Laakhon Mein Ek 2 review: Biswa’s dark writing and Shweta Tripathi’s vulnerable performance make it a deccent watch

The evolution of the web space in India has opened innumerable avenues for writers to showcase and execute a story as simple, yet engaging as this. Biswa Kalyan Rath, wearing the writer’s hat yet again, has penned season 2 of his much talked-about series Laakhon Mein Ek starring Shweta Tripathi in the lead this time, and his writing seems to be getting darker. Talking about the dark world inside the medical industry in small-town India, Biswa’s writing goes a notch higher. The execution has some flaws, but Shweta Tripathi’s performance makes it worth the while.

What’s it about: Directed by Abhishek Sengupta, Laakhon Mein Ek is an anthology series where each season will talk about an ordinary person surrounded by extraordinary circumstances. Season 2 revolves around Dr.Shreya Pathare, a bright, young medical student who has just begun her practice. When higher authorities pressurize the hospital to arrange a cataract camp in the remote village of Shitalapur, there is no one to lead it, and Shreya is pushed in. As she reaches Shitalapur, she realises in what backward state the medical condition there is, and tries to improve that. Meanwhile, the big bad world of corruption, personal profits and disputes between the higher authorities result in problems in Shreya’s life, and how she stands tall even at the cost of losing something is the show.
It talks about many things but the appreciable fact is that it doesn’t lose its purpose along the course.

Yay: For those who know Biswa only as a stand-up comedian so far, both the seasons of his series are here to break your notion. The writer knows the difference in both his worlds, and doesn’t try to push forced punchlines unnecessarily, which is the very first commendable point. The world he has written about is dark, but he justifies it by showing what goes inside. Breaking the stereotypical protagonist sketch, he has sketched a girl who has completed her education but is not so confident. She is not your staple lady standing up against all odds, stepping into battle like she has nothing to lose. Rather, she is just like us, has a voice, but thinks about 200 consequences before speaking. She does stand up for many things but not because she is rebellious, like we usually see. Shweta Tripathi as Dr. Shreya Pathare seems to be the right choice for the part. There is a certain poise in the lady that she brings on screen, and makes you notice her, diminutive frame not withstanding.

Nay: No other character except Shweta’s get a back story. They enter the screen and that moment is the only introduction you get to them. Concentration is on the immediate world and not on their past. There is an attempt to make the audience understand through the lifestyle every character lives in, but not each one who will consume the show will bother reading between the lines. Considering a series is a long format execution, there was scope to make that happen. This is also something that was missing in the first season.

CineBlitz Verdict: Laakhon Mein Ek 2 is not just another easy breezy web show, but a dark one. Not everyone will applaud it, but you also cannot dislike it. Watch it for the vulnerability Shweta Tripathi brings on screen and for the dark world with less drama and more logic. 8 episodes make it binge-worthy.

Rating: 3 stars