Much like the first season MLH season two does a good job in mixing satire and social commentary. At the same time this season is more emotional while maintaining the humorous tone. Ravi Kishan continues to lead from the front this time with a different character arc. As a judge grappling with the burden of making tough decisions the actor is excellent
Starcast: Ravi Kishan, Nidhi Bisht, Naila Grewal, Anant Joshi, Dibyendu Bhattacharya and others
Director: Rahul Pandey
Writers: Kunal Aneja, Mohak Aneja, Shadan Syed , Tatsat Pandey etc
Genre: Comedy/drama
Producers: Sameer Saxena, Saurabh Khanna, Biswapati Sarkar and Amit Golani
Production house: Posham Pa pictures
Cinematography: Miling Jong
No of episodes: 8
Streaming site: Netflix
For those who haven’t seen Maamla Legal Hai season 1 the plot revolved around the quirky world of Patparganj. The series tackled a wide range of cases based on newspaper reports flashed at the end of each episode. For example, there was one involving a divorce. The husband wants to divorce his wife just because she doesn’t feel shy on their wedding night. Apart from this the web series touched upon different aspects like the connubial rights of prisoners etc. Apart from the witty writing and direction the series also benefitted immensely from the ensemble cast especially Ravi Kishan and Nidhi Bist. Now you have season two also set in Patparganj but with different dynamics.
MLH season two is primarily about the transition of Ravi Kishan’s VD Tyagi. From a street-smart advocate he has turned into a judge. At the same time the trio of lawyers represented by Nidhi Bist, Naila Grewal etc are dealing with a range of cases which are as messy as their personal lives. The interpersonal rivalries especially the one between Naila Grewal and the new entrant Kusha Kapila also forms an important part of MLH season two.
A major strength of MLH 2 season two is the characterization of Ravi Kishan coupled with his solid act. Unlike the first season the flamboyance of Ravi Kishan is more toned down as VD Tyagi is trying to be more serious. His equation with the old acquittances undergoes a strain. The internal struggles of VD tyagi forms the spine of this Rahul Pandey directorial. The scenarios lend itself naturally to both comedy as well as emotional depth. Thankfully this transition lands giving the show some of its best moments.
A special mention must be made of the episode titled “Beyond reform”. VD Tyagi gets through a major inner turmoil before pronouncing the judgement of death by hanging. Ravi Kishan is especially good in a break down preceding this, he eventually decides that being a judge is not his cup of tea.
Coming to the funny portions season 2 offers plenty of laughs this time too. For example, there is a marital case with a very orthodox mother-in-law, and the wife is fed up of her demanding ways. Additionally, the husband doesn’t stand up for her. It’s not that the spouse doesn’t love his wife, but he is afraid to question his mother,
How the husband finds spine amidst a lot of chaos is both well written and enacted. Mention must also be made of a young boy who aspires to be a gangster. The characters played by Neila Grewal, Anant Joshi and Kusha Kapila struggle a lot to change his mind. Eventually the youngster decides to focus on studies after witnessing a particular incident. The scenes here too are laced with humor.
MLH season two also benefits from the scenes of rivalry between Niela Grewal and Kusha Kapila. Kusha Kapila represents a more media savvy breed of lawyer’s profession. The friction between the two has some impactful moments as well.
An underlying theme of MLH season two is negotiating a system which is imperfect at the same functional. Season 2 goes beyond the satirical tone of first one looking at the compromises and how justice in its true form is difficult to achieve so sometimes it has to be negotiated. The chaotic world of Patparganj district court continues to have a lived-in atmosphere. The messy ecosystem of lawyers, clerks, clients etc has a believable feel.
Apart from the splendid Ravi Kishan the ensemble cast also pitch in some fine performances. Niela Grewal especially stands out perfectly showcasing the evolution of Ananya from textbook notions of justice to absorbing shades of grey. Nidhi Bist continues to shine with her comic timing. Dibyendu Bhattacharya as another judge also makes his presence amply felt. His dynamics with Ravi Kishan especially a key confrontation is solidly written and enacted.
Much like the first season the personal life of VD Tyagi does come across as a speed breaker. A few tonal shifts could have been handled better but these are minor blips in an otherwise engaging show.
Final word: Maamla Legal Hai is a worthy follow up and for fans of legal satire definitely worth watching.
