“Paatal Lok is like reading a hauntingly good book. Even when it’s over, it still lingers in your mind in a way you cannot quickly dismiss, just like a good book does to you.”
So said a Naga viewer after binge-watching both the seasons of Paatal Lok, written by Sudip Sharma and directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware. While the first season was already considered a pandemic hit, the very series possibly gained its popularity in the Northeast after the Season 2 premiered on Prime Video on 17 January.
This is true especially for many Nagas who took great pleasure in binge-watching the series, particularly in anticipation of seeing familiar faces and discovering what roles they might play in this riveting show that bares open the condition of the human heart.
A Different 'Paatal Lok'
The first episode of season 2 opens with the brutal murder and decapitation of an influential Naga political leader named Jonathan Thom (Kaguirong Gonmei) in Delhi amidst the Nagaland Business Summit. The summit is critical to the development of Nagaland – a land that is incredibly beautiful but also conflict-ridden in relation to the Naga Insurgency, which is known as the oldest insurgency of independent India.
This is where the fatigued but determined Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat) embarks on a journey to once again unravel a mystery made even more complex by the social and cultural fabric of a community that is new to him. In season 2, he enters a different 'Paatal Lok' or hell, where, he says he is a 'permanent resident.'
What follows is a gripping story that is impossible to forget immediately.
The eight-episode season spread across intriguing titles, such as “Head On”, “Kohima Calling”, “Four Murders and a Funeral”, “Missed Call”, “Off Balance”, “Of Mothers and Daughters”, “Children of Men”, and “The Good Samaritan”, takes you through a unique experience that is quintessentially made possible through compelling narrative, brilliant direction, and flawless performance.
What makes the show even more special is how it delves into the lives of the Naga society with utmost care and sensitivity. The very fact that the character names were well thought of – giving no indication of which tribe he/she might belong to – is deeply admirable because in Nagaland, a person's name is often enough to give away the tribal identity of a person.
In just a fleeting moment, it also highlights the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act 1989. The 'Dry State' scene in the show is a grim reminder that the NLTP Act has been a total failure in the state for all these passing decades.
The use of Nagamese by Naga characters gave a sense of home, considering that it is the most common language used across the state to communicate with each other.
Although ironically, 'Nagamese' is barely considered a language by its speakers, this is necessary considering the linguistic diversity in the state. Every Naga tribe has a distinct language with some of them even having multiple languages within their own communities that they have to resort to speaking Nagamese for communication.
Predominantly set in Nagaland, although not with the sheer intention of showcasing the vibrant culture of Nagaland or its scintillating landscapes, is viewed by many as a fresh welcome change.
There are some who contend that guns, violence, drugs, insurgency, or corrupt Christianity may not bode well with the image of Nagaland, but it's also important to take note here that these negative elements are just part of the storyline and do not necessarily depict the reality of either Naga lives or Nagaland as a whole.
The state otherwise is peaceful and teeming with positive energy as anyone who has visited in recent years would testify.
A Rare Naga Cast
Being set in Nagaland, it only makes sense that the majority of the cast are Nagas. The prime suspect, Rose Lizo, played by actor and stand-up comedian Merenla Imsong, brilliantly wears her role as a woman dealing with drug addiction.
Then, there is Esther Shipong, Grace Reddy, and Asenla Thom, who come across as strong women making decisions for themselves – something that is now quietly emerging from the patriarchal Naga society.
Mengu Suokhrie, who played Esther Shipong as a supervisor at a rehab centre, is well known as a musician and as the star of Nana: A Tale of Us, a film that saw quite a commercial success in the state.
The immaculately coiffed Grace Reddy, played by Theyie Keditsu, is widely known for advocating the revival of Indigenous Naga textiles through her popular Instagram avatar – Mekhala Mama – while Asenla Thom played by Rozelle Mero is an interior designer, social entrepreneur, and managing director of 'The People Channel'.
Much spotlight is given to Reuben Thom, the estranged son of the slain Jonathan Thom. The role of the impulsive Reuben brilliantly portrayed by LC Sekhose, a celebrated rapper, has also won many hearts.
Other notable cast members from Nagaland are renowned musician, Alobo Naga, who played a Nagaland Cop; Jonathan Angami, a much-loved singer being transformed into a drug peddler; and filmmaker, Bendang Walling, who proficiently wore the role of Isaac as a sub-inspector. Besides the cast, writer, and filmmaker, Anungla Zoe Longkumer, was also part of the project as the research associate for Paatal Lok season 2.
For Nagas, there are several other familiar faces that appear on screen as prominent as this for the very first time, and even then, they have done great justice to it. Even though it’s a first time for the majority of them, they truly do come across as natural actors, who seem to have effortlessly fit into their characters.
Untapped Potential of Naga's Actors
For a state that has no properly established film industry, this is a remarkable feat that goes beyond the success of the show and speaks greatly of the untapped potential that the state has in the film industry.
Among others, the series features prominent names from Assam such as Kenny Deori Basumatary, who made a special cameo appearance as the boss of SP Meghna Barua, brilliantly portrayed by Tillotama Shome, and Jahnu Barua as Uncle Ken, whose character is an integral part of the storyline.
But at the heart of the series really is the exploration of humanity in its raw and original form, making it relevant across regions and borders.
While the story may evolve around violence, everything that erupts out of it is the story of humanity – of familial bonds; friendships (especially between Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary and Ishwak Singh, who plays the role of Imran Ansari) and relationships; of the pressure to maintain professional standards that may not always conform to what is right, true, and just; of the many lives broken in pursuit of solving a high-profile case; of loss and grief that deeply affects the human mind; and of sharing little joys even amidst turmoil. The show endlessly explores themes that are relevant in the modern-day Indian society that is immensely diverse – a task that is by no means, easy.
Looking at the authenticity that the show lends, it definitely helps that the writer, Sudip Sharma, grew up in the Northeast and is well-acquainted with the region. Perhaps, that is also why, it is not a stereotypical narrative but as many people feel, Indian cinema finally gets Northeast right.
(Vishü Rita Krocha is a Kohima-based Naga journalist. This is an opinion piece, and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)