The Family Man: tale of a 'minimum guy'.

The chronicle of the Shrikant Tiwari (Manoj Bajpayee) who is a Senior Agent and Analyst in T.A.S.C (Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell), NIA (National Intelligence Agency) and at the end of the day, He is just a simple family man. The story moves along with his best friend and colleague JK Talpade (Sharib Hashmi), Wife Suchitra Tiwari (Priyamani), and two kids Dhriti and Atharva Tiwari (Ashlesha Thakur and Vedant Sinha, respectively).

The season first of the series is inspired by the real-life newspaper articles. Based on the articles each episode entails an exclusive plot which brilliantly woven into a Big National Level Security Threat. Each plot follows an investigation of a potential terrorist attack, while simultaneously developing Shrikant’s unsettled middle class family life. Srikant and JK, with their team Zoya, Milind and Jayesh, and Force One officer Imran Pasha work on preventing and chasing the attack and the mastermind behind it.

In the storyline, Srikant counters with rebels from Kashmir and ISIS operatives who had planned a deadly chemical attack on the Delhi. The season had best comments on Politics, Police, Media and the society. The truth of officers and media who make an unethical call more often than usual, declaring innocent students as Pakistani terrorists, was one of them. This dilemma on conscience is also taken a bit further alongside the story from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (Chennai), in this season.

Series reeks of brilliance of Film-making, and the art storytelling. It is fun and intriguing, befitting, humane and keeps you hooked till the very end. The Amazon Prime Video series invents the equivalent enemy. It raises the bar, it’s stakes with its brilliant Antagonists both Neeraj Madhav and Samantha Ruth Prabhu; and with its wide and versatile cast imparting the larger context and the bigger picture about the state of the world we are living in. It offers contemporary social commentary on. Series ended on a cliff-hanger. Knowing that season one has risen the bars and expectations of the audience, Raj and DK and writer Suman Kumar took the second season to intensified level, literally.

This befitting sequel is focused on Southern India for a change. Eventually, Pakistan & ISI do come up but they are just teaming up with Tamil rebels of Sri Lanka, fighting for their free state. The concept of rebels around India fighting for their autonomy is merely a coincidence; but is a political comment on the country and its functions, within and across the borders. Blurring the lines between right and wrong in the politics of this state, and the good and bad guys, the purpose of agents who work for a country versus the idea of terrorism, rebels, there’s nothing that wasn’t touched upon.

Season two is brief. It’s cooked with all the essential ingredients and on the required heat. It’s gradual, intense, thriller and fun. Story line, sub-plots, characters, all take their own time to set the stage and audience for a high on-adrenaline well-constructed action sequences, and ultimately triumph. The series is flexible, its authentic in its discourse and nature. It seeks confidence and comfort with its characters and sequences in realistically letting them speak in Tamil (a neutral Tamil Nadu dialect as well as the distinct Sri Lankan Tamil dialect), unlike a mainstream Hindi film/show. In one scene, in Chennai Srikant and Talpade (Sharib Hashmi) they struggle with Tamil. One of the local officers aiding them in the events even says to them like ‘just because you speak Hindi, don’t assume the entire world does so too’.

Srikant Tiwari, an NIA secret agent in first season has quit Threat Analysis & Surveillance Cell (TASC) and now, works in an IT firm. He is leading a 9-5 job, and spends a quality time with his family. The family part of this man has fell apart. His relation with his wife Suchitra (Priya Mani) has also become somewhat estranged. She has left her job, his kids also have become more involved with themselves, doing their own things. The secrecy characterized and romanticized with Srikant has molded his daughter as well, who has tucked has a boyfriend. In short, Srikant is miserable and his marriage is a train wreck. Obviously, he is miserable, he misses his old and only friend JK (Sharib Hashmi) and the TASC. An addition to this, scenes in the IT company with the 28-yr-old Boss who asks Srikant to not to be a “minimum guy”.

The story is more focused and crisper than the first one. The idea of family and the centre at the centre is what distinguishes the series from other predictable thriller & terrorism-based shows. The marital status, significance of family, and the concerns of a common Indian family man drive the series apart from the rest; this time it’s more insightful.

Manoj Bajpayee is a spectacular, go-to actor. There’s nothing this man cannot make you believe in on screen. He is as natural as Srikant Tiwari as a breath of oxygen. Manoj Bajpayee’s perfect conviction skills are absolutely satisfactory.

Moosa Rehman (Al Qatil) (Neeraj Madhav) is a central villain and unlike Bollywood Films is probably stronger, cunning than the Protagonist. The characterisation of Moosa has been written and captured so gradually and extraordinarily that its transformation from a victimized Muslim man into a cold-blooded terrorist is unbelievable. His tragic backstory plays a key part along with Madhav’s performance.

Female antagonist, Raji played by Samantha is nothing but ruthless, powerful, and strong. Her performance is commendable and convincing. She did remind me of Natalie Dormer as (Prof. Moriarty) from Elementary. The most nefarious adversary Sherlock Holmes has ever faced off. Raji is the real weapon of the show. The writers don’t rush through her character. In an equally unfortunate circumstances and the backstory like Moosa Rehmani, Raji is a rebel or freedom fighter of Tamil Rebels also changes her nature and identity. She is working in a small factory in Chennai where she is sexually harassed by the supervisor. But eventually, she will be in hand-to-hand combats, killing people, taking on opponents, and her straight face expressions terrors the audience with a feeling of pain and the hardened attitude. She leads with all ease and steady. Her eyes reflect her remorseless attitude, filled with hurt, and anger and the disgust.

Priya Mani as Suchitra Tiwari (Srikant’s wife) continues to be the heart of the series. Her ability of conveying the innocence, and stiffness of a wife and mother is just beautiful. Alesha Thakur as Dhriti, Sharib Hashmi as JK Talpade and Sharad Kelkar as Arvind are equally excellent.

Despite all the dark and twisty characters and narrative, Raj & DK do accomplish in humanising the plot. We get real, flawed police officers who often get in conflict with themselves and people who sympathize with rebels.

Performances are as dazzling and natural as ever. The series is a complete package, it has got a vast cast, thrilling and intense story and a clear direction.