Nagaland at heart of high-stakes political murder in Paatal Lok 2

Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat) and Imran Ansari (Ishwak Singh), and others in a still from ‘Paatal Lok’ Season 2 revolving around a high-profle murder case of a fictitious Nagaland-based politician. (Photo Credit: Prime Video India/YouTube)

Jaideep Ahlawat’s Hathi Ram returns to piece together the puzzle

Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 8
Nagaland becomes the epicentre of a high-stakes political murder case as Amazon Prime Video releases the trailer for the much-anticipated Season 2 of the hit series Paatal Lok.

Paatal Lok, or the netherworld, follows the story of a “down-and-out” yet determined cop, Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary, portrayed deftly by Jaideep Ahlawat and delves into the grim underbelly of the crime world, all while battling his own personal demons.

Season 2 of this gripping crime thriller is set to premiere on Prime Video on January 17 and the official trailer, released on January 6, has already garnered over 10 million views on YouTube, building massive anticipation among fans.

The official synopsis describes Inspector Hathi Ram as a haggard yet unlikely hero who finds himself investigating a high-profile murder case leading him to “remote corners of North-East India, where he battles powerful forces and personal tragedies in his pursuit of truth.”
Paatal Lok 2 features an ensemble retuning as well as new cast including Ishwak Singh, Tillotama Shome, Gul Panag, Nagesh Kukunoor, Jahnu Barua, Anurag Arora, and Prashant Tamang.

A ‘Lookout Notice’ for a suspect in a still from trailer of ‘Paatal Lok’ Season 2 revolving around a high-profle murder case of a fictitious politician from Nagaland. (Photo Credit: Prime Video India/YouTube)

Notably, two artists from Nagaland, Merenla Imsong and LC Sekhose, also feature in the cast credits. The trailer hints at the inclusion of several local talents, including actor-director Bendang Walling.

According to the trailer, the plot revolves around the murder of Jonathan Thom, the fictitious founder of the Nagaland Democratic Forum, in New Delhi. The case initially falls under Inspector Chaudhary’s jurisdiction. 

However, as the investigation unfolds, Chaudhary, accompanied by his protégé-turned-higher-ranking officer Imran Ansari (played by Ishwak Singh), travels to Nagaland to unravel the mystery but soon discovers that the forces at play are far beyond their league. 

‘We are minor league players while this is the World Cup in action,’ a character ominously remarks in the trailer.

“Someone out there is pulling out the puzzle pieces,” another character warns, as the plot thickens with layers of intrigue and suspense.

AS per reports, sharing his thoughts on the upcoming season, Ahlawat said the Season 2 unravels the raw, vulnerable side of Inspector Chaudhary as he grapples with new adversities, uncharted moral dilemmas, and his own shadows. 

“It’s darker, grittier, and layered with human complexities that will keep audiences on the edge. The teaser and poster have already ignited intrigue, and I can’t wait for viewers to experience this thrilling chapter of his journey,” he was quoted as saying. 

In a snappy exchange from the trailer, a character warns Chaudhary: “This place is the netherworld. Once you’re in, it’s impossible to get out.” 

To this, the gritty cop retorts with quiet defiance: “Don’t worry. I’m a permanent resident of this netherworld.”

Created by Sudip Sharma and directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware, Paatal Lok Season 2 will release on Prime Video on January 17.

Shooting for the series in Nagaland reportedly took place in late 2022 and early 2023 period.  

In September 2024, another popular Amazon Prime spy-action thriller, The Family Man (Season 3), featuring Manoj Bajpayee, Sharib Hashmi, Shreya Dhanwanthary, and Dalip Tahil, among others, was filmed in the state.


 

A still from ‘Paatal Lok’ Season 2 revolving around a high-profle murder case of a fictitious politician from Nagaland. (Photo Credit: Prime Video India/YouTube)



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