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Hathi Ram Choudhary has reached Nagaland, the No Man's Land, to uncover a new mystery and socio-political commentary. But before we move on to the next chapter, let's revisit the previous one!
The year was 2020, and the world had come to a standstill. COVID-19 had spread across the globe, confining us to our homes and forcing us to face a new, suffocating kind of reality. But amid this collective struggle, a show called Paatal Lok arrived on Amazon Prime Video, presenting a layered depiction of a hell that we all, in some way, lived through. Created by Sudip Sharma, Paatal Lok made an explosive impact and became a defining moment for not only its creators and cast—Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, and Abhishek Banerjee but also for the Indian OTT landscape as a whole. The show marked a revolutionary period for streaming, catapulting platforms like Amazon Prime into a new era of dominance.
Before we dive into a detailed recap, here's an interesting fact: Paatal Lok is loosely inspired by Tarun Tejpal's 2010 novel The Story of My Assassins. While the show isn’t a direct adaptation, it shares a similar core premise. Rooted in real-life events, Tejpal’s book revolves around five hitmen captured by the Delhi police for conspiring to assassinate him, and the show also echoes this setup. In the show, four individuals are arrested for plotting the murder of Sanjeev Mehra, a well-known yet controversial journalist. What follows is a gripping investigation led by Hathi Ram Choudhary and Imran Ansari, which uncovers the harsh realities of class inequality that pervade society. The investigation doesn’t just uncover a conspiracy; it lays bare the brutal truth of our societal divide.
Now, as the highly anticipated next season prepares to release on January 17, 2025, it's the perfect moment to revisit Paatal Lok’s first season. It’s been five years, and though much of it might still resonates with us, there are undoubtedly layers that could have been forgotten in the sensory overload of content we’ve consumed since.
Also Read: Here's what the first four episodes of ‘When The Stars Gossip’ left me thinking about!
Let’s refresh our memories of Paatal Lok and why it remains one of the most important crime thrillers of recent years.
The layered political commentary
At its core, Paatal Lok is a crime thriller, but its utilization of investigation to state its layered political commentary elevates it beyond its genre. In India, the term “lower” is most often associated with caste or class, and those relegated to these sections of society are seen as "cockroaches" (outcasts)—crawling through hell, desperate to escape. Hathi Ram, the show’s lead, is also a man from this so-called lower’ section as he is a disrespected, middle-aged cop whose own son doesn’t think much of him, representing the underappreciated men who are often ignored but hold unique perspectives. It is no wonder that he and his trusted companion, Imran, are willing to go beyond to learn about the lives of the accused. These four individuals—Vishal "Hathoda" Tyagi, Tope Singh, Kabir M, and Mary Lyngdoh are not just criminals.
Each backstory revealed how deeply entrenched societal inequalities can breed violence. Vikas Tyagi's transformation into Hathoda Tyagi is a chilling example. After killing his cousins in an act of revenge against his uncle, who had his sisters raped to claim their shared land, Tyagi is drawn into the world of crime, joining notorious gangsters like Dunaliya and Guala Gujjar. This brutal path eventually leads him to become a hardened killer, responsible for the murders of over 45 men.
Similarly, Tope Singh's story underscores the violent consequences of caste-based oppression. After being relentlessly harassed by upper-caste boys, Tope retaliates by killing three of his tormentors. The incident forces his uncle to send him to Delhi, where his troubled past continues to haunt him. Meanwhile, Kabir M. and Mary Lyngdoh’s narratives highlight the constant harassment faced by people due to their religious and gender identities. Kabir, a Muslim, and Mary, a trans woman, are both subjected to relentless discrimination and stereotyping, underscoring how marginalized identities in India are criminalized and dehumanized by society at large.
A critical take on journalism and forming narratives
The show also offers a scathing critique of the modern state of journalism. Through Sanjeev Mehra and Sara Matthews, we see two types of journalists: those entangled in corporate office politics and those chasing stories in the field. Sara's struggle to uncover the real truth, along with dealing with her affair with Sanjeev and the pressure to navigate power dynamics in her studio, stands in stark contrast to Amitosh Tripathi, a local reporter who digs for the truth in the alleys of Chitrakoot. And while the show highlights the present-day dilemmas of the watchdog of democracy, it also dives into how it’s all about forming the right narratives that are shaped and manipulated to fit certain agendas. When the case of the four suspects is taken over by the CBI, Kabir, the only Muslim among them, is portrayed as an Islamic extremist despite the clear lack of evidence. It’s revealed that Kabir can’t even read or write Urdu, yet an extremist text in Urdu is planted to fit the narrative. Hence, four local unrelated criminals put on a mission by their bosses and helplessness suddenly are portrayed as terrorists!
Chitrakoot ka "raaz" and the dogs to the rescue
The show spreads its wings far and wide, from exploring pinds in Punjab to the streets of Delhi, yet it all boils down to UP politics, set in Chitrakoot, where the intriguing mystery reaches its crescendo as the final pieces of the puzzle fall into place. The assassination plot against Sanjeev Mehra is revealed to be part of a larger game, orchestrated by a local political figure, Gujjar, who had ambitions of consolidating power. However, the unexpected twist comes when Hathoda Tyagi, the hired killer, spares Sanjeev’s life because of his mentor's advice: “If a man loves a dog, he is a good man. If a dog loves a man, he is a good man." This touching moment is triggered by the bond between Sanjeev’s lonely wife, Dolly, and her stray dogs, adding an unexpected emotional layer to the dark world of crime and politics.
Cultural impact and rise of new stars
The show's profound effect extended far beyond its storylines! Jaideep Ahlawat, who had been in the industry for a while, found newfound stardom with his portrayal of Hathi Ram Chaudhary. Audiences revisited his older projects, such as Gangs of Wasseypur, recognizing the brilliance of his talent. Ishwak Singh, who played Imran Ansari, got recognised and went on to find success further like in Rocket Boys, while Abhishek Banerjee, our very own Janna from the Stree universe, gained recognition for his chilling portrayal of Hathoda Tyagi. The show also rejuvenated the careers of actors like Gul Panag and Swastika Mukherjee, expanding their reach within Hindi storytelling.
Breaking new grounds
One of the show's most significant achievements was its representation of marginalized communities. The show was one of the first commercial Indian spaces to feature a trans character portrayed by a trans actor—Mairembam Ronaldo Singh as Mary Lyngdoh. This commitment to authentic representation added a layer of realism and groundedness to the show, which was further emphasized by its choice of locations; from the cramped mohallas to remote villages, everything felt rooted in the heartland of India that even captured the gross violence right!
Ultimately, Paatal Lok season 1 wasn’t just a crime story; it was a mirror of our society and a brutally honest portrayal of the power dynamics that shape our world. As the next season approaches, we can only hope it will explore the layers that made its predecessor so unforgettable.
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