Asur 2 premiered on Jio Cinema on June 1. The psychological thriller stars Arshad Warsi, Barun Sobti, Ridhi Dogra, Anupriya Goenka, Amey Wagh, Meiyang Chang, Abhishek Chauhan and Gaurav Arora, among others. Is the series worth a watch? Read our review to find out.
Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti-starrer Asur 2 is now streaming on Jio Cinema.
Shweta Keshri
Mumbai,UPDATED: Jun 1, 2023 11:39 IST
"Lagaav hi peeda hai, karuna hi kroorata hai, aur ant hi praarambh," we hear Asur recite these lines many times in the series. It means - attachment is pain, compassion is cruelty, and the end is the beginning. However, without emotions, attachment and compassion, humanity ceases to exist. Exactly! And that's what the Asur AKA Shubh Joshi wants, who is back for revenge with his lethal plan to destroy the world.
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Directed by Oni Sen, Asur 2 begins from where Season 1 left off. The disastrous incidents that took place in the first season have clearly taken a toll on everyone involved in the hunt for Shubh Joshi. The series begins with Nikhil Nair, who is haunted by his past. After the death of his daughter Riya, he is devastated and blames himself for the loss. On the other hand, Dhananjay Rajpoot AKA DJ, has taken refuge in spirituality to escape from his tormenting past. Meanwhile, the CBI team races against time as the Asur has planned new attacks and has already issued warnings.
While Nikhil proves to be a conformist like ever and tries to uncover the truth while being a part of the system, DJ decides to go rogue and also ropes in Nikhil's wife Naina with him in his plan. After losing a wife, a child, and many colleagues, these serial killings have become more personal for the CBI team, who will go to lengths to nab Shubh Joshi. However, will the good win over the evil? Will the shattered Dhananjay Rajpoot and the conflicted Nikhil Nair reunite to prevent his reign of terror? These are the questions that will be answered in the episodes to come. Only two episodes are out and the rest will be released in the coming days.
Much like the previous part, every episode in Season 2 begins with the unraveling of a part of Shubh's past, followed by the DJ and Nikhil trying to save the world from the Asur's anarchy. As expected, Shubh is a step ahead of the CBI team. After killing Lolark Dubey (Sharib Hashmi), Rasool (Amey Wagh) concocts a story and gets away with it. But, not without raising suspicion with too accurate an explanation and description. We love the line - 'Jabsaare saboot saamne se mil jaye toh samjhi jhoot ka jaal bahut mehnat se buna gaya hai'. But, the question remains. Is he the Asur or is there another face hiding behind the Balinese mask who is obsessed with Kali vs Kalki stories?
Written by Gaurav Shukla and Abhijeet Khuman, Asur 2 nicely blends AI [Artificial Intelligence] into the thriller. While the first part captivated us all with a mix of mythology and forensic science, the second season brings in what the world is obsessed with right now - artificial intelligence. We might still be debating about its pros and cons, but Asur clearly knows how to destroy the world with a click.
Having said all that, Asur 2 could not surpass the first season. Although the writers played more with the psyche and less with charred bodies, blood and gore, Season 2 has less of an impact. Season 1 was much more gripping, as the new installment seemed dragged in parts.
The series shines due to exceptional performances, which will keep you hooked till the end. Once again, Barun Sobti dazzles with his stellar performance as shattered Nikhil Nair. Arshad Warsi was remarkable as DJ as he displayed his character's depth and complexity. Teen actor Vishesh Bansal is impressive as Shubh Joshi. She plays a person who doesn't show an iota of remorse while eliminating people he has been close to. Anupriya Goenka, Amey Wagh, Meiyang Chang, Abhishek Chauhan and Ridhi Dogra were also good in their parts.
Dialogue writers Suraj Gianani, Abhijeet Khuman and Gaurav Shukla and the background score by Dharamraj Bhatt need special mention.
If you loved the first season, Asur 2 is a must-watch because the sequel ties the loose ends that were left in the previous one. The questions that arose there were answered in the second installment. However, the end could be a little disappointing. The makers have kept it open-ended, leaving a chance for Season 3.
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3 out of 5 stars to Asur 2.
This review is based on eight episodes.
Published By:
K Janani
Published On:
Jun 1, 2023
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