Karagar Part 2 is a worthy sequel to Syed Ahmed Shawki's mystery thriller series Karagar. Starring Chanchal Chowdhury, Intekhab Dinar, Tasnia Fareen, FS Nayeem and Afzal Hossain, the Hoichoi original show goes deep into Bangladesh’s past and comes up with a whacky climax, leaving us gaping in wonder.

The mystery man and his tale

Karagar Part 2 picks up the threads right where the previous season ended. We get answers to the questions the previous season left us with: who is the mystery prisoner? How did he end up inside cell no. 145 at Akashnagar prison? Is he really 250 years old and pretending to be mute? We now know that the strange prisoner is history professor David Adams, who was born in Bangladesh in 1972 and raised in Quebec. He has come to Bangladesh in search of his biological mother, who was abused by Razakars (Pakistani collaborators during the liberation war) in 1971. The culprits, he believes, are housed in that prison. The thriller turns into a revenge saga with David as the centrepiece.

How does the second season match up to the first?

Sequels to highly-acclaimed shows or movies often suffer from expectations. But Karagar Part 2 does not disappoint on that count. Keeping the mystery alive throughout the seven episodes, the makers deliver a heartwarming saga packed with punches. When viewed together, Karagar Part 1 and 2 provide a relishing experience unmatched in Bengali OTT space. In short, Syed Ahmed Shawki has woven an enigmatic tale around the 1971 Liberation War, the Razakars and the identity crisis of the children of war.

The key to success is in the making

The reason why Karagar Part 2 manages to captivate the audience is its superlative making. Like the previous instalment, this season also boasts of sharp writing. Yes, the series is more dialogue-heavy now, but the makers painstakingly put the piece of the puzzle together this time. The stirring background score and magnificent use of lights in the jail sequences add to the theatrics.

Barkat Hossain Palash deserves credit for the remarkable camera work that helps create a haunting ambience. The crisp editing ensures that the viewers never feel the need to click on the fast-forward button. Despite a few unnecessary sub-plots, the pace of the revenge thriller does not wane even for a bit.

High-octane performances by the cast

Chanchal Chowdhury, who is riding high on the back-to-back success of Karagar and Hawa, delivers another jaw-dropping performance. While Chanchal’s eyes did all the talking in the previous season, he has dialogues in this chapter and he delivered them with panache. Intekhab Dinar effortlessly slips into the shoes of Jailer Mostak Ahmed and never fails to impress. FS Nayeem as police officer Ashfaque, Afzal Hossain's Miya Bhai and Tasnia Farin as Maha are outstanding too.