Netflix India’s Delhi Crime Season 2 stars Shefali Shah, Rajesh Tailang, Adil Hussain, Rasika Dugal, Aakash Dahiya, Yashaswini Dayama and others. Tanuj Chopra has directed the series created by Richie Mehta. The latest season is penned by the writers Mayank Tewari, Shubhra Swarup, Vidit Tripathi, Ensia Mirza, Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh (Dialogues), Virat Basoya (Dialogues). There is a total of 5 episodes of 45-50 minutes approx.
-No Spoilers-
Delhi Crime Season 2 Review
In Delhi Crime Season 2, DCP Vartika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah) has to investigate the multiple murders and robberies in Delhi. The criminals are brutal, and their targets are mainly elite senior citizens in the city. The criminals are called Kaccha-Baniyan (undergarments) gang. In no time, fear erupts in the city lanes as the cops are questioned for not putting an end to the crime soon enough.
As soon as the cops doubt that the Kaccha Baniyan gang is committing the crime, they immediately suspect the people living in the slums of Delhi. Cited as Denotified Tribes (DNTs), the cops get these people in custody without any proof against them. Are they real criminals? How will Vartika and her team investigate the case and find the truth? We find the answers in the 5 episodes.
The first season of Delhi Crime was the fictionalised depiction of the 2012 Delhi gang rape that shook the nation. The Netflix series showed the aftermath of the crime and how it impacted the lives of many people, including the cops. The show was hailed for its sincerity and compelling narrative. It also became the first Indian show to win an International Emmy for Best Drama Series. Hence, the expectation from season 2 was rightly high.
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Just like season 1, the new story of season 2 starts on a staggering note, with a family getting brutally murdered by a gang. We don’t get to see the faces of the murderers. DCP Vartika, Inspector Bhupendra Singh, and IPS Neeti Singh instantly get on alert mode to investigate the case. The first three episodes successfully build the tension by not only highlighting the crime but also other aspects.
While the murder and investigation part is the show’s base, the writers and director have also shown the struggles the cops face in their personal lives. In a city as big as Delhi, where crime happens often, the cops have no respite. We see how they struggle to live a personal life or have no time to be with their families. The makers have shown this aspect of the cops’ lives with realness, never going overboard.
Coming to the crime part, in Delhi Crime 2, DCP Vartika Chaturvedi is put in a morally compromised situation. She has to think of the Delhi police’s reputation or follow the path of truth and honesty. Any decision she takes will majorly impact the citizens and herself.
Another brilliant part of season 2 is how the makers called out the prejudiced mindsets of most people. Whenever a crime of such a heinous level happens with the rich, the fingers are pointed at the people from deprived communities. In the trailer, Vartika says that such a tribe becomes the scapegoat because they don’t have the privilege like others.
The show’s intriguing and crucial premise falls flat in the end. The ending was rushed, and the revelations didn’t leave me flabbergasted. In the show, Adil Hussain’s character, who plays the senior to Vartika, is in a great hurry to wrap up the case. It seemed like the makers wanted to do the same by episode 5. I wish the crime part were more explored.
Shefali Shah is on a roll and always gives her best in everything she does. The actor gives a terrific performance and stands out in scenes where she has an outburst. It’s a rare sight. Actor Rajesh Tailang gives an earnest performance as Inspector Bhupendra Singh. Actor Rasika Dugal plays her part of the reluctant Neeti Singh well. However, I want to see her character stand up for herself.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the second season of Delhi Crime starts on a hard-hitting note and sheds light on some pivotal issues. The performances are impressive. Sadly, it leaves us with an unsatisfactory feeling in the end. The rushed conclusion felt incomplete and not up to the level of the show.
The new season is now streaming on Netflix.
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