underworld was a landmark show from the first wave of Indian streaming. A violent, multi-spectacular police thriller, it debuted and promptly deconstructed during the pandemic, combining extreme televisual allure with sharp social criticism. Together sacred gameIt was one of the handful of titles that got away – streaming platforms, hounded by FIRs and summons, soon succumbed to self-censorship.
After a long hiatus, the season is returning underworld Will premiere on January 17 on Prime Video. This time, the series has turned to a new direction: Northeast India. Jaideep Ahlawat returns as Hathiram Chaudhary, a small-time Delhi cop who invoked Hanumanji’s song. “Running around town with big dogs”Directed by Avinash Arun, the new season has been shot in Nagaland, Delhi and parts of North Bengal. The Hindu Talked to Jaideep and producer Sudeep Sharma about why roads matter. Part…
Why such a long wait between seasons?
Sudeep Sharma: There were many reasons for this. First, we wanted to get it right. We didn’t want to just capitalize on the success of the first season. Then there were external reasons – first wave of Covid, second wave. Then we all got busy with other commitments. It was a long process of regrouping and matching our dates.
This time there is a new assertiveness in Hathiram’s actions and antics, which we call ‘Chavar’ in Hindi. He looks more confident about himself.
Jaideep Ahlawat:Thanks for paying attention to that. It’s there because of what he went through in the first season. Hathiram feels lucky to know about the world and the conspiracy behind it. Truth gives you strength. He is still sitting in the same chair in the same chair Station But he knows his worth better.
Jaideep Ahlawat in ‘Paatal Lok’ Photo courtesy: Manpreetsinghvirk
ss: During the first season, we thought Hathiram wanted to prove to the world – to his son, to his superiors, to his colleagues – that he is capable. What he was really trying to do was prove himself. By the end of it, the only person he could prove to was himself. No one else believed it, no one else understood it, and it didn’t matter.
Javed: Yes, he is more at peace this season.
How does Hathiram’s friendship with Ansari (Ishvak Singh) evolve in Season 2? It is shown in the trailer that Ansari has climbed the ladder by becoming an IPS officer.
ss:It is an integral part of the second season. For me, this has always been one of the main founding relationships of the show. Hathiram and Ansari represent two ways of operating and two ways of existence in the police force. Their working style is different but the objective is the same. The more educated Ansari – now an IPS officer – is taking the lift while Hathiram is climbing the stairs. They are about to reach the same place.
JA: There is awkwardness between them. The new season starts off on a very awkward note, but soon you realize they are getting back together. They have a deep sense of trust. They cannot be IPS Ansari and Inspector Hathiram. They will be Ansari and Hathiram, no matter what their position is.
There has been interest in basing Hindi films and shows in the northeastern states. How did you walk the line between authenticity and appropriation?
ss: To be honest, I don’t feel like an outsider in the Northeast. I grew up in Guwahati, Assam. I spent 20 years of my life there. It’s a place I can easily call home.
I knew clearly I didn’t want to do Northeast Exotica. We shot in Kohima and Dimapur in Nagaland and some villages near Kohima. Also, we shot parts of it in Darjeeling and Kalimpong and of course in Delhi. We had an excellent research consultant from Nagaland, a wonderful woman called Anungala Longkumar, who became a vital asset in the production of the show and a good friend. She was with us during pre-production and shoot and had full access to all things creative – script, costumes, art design and dialogue. We wanted to make sure we got the description of Nagaland right. It is a rich culture, with a unique way of life and its own socio-political complexities. It would have been a shame to misrepresent.
A picture from the sets of ‘Paatal Lok’ season 2, featuring Ishwak Singh and Merenla Imsong. Photo Courtesy: Manpreetsinghvirk/Prime Video
Javed:The experience of filming in Nagaland was amazing. Once, we were shooting in a village and folk music was playing. We record music live. We spent Christmas at a local church. Apart from Merenla Imsong and LC Sekhose, we have amazing local artistes from Nagaland in the show. Famous Assamese film director Jahnu Barua also has a role.
The first season, although critically acclaimed, angered many identity groups. How carefully did I have to walk this time?
ss: I don’t think I’ve limited myself because of what happened with the first season. Our intentions were good and our hearts were in the right place. Maybe when season two drops, there will be some new controversies and I’ll think, ‘Oh my God, these people are also angry this time.’
Javed (seriously): Anything can happen (Anything can happen).
What are your concerns about the future of streaming in India? Is this another TV in the making?
ss: My biggest concern – it’s about the general acceptance of mediocrity in this business. I think we as a community as filmmakers can do better. When your initial promise doesn’t meet their expectations, the studio is forced to look at the data sheet, and that’s when the balance of power shifts, because then we’re not playing to our advantage, which is creativity and storytelling. There is an area to say. In my experience, if we’re delivering on that promise and they see the rigor of our efforts in the work, they let us do it.
Javed:For most people, with all due respect, filmmaking is a business. And we are all part of it. If a product can be sold in your name, you are part of it. There’s a line in the show about the difference between ‘job’ and ‘duty’. There are some projects that we do as a job, for material gain, for luxury, and there are some that we do for ourselves, without thinking whether it will be released or not.
published – January 15, 2025 05:24 PM IST
