Creator, writer director Sudip Sharma delivers a slow burn but immersive thriller. More than the crime the focus is on systematic exploitation. How crimes don’t happen in isolation and is often connected to the power structures has come out in a gripping manner. Themes like caste and gender among others has been dealt in a nuanced manner too.
Starcast: Mona Singh, Barun Sobti, Ranvijay Singh, Anurag Arora etc
Genre: Thriller/drama
Creator, writer and director: Sudip Sharma
Additional writers: Gunjit Chopra and Diggi Sisodia
Additional director: Faisal Rehman
Cinematography: Isshan Gosh
Producers: Saurabh Malhotra, Sudip Sharma etc
Production companies: Act three productions and Film Squad Productions
No of episodes: 6
Streaming site: Netflix
Kohrra season 1 released in 2023 was a compelling whodunit with impactful social commentary. Through the murder of an NRI the plot dwelled into drug addiction, the class divide between the elite and the marginalized etc. The second season of Kohrra with the gap of three years pretty much follows the same blueprint but with some additional angles. The inclusion of Mona Singh as sub inspector Dhanwant Kaur brings in a fresh dimension. This is something which I will elaborate on later.
The story of Kohrra season 2 much like the first one begins with a murder. A woman called Preeti Bajwa has been assassinated. Preeti is an NRI, she has returned back to live with her family but ends up as a dead body. What begins off as a regular investigation unearths several secrets. This is the story in brief.
A strong aspect of Kohrra season 2 is the portrayal of different social themes backed with strong writing and performances. One of them is patriarchy and greed. This especially comes out in the scenes of disputes over ancestral property. In spite of legal rights not all women get their rights due to male entitlement and patriarchy. This has come out in an excellent manner as the investigation deepens.
Kohraa 2 also does a solid job in addressing internalized patriarchy. How fellow women ensure that the traditional gender roles aren’t disturbed for securing their own identity has come out in a chilling manner. There is a key moment in the sixth episode related to the murder mystery. Not much details can be given here but how Preeti Bajwa is painted by a fellow woman is a perfect example of how patriarchy is enabled by women equally.
A special mention must also be made of how the web show portrays the machinery of bonded labor. How migrant workers coming from different states are trapped by invisible prisons is impactful too. Their existence being just reduced to labor and a certain indifference towards their sufferings adds an important layer.
The spine of Kohraa season 2 though is the dynamics between Mona Singh and Barun Sobti. Unlike the first season here Barun Soti’s character Garundi takes a while to develop a camaraderie. Mona Singh being a female inspector becomes a hindrance in the beginning but gradually things change with both of them even joking about their emotional upheavals. There is no forced banter here with the lighter moments flowing organically.
Mona Singh’s Dhanwant Kaur belongs to the school of Rani Mukherjee’s Mardaani. Much like Shivani Shivaji Roy from that universe Dhanwant Kaur is also a perfect mix of emotional vulnerability and strong fighting spirit. Dhanwant Kaur faces multiple battles weather it’s her crumbling marriage, a hostile workplace questioning her authority because she is a woman among others. Mona Singh does a splendid job in portraying the different shades of Dhanwant. A special mention must be made of the scene where she gives back to her senior officer when he questions her dedication. Barun Sobti too is solid as Garundi, like Mona Singh he does a fine job in portraying the different nuances. The best thing about the two characters is that they are never reduced to mere archetypes.
The supporting cast is equally effective in maintaining the mystery. The likes of Ranvijay Singh and Anurag Arora in particular make their presence amply felt. The cinematography of Isshaan Singh also plays a key role in enhancing the proceedings. He does a swell job in capturing rural Punjab with all its shades. The atmospherics have a lived-in feel. There is a slight detour when the scene shifts to Himachal Pradesh. The shift may feel abrupt for some, but it offers a freshness in terms of a new setting.
An underling theme of Kohrra Season 2 are the systems which enable the crime and how delivering justice is only confined to that particular case.
Final word: Kohrra season 2 is a worthy follow up in spite of a few pacing problems. For fans of well-made slow burn thrillers the series is a must watch.
