a dignified performance with the utmost grace. Swati Kapoor and Zayn Marie were complex characters and both needed to internalize their pain, and both of them manage to shine here. Junaid Khan as Fahad has a good screen presence and he manages to impress here. Vikas Shukla as Murad also manages to leave a mark and does a good job.
Arslan Gony as Kunal and Rockey Raina as Bilal continue to impress here. Satyadeep Misra as Uday delivers a well measured performance, particularly while being on the forefront with instructions for his team that invariably add a lot of urgency to the drama. Udit Arora as Arjun has a terrific screen presence, and he definitely stands out from the crowd while delivering a solid performance. Sahiba Bali as Toshi is outstanding here in a character that was going through a personal loss while also having to put up a brave face. She is particularly impressive in a couple of combat sequences wherein she does a tremendous job while maintaining levels of tension with respect to the situation tremendously.
Ekta Kaul as Farah continues her good form from the first season. There are several tense moments with her at the center of it, and really manages to hold her own in these situations. Her easy going persona coupled with a character holding on to a lot of pain was expertly executed by her in yet another solid performance. Shashank Arora is a spendid actor himself and he excels in the character of Junaid, which required him to be slightly brooding and cerebral in nature. Gaurav Arora as Fareed is intimidating and simmering with a lot of hate that will make you infuriated at various places. And that meant that Gaurav was excellent here while being a kingpin of sorts for all the drama around him. Manav Vij is a great actor himself and he is exceptional to witness as Kabir. Not only does he have a towering screen presence but he maintains the levels of intensity at various junctures of the drama. He also uses silence as a powerful virtue while scoring really well in scenes of confrontation. It was another towering performance by a brilliant actor.
Conclusion
The second season of Tanaav (Part 1 of 2) is a faithful adaptation of Fauda that definitely leaves a mark and makes for a rather tense watch. Available on SonyLiv.
