Sacred Games, Season 2 - Triumph of Writing

Suhansid Srikanth

This season again proves that Nawazuddin lies in his utmost comfort in the hands of Anurag Kashyap. I can’t think of even a fairly equivalent actor to match up with how he brings an unique voice to the character. He etches a human shade yet he glorifies it larger than life. The dark humour.. The subtle breakings.. Tears.. Agony.. everything through his filter plays out as a pinnacle of emotions!

Saif Ali Khan, on the other hand, as this struggling cop who is trying to make peace with his past and survive the dreadful present is intense. One can’t stop wondering how Bollywood fails to utilize his potential to the fullest. So is Kalki Koechlin who plays a Sishya. The aura certainly evokes a sense of mystery to the character and sequences.

The real show stealer of the season is Pankaj Tripathi. As this god-man who influences nation’s politics, decisions and even survival, he solds you the role like no one else. WIth his serene presence, affirming tone and modulations at which he offers philosophical gyaans.. you get that it is no doubt the characters buy his speech. Amruta Subhash who plays Yadav mam leaves a mark as this super bossy independent woman refusing to take anything but no. The supporting cast is stunning! Even a cast in the third circle such as Malcolm emits such hauntings. Parulkar, the one who plays Home Minister, the Tamil woman who works on detonation.. every cast brings in a flavour to the narrative.

Matsya, Siduri, Apasmara, Bardo, Vikarna, Azrael, Torino and Radcliffe are what the episodes are called as, referring to the mythological connect built-in in the theme of the series. Each episode fledges out magnificently than the one before. Aarti Bajaj’s editing is terrific for two reasons. One, for how she seamlessly merges two timezones, two eras, two drastically different setups and make it run parallel and hand in hand on sync with the mood and tone of the series. Two, for how every cut, every stay, every stable shot brings in a sense of slowburnness to the story. For all the gangsterness the series is, the pace is contrastingly calm and internalized. No ramped up shots. No flashy cuts. No overtly done transitions. You feel an alarming sense of an explosion ahead with every passing minute. Now, that’s truly a triumph of powerful editing.

As for how the series ends.. one might have different opinions. I am bit satisfied. Bit not. The proceedings towards the last episode falls way too rushed and theoretical opposite to how the rest of the series was paced. The catastrophic end that the series was based upon suddenly gets reduced into a mere cinematic climax. But, nevertheless, the hook to another potential spin-off or a season is left open.

Unlike Season 1, that showcased the vibrant fare that Gaitonde’s life is.. Season 2 explores the lone man he is. And it is sheerly achieved by powerful writing the series flexes out. Directed by both Anurag Kashyap and Neeraj Ghaywan. The bunch of writers headed by Varun Grover has sent over an year long in locking the script.. which meticulously reflects in every single detail. Sacred Games, has not only created and set a bar too high.. but is a triumph of filmmaking itself. The Digital or Streaming revolution in India will forever be remembered by how the makers passionately created and embraced the power of OTT platforms!

Bottomline: Sacred Games, Season 2, directed by Anurag Kashyap & Neeraj Ghaywan wins big time solely by how it doesn't take the conventional path that Season 1 has laid. It genre shifts effectively and sticks religiously (Oh! The Irony) in telling a story.. of power, positions, sex and religion!