Aashram is an Indian crime drama web series, directed by Prakash Jha. It stars Bobby Deol, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Aditi Sudhir Pohankar, Darshan Kumar, Anupriya Goenka, Vikram Kochhar, Tushar Pandey, Sachin Shroff, Tridha Chaudhary, Anurita Jha, and Rajiv Siddhartha in key roles. The second season was released on 11th November 2020 on MX Player for free.
This season starts where season 1 ended, Baba Nirala (Bobby Deol) is getting dirtier day by day, he's not able to control his needs and hence calls Babita (Tridha Chaudhary) every night in his room, and continues to fool Pammi (Aditi Sudhir Pohankar) who is a wrestler and has won the state-level championship, and her brother Satti (Tushar Pandey). The state CM Sundar Lal (Anil Rastogi) wants Baba Nirala on his side now for winning this election, as Baba is now very famous among the low-class people and also among the youths by collaborating with the youth sensation Tinka Singh. Hukum Singh (Sachin Shroff) also wants the blessings of Baba Nirala to win the election. Ujagar Singh (Darshan Kumaar) along with Dr. Natasha (Anupriya Goenka) and Sadhu (Vikram Kochhar) wants to expose Aashram and Baba Nirala and his sidekick Bhopa Swami (Chandan Roy Sanyal), the business of drugs through their prashaads (famous Laddoos) by getting into the Aashram's Nasha Mukti Kendra as patients. And women are exploited every day, especially Kavita (Anurita Jha). Will Ujagar be able to expose the dhongi Baba? Pammi will ever know the truth about this Ashram?
Four writers have written the story and screenplay, Madhvi Bhatt, Avinash Kumar, Sanjay Masoomm, and Kuldeep Ruhil. The story is nothing different from its first season, it stays there follows the same path of abuse and exploitation of powers, circling in the same room for 9 episodes. Neither the story, not the characters have evolved, Babita and Kavita don't change from season 1, Kavita is still mopping the floor, following the orders of the caricaturish, Girls hostel warden (Dimpy Mishra) whereas Babita is still getting sexually abused (though consensual) by Baba Nirala, which he phrases as "Baba ka Aashirvaad". But soon Pammi is raped by Baba when she was unconscious, and her track after that becomes engaging, her rage and anger, and confusion have been amazingly portrayed. The same goes with Akki, who disguise as an electrician, to get into Aashram, and how he helps Ujagar and Natasha to collect evidence of drugs being used, and women being sexually harassed, is intriguing and captivating.
Other than that nothing else works, seems like you're watching an extended version of season 1, where characters not even changes a bit, Satti is still a Bhakt of Baba, despite he made him sterile, and Bhopa Swami stills cleaning the mess of Baba Nirala. The political angle doesn't work at all, and Tinka Singh's songs and concert don't add any value to the script and become irritating after some time. Ujagar, Natasha, and Sadhu's investigation seem to be going nowhere, and always ends in a dead-end. So the script is moving in circles.
Bobby Deol as Baba Nirala, is quite decent, as calm, stormless Baba, and Chandan Roy Sanyal was amazing in season 1, but nothing changes here in this new season, and that's disappointing, as he's underutilized. All are quite decent and nothing extraordinary to discuss, but Aditi Sudhir Pohankar as Pammi outranks everyone, she's is the scene-stealer and has done her job with utmost honesty depicting the frustration for her game, her anger, rage, and wrath knowing she's has been raped, and when she burst out after that is simply terrific. Rajiv Siddhartha also shines as Akki and has an effective and positive presence throughout.
The cinematography by Chandan Kowli is brilliant, the scenes look classy and grand, and the production design by Udai Prakash Singh is gorgeous, the sets and the Aashram look stunning, and Background music is also of high quality and goes with the mood of the drama effectively.
Aashram Chapter 2 by Prakash Jha, appears as an extended version of season 1, where characters are stuck and not given room to grow, develop, and mature, and delivers nothing new, but the track of Pammi and Akki are enough to get you hooked and drama unfold quickly, no pacing problems, but being a thriller fails to provide any edgy moments. They should have taken time to write and develop season 2, like Mirzapur. I was looking for the promo for season 3 at the end, who knows they might release the next season after two months.
Rating:- 2/5
Now Streaming on MX Player for free.
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