Gripping crime thriller has a standout cast, realistic setting and plenty of surprises

WHEN crime series Mirzapur released on Amazon Prime in 2018 it took everyone by surprise and became a resounding success around the world, so a second season was always going to be inevitable.

Instead of being crushed by the weight of expectation, the newly released series has managed to carry forward the story with added bite.

The gangster drama picks up where series one left off and ramps up the tension. The first season charted the rise of two brothers in the bad lands of Mirzapur, which is ruled by a ruthless gangster and ended with them coming into conflict with him. In the second season, one of the brothers has to build up from nothing again, but this time he isn’t driven by power, but to take revenge on someone far more powerful than him, who caused a massacre that directly affected him. Then add to that more crime, gangsters, guns, fiery dialogues and rustic setting.

Like the first season of the series, the gritty gangster drama has a realistic setting and plenty of surprises, so the less you know about the plot, the better.

There is a power battle like the first season, but this time for another reason altogether, which takes the story forward, and offers up something new.

Like season one, what really makes Mirzapur 2 marvellous is a standout cast, who deliver brilliant performances and Pankaj Tripathi as Kaleen Bhaiya is outstanding. He breathes fire into every scene and has a magnetic presence.

Ali Fazal is also very good and takes his character forward really well. But what makes this series special is the strong female characters, with Shweta Tripathi and Rasika Dugal delivering memorable turns.

Some may find it over the top and too violent, while others may not appreciate some of the more edgy scenes. But overall, it is a gripping crime thriller nicely set up for season three.