Tanaav Season 2 Review: Manav Vij, Arbaaz Khan's Kashmiri Fauda Continues To Be An Underwhelming Crime Thriller

For a show set in Kashmir, the second installment of SonyLiv's Tanaav, continues to miss out on bringing out the nuances of living in the midst of a conflict. While it is gripping and engaging still, it feels a lot of the conflicts and plotlines could have easily played out in another region with a similar set-up.

The trauma of living in a conflict-hit region—the constant frisking at checkpoints, Internet shutdown, lack of basic services—is portrayed strictly on the surface level, without showing what it means for the general population in the Zone.

Tanaav Season 2: Plot

The second season kicks off with Harkat leader Junaid (Shashank Arora) orchestrating a suicide attack on a bus stop in Kashmir. The interaction between Junaid and his fellow leaders seems like they are not pros but trainees at their job. In fact, the duo can't mutually decide if they should let off the bomb fuse. Needless to say, the scene itself is very unconvincing. Junaid struggles to find moments of intimacy with his wife Dr Farrah (Ekta Kaul).

Meanwhile, Kabir Farooqui (played by a bearded, menacing Manav Vij) defends himself and his father (played by a restrained, yet powerful Kabir Bedi) when they face a surprise attack. Elsewhere, Jagjit Malik (played convincingly by Rajat Kapoor) interrogates subjects to know about about Al Damishq (Fareed, played by Gaurav Arora).

Tanaav Season 2: Performances

Al Damishq is the son of Mir Sahib, who died last season. He wants to avenge his father's death as STG (Special Task Group) along with Kabir (Vij) hunt down the terrorist. Arbaaz Khan's plays Commander Vikrant Rathore.
WhIle the show is supported well by powerful acting performances by Manav Vij, Rajat Kapoor and even Shashank Arora, a lackluster plot and tried-and-tested formulas play spoilsport. Simply put, the second season of Tanaav lacks innovation or a story to justify a stellar ensemble cast and their acting performances.

Tanaav Season 2: Writing And Direction

The season is split into two parts. Needless to say, the first part ends in a cliffhanger but then, it makes one wonder if the show really justifies its two part split. While adapting the second season of Fauda isn't a problem in itself, the show doesn't get right the sensibilities of living in a conflict zone.

Tanaav Season 2: What Works, What Doesn't

As action sequences and shootouts play, one can't help but wonder if this show was suddenly set not in Kashmir but any other snowy conflict-hit region, would anyone even notice? What doesn't work for this season is also that the complicated web of politics, separatism and terrorism is now suddenly reduced to a game of cat-and-mouse chase where there is only one enemy (Al Damishq) who must be neutralized at all costs. All in all, Tanaav season 2 leaves much to be desired.

Star rating: 2 / 5 stars

Tanaav season 2 is streaming now on SonyLiv.