Taaza Khabar Season 2 Review: A Darker Tale of Survival and Redemption
Taaza Khabar Season 2 picks up right where the first season left off, with Vasant Gawade (Bhuvan Bam), known as Vasya, facing new challenges, despite having a ‘vardaan’ or blessing. This time, however, the story takes a much darker tone as Vasya gets a notification from the Taaza Khabar app that he will die in a few hours. What follows is a journey of redemption, revenge, and survival.
Plot Overview
After receiving the ominous notification of his impending death, Vasya consults his friend Peter (Prathmesh Parab), who advises him to perform good deeds before his time runs out. Vasya donates large sums of money to the poor but is soon shot dead. His death, however, sets off a series of tragic events as his family is left to deal with the consequences of his past. Yusuf Akhtar (Jaaved Jaaferi), a victim of Vasya’s betting schemes, seizes the family home and bakery.
But in a surprising twist, Vasya miraculously returns to life, much to the shock of his family. However, Yusuf demands Rs. 500 crores as compensation for his losses, forcing Vasya to scramble and find the money within a week.
Story and Screenplay Review
The story, written by Aziz Dalal, Abbas Dalal, and Hussain Dalal, had the potential to create an engaging sequel. However, the screenplay falls short, offering a darker narrative with fewer comic relief moments than the first season. While the humor is still present, it is insufficient to match the charm and light-heartedness of Season 1. The show attempts to balance tragedy with humor but leans heavily towards a more grim tone, which may alienate some viewers.
The character arcs, especially of Reshma (Shilpa Shukla) and Kismat (Mahesh Manjrekar), feel underdeveloped. The rushed pacing between Vasya’s supposed death and his reappearance at the hospital leaves key plot points feeling unresolved.
Performances
Bhuvan Bam delivers a solid performance as Vasya, portraying both his serious and light-hearted sides with ease. Shriya Pilgaonkar shines in her limited screen time, while Prathmesh Parab continues to add emotional depth and humor to his character, Peter. Deven Bhojani is dependable as always, but Jaaved Jaaferi and Shilpa Shukla are somewhat let down by the writing, making their performances less impactful than expected. Mahesh Manjrekar, too, is underutilized.
Music and Technical Aspects
The music, including tracks like ‘Laut Aane Ka’, ‘Aaj More’, and ‘Paisa’, fits well within the narrative, with the catchy theme song being a highlight. The background score by Saurabh Lokhande and Jarvis Menezes enhances the show’s dramatic elements.
Remy Dalai’s cinematography elevates the production, capturing the grandeur of the setting, while Shivangi Shrivastava’s costumes and Vikram Dahiya’s action choreography add authenticity to the show’s visual appeal. Harshit Sharma’s editing keeps the episodes tight, avoiding unnecessary dragging.
Overall, Taaza Khabar Season 2 struggles with a weak script and a lack of the exuberant moments that made the first season a success. Despite this, Bhuvan Bam’s immense popularity will likely draw viewers to the series. The darker, more tragic tone may appeal to some, but others may miss the humor and lightness that were a hallmark of the original.
Rating: ★★½
