Bandish Bandits - Season 2 - Off Key Melody

Bandish Bandits - Season 2

Hindi - Musical / Drama

8 Episodes approx. 50 min

Prime Video

The first season of Bandish Bandits was a resounding success for Amazon. Premiering during the early Covid days, a musical with very good looking leads (good actors too!), the performances of acting stalwarts and an outstanding classical based music score by Shankar  - Ehsaan - Loy, resonated well with audiences. The songs had a great repeat value as well.

Quick Recap - Season 1 ended with the dramatic musical crescendo of the "Sangeet Samrat" competition. Radhe (Ritwik Bhowmik) makes it rain with Raag Malhar ("Garaj Garaj" ) getting the better of his paternal uncle Digvijay (Atul Kulkarni), thereby restoring his grandfather, Pandit Radhe Mohan Rathod's (Naseeruddin Shah) pride. His girlfriend and estranged band partner Tamanna (Shreya Chaudhry)  heads off to a music school, to learn "real music" and go beyond being "just a performer".

Season 2 starts with Tamanna joining a music school under the tutelage of Nandini (Divya Dutta). Inspite of being a "star", Tamanna demonstrates her willingness to learn. She also agrees to play second fiddle to Soumya (Yashaswini Dayama) as they come together with a couple of others including Ayaan, the handsome composer/keyboard player, to form a band, that will represent the music school in the Indian Band Championship. 

Meanwhile at the Rathod's, Panditji has passed away, Radhe and his family are struggling to keep the "Gharana" afloat while Digvijay tirelessly attempts to wrest control. A book on Panditji's personal life does not help matters and soon Radhe and family are in a tough spot. Radhe reluctantly collabs with a classical rock band, as a way to keep Panditji's music alive, He doesn't always agree with the band's lead, Mahi's (Paresh Pahuja)  methods, eventually falling out with him. 

Meanwhile Radhe's mother, Mohini (Sheeba Chaddha) agrees to partner with Digvijay in a series of concerts, to keep the family going. Eventually, you guessed it - Radhe, Mohini, his dad Rajendra (Rajesh Tailang) and younger uncle form a band to compete in the Indian Band Championship. A contemporary musician Ananya (Aaliyah Qureshi), who isn't  "enough of a genius" for her family, also joins the band. Inadvertently, she completes a hackneyed romantic quadrangle. 

It always feels like two different screenplay writers/styles are at play. The portions at the school, take its own sweet time, playing out like a typical Archie's episode. The music is more urbane and contemporary. However, it is not as repeat worthy, doing a disservice to the style. All the musical hurdles are a hollow depiction of conflicts of the non musical nature! (more guided by a feeling or emotion, than the musical construct)

The scenes involving the Rathod's are better, sticking to the roots of Season 1. The writing also allows Mohini and Rajendra's characters to emerge. These are also the portions where some of Season-2's most stand out sequences happen. Mohini and Digvijay's confrontation. Rajendra's resurrection, Mahi's sensible arguments with Radhe. These definitely have the better musical interludes, when the classical rock  collab of Radhe and Mahi happens, the zitar soars!

The parallel tracks take an awful lot of time setting up the last 4 episodes which are the meat of the show. There is also some good intentioned, but poorly depicted usage of data science in music as well!. Eventually, the show comes home, relying on it's strengths - the music, the performances by all the actors and outstanding production and costume design. 

Ritwik Bhowmick once again does a super job. I was a fan of his "performance" of the songs in season 1 and it is much the same here as well. Shreya Chaudhry is good again, inspite of the poorly written and hollow character ( Tamanna's off and on romances are a drag). 

Sheeba Chaddha is precious in a meaty role. Rajesh Tailang and Atul Kulkarni are reliable. Divya Dutta is graceful as the teacher with the usual backstory. I loved Paresh Pahuja's Mahi - a challenger of  the status quo and seemingly the most sensible character, his musical performance rocks. Everyone's favourite agent Arghya (Kunaal Roy Kapur) once again wisecracks his way into our hearts. 

if you watched and enjoyed Season 1, you will still enjoy the show. The highlights are still the classical songs Nirmohiya, Saavan Mohe Tarsaaye, the classical rock (Sakhi Mori and Garaj Garaj). Hichki 2.0 is the only contemporary song that stays with you and that shows the opportunity lost by Season 2.