Punjab looked perishing in Netflix’s Kohrra Season 2. Unusually perishing and desolate. For all that we have witnessed for the longest time, that state is synonymous with pulpy—scattered with boisterous jokes, laughter and levity—and, over the years, we have it photocopied in our heads: the state is utterly non-serious. The six-episode series unfolds the fog off it, snaps our heads out of it, and shoots a murky Punjab, that has the zeal of reality, with the murder of Preet Bajwa (Pooja Bhamrrah) haunting the fields stripped of their folkloric vibrancy.
It opens at The Barn, in a border town of Dalerpura. Preet’s body lies there, lifeless, butchered within by a grass cutter. The scene doesn’t appear overly done. Here, we meet Assistant Sub-Inspector Amarpal Garundi (Barun Sobti), who assists the investigation alongside the new commanding officer, Dhanwant Kaur (Mona Singh). The equilibrium of the patriarchy and matriarchy falls right into place, as we see Amarpal swiftly noting down decisions driven by a woman, with no apparent side eye to it. It is worth noting in this gluey series. The investigation brings in Preet’s estranged NRI husband, Tarsem (Rannvijay Singha), who returns from the US and becomes the prime suspect in Preet’s murder. The narrative unfolds at a slow pace, with relevance to each loop and character.
Barun Sobti wins it with his inhibition as Amarpal. Looked real, in and out. Serving the case with devotion—while balancing out his personal life. Amarpal is driven by empathy—we see it every time he gets worried about Dhanwant, who is struggling with IVF treatments. Amarpal doesn’t do it to impress her; he does it because he holds the values within. Amarpal is truly a masculine man and is not intimidated by matriarchal or feminine qualities. He champions instincts.
Mona Singh as Dhanwant Kaur beholds the murk of Punjab entirely within her. She lives a solitary life, even after being married. We see the cold composure on her face—very, very static yet in motion. The pain that Dhanwant holds screams through the dead silence of her reactionless face. Her husband is an alcoholic and provides no support to her. Dhanwant, therefore, carries the marriage all on her shoulders along with her professional duties. Everything is noise to her, and she cuts it off at every instance—even while having her dinner on the table alone, while her husband sits behind on a side-bed, dozing. Dhanwant Kaur is locked in her survival mode.
The setting is where we bend. It is the raw Punjab. There is a giggle only when it is called for. The subtlety of Ishq Tera Tadpave offers a jarring counterpoint for those who encountered the state solely through this song’s chart-topping gala. Created by Gunjit Chopra, Diggi Sisodia, and Sudip Sharma, the series doesn’t take the folk out of the state—it is there, woven throughout the state’s colloquialism and songs.
Watch Kohrra Season 2 on Netflix.
IWMBuzz rates it 4/5 stars.
