Taaza Khabar Season 2 Review: Bursts of Emotion Without Much Impact

After the events of the first season, in which we saw Vasant “Vasya” Gawade turning up dead, the second season sees him alive after having orchestrated an elaborate scheme to get out of the hands of dangerous loan sharks who will stop at nothing before getting what they are owed. However, this time around, he has to face Yusuf, a criminal who doesn’t hold back from threatening everyone around him to get what he wants and exact revenge.

The second season, directed by Himank Gaur, has 6 episodes, each with a runtime of around 35 minutes.

Taaza Khabar Season 2 Review

In the second season of Bhuvan Bam’s Taaza Khabar, one cannot help but feel somewhat emotional for the characters who are given no other choice but to struggle under the thumbs of the rich and powerful. Showcasing the strong bonds between family members, especially between Vasant and his parents, the series tugs on your heartstrings from its first episode, while going down familiar paths when it comes to the crime aspects of the show.

With the news app still a thing for Vasant to lean on, the second season is intense in burst thanks more so to Jaaved Jaaferi’s Yusuf, whose booming voice and terrifying personality make him an antagonist to take note of. There are also notes of humour here that blend into the storytelling and don’t stick out like a sore thumb – I enjoyed the background score during these times which feels organic and funny to listen to.

In Taaza Khabar Season 2, the storyline is more generic, with Vasant trying to make ends meet and not end up dead (for real this time) repaying the debts that he owes. The story flows fine and is entertaining to watch with the viewers running from one situation to another in the blink of an eye. The stakes are higher, with Vasant playing with drugs and ambergris (to name a few) to find ways to save those he loves. Bam is a desperate Vasant and plays his role sincerely. The series makes sure to put him in the centre of it all and Vasant feels like the end-all-be-all for the show to shine.

There are a few condescending moments in the series that make it feel ingenuine, especially when it pertains to poverty and how the characters handle it. This was a problem in the last season as well, where the series made it feel less relatable because it tries to overexplain real struggles that genuinely don’t require explanations. I also found the series to lack good twists and sure, the antagonist has a weight to him that is unmissable, but when it comes to shocking moments that can leave anyone wide-eyed, the series lacks that – resulting in a straight-as-an-arrow storyline that is a bit too eager to expose itself.

The lighter moments are fun and peppy, but the series seriously suffers from a lack of creativity. There is not a moment in the series that keeps you hooked. Don’t get me wrong, there are some fun moments, especially between Yusuf and Vasant, but those are few and far in between and don’t make a huge impact. They do take you by surprise but not as much as you’d expect. Plus, there are some extremely cringy dialogues that will leave you absolutely questioning your sanity.

In a story such as this, the audience’s interests need to be grounded with the help of the characters and although Vasant has some really solid moments, I somehow found myself gravitating towards his parents, played by Atisha Naik and Vijay Nikam. Genuine and heartfelt, the love that they feel for their son comes out in every scene. Everyone else is also really good, including best friend Peter, played by Prathmesh Parab. Although the secondary characters feel like a means to an end to push Vasant forward, it’s their performances that leave the impact.

Bam is great as well, and although nothing ground-breaking, he is a good protagonist who tries to make a connection with his character’s struggling upbringing and life. Jaaferi is also fantastic and brings a thrilling antagonist to the table who is no-nonsense and with a lot of charisma that will make you take note of him. It’s nice to watch him in a serious role and the actor takes up the opportunity seemingly with both his hands.

Final Thoughts

Taaza Khabar Season 2 is more of the same and is a light, sometimes thrilling watch. The series isn’t a serious or impactful experience but the last episode is fun, energetic and has some good action sequences. The rest of the 5 episodes are well-paced, making this a forgettable watch that tries its best to get its messaging right.

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