Public, Politics & Phishing
Director: Soumendra Padhi
Created by: Nishank Verma and Soumendra Padhi
Written by: Trishant Srivastava
Cast: Amit Sial, Sparsh Srivastav, Monika Panwar, Anshuman Pushkar, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Aksha Pardasany, Seema Pahwa
There are some series on Netflix that are loved by people and at the same time disliked by many. Jamtara- Sabka Number Aayega is one of them. Season 1 created a heavy amount of hype before the series was released. It felt different, interesting, and full of desi-pan. It pivots around the phishing capital of our country- Jamtara. The second season aired on Netflix on 23rd September 2022. It is more violent, vindictive, and political. It might not be better but it certainly is entertaining.
Phishing is a cybercrime that we all have experienced in our lives once. The series is based on it. It enticed a huge audience initially. The plot for season 2 revolves around the character of Gudiya Mondal and her vengeance. The squabble between Sunny and Rocky becomes a framework for the storyline and continues to occur in several instances. However, the story of Gudiya is in the foreground with new characters augmenting it. The story takes off a few weeks from where it left in the previous season. It does feel off track like season 1 in some scenes. There are more political agendas than the actual problem – Phishing. It is the heart of Jamtara and every villager makes a living out of it. The view is widened and includes more local politics than the last season.
Multiple things are happening simultaneously and the director has tried to make sense of it altogether. The pressure of demonetization and fresh tricks to scam people are highly relatable. From emotional blackmailing to seducing, the scams expand in every way possible. Meanwhile, the victims of such scams have become smarter and display a growing storyline. They create hardships in Jamtara’s earning source. The bits are haphazard yet fun.
The one scene which is nothing but amazing is when the cell phones are tied to a banyan tree. It symbolizes what Jamtara stands for. It represents the entire show. The police are still trying to find evidence to arrest scammers. It addresses the lack of laws relating to cybercrime in India. The story somehow drives us to the finale through a bumpy road.
The story might not be the best element of the series but the characters surely are. They keep the audience engaged. Monika Panwar’s performance as Gudiya is consistently pleasing. She is silently becoming powerful and this time, politically. Her character transforms throughout the season. While Sunny and Rocky are played by Sparsh and Anshuman, the brothers have still stuck with their season 1 problems of heroic attitude, decision-making, and egoistic fights. They add up to the trivial happenings in the story. Amit Sial’s performance as the antagonist is terrific. Brajesh Bhan is the sociopathic politician we don’t like but also the one who wins. The audience is supposed to hate him which is exactly what we do. The chemistry between the duo, Dolly Sahu- Saurav played by Aksha Pardasany and Udit Arora, is the gentle part of the series. Our favorite Biswa Pathak played by Dibyendra Bhattacharya is rather outstanding in season 2 too. His comic timing syncs with the dialogue writer of the show. Seema Pahwa is the new entry with the upper hand in the story as well as the acting. She is the highlight of the show. All other actors add up to the strong characterization of the show. It runs the show despite the madness it embodies.
The dialogue writing suits the show but doesn’t engrave in people’s minds. This season the monochromatic vision becomes slightly vibrant. There are a lot of angles to the story. It becomes a challenge for the makers and the viewers to remain focused. But somehow, the story finds its way back to equilibrium. The desi flavor is preserved with local slang and visuals of a typical Indian village. The climax lives up to the standards of the series. It relieves the audience and prepares them for the foreseeable future. If you liked the movies- Gangs of Wasseypur or Badlapur, this series is for you.
The world of cybercrime is expanding in the country. Do not share your bank details and OTP with anyone.
It’s now available to stream on Netflix.
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