Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2 Review
The first season introduced us to Vikrant (Tahir Raj Bhasin), a seemingly ordinary man ensnared in the toxic grip of Purva Awasthi (Aanchal Singgh), whose obsessive love for him knows no boundaries. Season 2 picks up seamlessly from the cliffhanger, with Purva abducted by Jalaan (Arunoday Singh), just before the bomb blast at the party. He demands Rs 100 crore from her father, Akheraj (Saurabh Shukla), for her release. Viewers should remember that Jalaan was initially hired by Vikrant to kill Purva. However, he betrays him, flipping the situation into a kidnapping deal, with millions at stake.
While Virant seeks Purva’s death, her father leaves no stone unturned to rescue her. He calls up her childhood friend, London based mercenary, Guru (Gurmeet Choudhary), who, along with his team, specialises in rescuing hostages. Driven by his own unrequited love for Purva, Guru adds further complications to the conflict, raising the stakes to dangerous levels.
As the tension escalates, Vikrant must protect Shikha (Shweta Tripathi), the woman he loves, now married to a high-ranking police office, while his family, including his younger sister (Hetal Gada), his father (Brijendra Kala), and his best friend Golden (Anantvijay Joshi) too unwittingly become part of the deadly game of survival and duplicity. Each character is pulled into a maelstrom of moral compromises. The line between good and evil becomes blurred, as ambiguity rules.
Where the first season built its tension more slowly, Season 2 dives headfirst into relentless action. From tense ransom negotiations to failed murder attempts, the narrative barrels forward at breakneck speed, delivering constant twists and turns, keeping the viewer engaged throughout. Director Sidharth Sengupta seems to have upped the ante with the second season and doesn’t lessen the pace one bit. However, some sequences, like the drawn-out effort to dispose of a body, feel excessive, detracting from the tension instead of building it. In the pursuit of exploring psychological depth and the complexities of human relationships, the show sometimes falters when it draws into unnecessary melodrama,
Saurabh Shukla’s portrayal of Akheraj Awasthi continues to be a highlight of the show. The sense of dread he exudes just by sheer screen presence and body language teaches you what restrained acting is all about. Gurmeet Choudhary’s entrance as Guru makes him the joker in the pack. He’s effective as a ‘good’ mercenary and we hope his character is explored further in the next installment. Aanchal Singgh once again brings both charm and menace to her role. There’s another layer to her now, as she’s shown to be pregnant. Shweta Tripathi too is given more to work with this season, playing a woman trapped in a marriage with a deeply caring husband – feelings she can’t herself reciprocate. Tahir Raj Bhasin’s evolution from a mild-mannered man to a ruthless, obsessive lover is central to the story. His portrayal of Vikrant’s inner conflict is riveting. The actor’s accurate portrayal of a conflicted personality is at the soul of the series.
The season culminates in a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, revealing that Purva’s mother, thought to be dead, is alive and in the custody of Akheraj’s nemesis, Sherpa (Varun Badola). The final scene sees Vikrant, alone and gravely injured, facing off against a small army, his hand clutched by a heavily pregnant Purva. This tense, unresolved ending leaves us eagerly awaiting what the third season holds.
In conclusion, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2, may be imperfect at times, succumbing to high melodrama and over-the-top moments, but its psychological complexity and top class acting by the entire ensemble cast keeps the audience hooked. The series is currently streaming on Netflix.
