If you thought that Hinduphobia was at its worst in ‘Leila’ on Netflix, think again. The much awaited sequel to ‘Sacred Games’ franchise has decided to give tough competition to ‘Leila’ in terms of both mediocrity and Hinduphobia. Whoever is unhappy with the final season of Game of Thrones, he/she shall thank the stars that there is finally something even worse than that.
Directed by Anurag Kashyap , Vikramaditya Motwane and Neeraj Gheywan, ‘Sacred Games 2’ has Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan in the principal roles and they are supported by actors like Kalki Koechlin, Ranvir Shorey, Amruta Subhash, Neeraj Kabi, Aamir Basheer, Pankaj Tripathi etc.
Plot –
After being escorted out of a murderous assault, Ganesh Gaitonde finds himself in Kenya, where he meets his ‘third father’, Khanna Guruji. On the other hand, Sartaj finds crucial clues in Gaitonde’s bunker, which leads him to discover the entire plot to destroy Mumbai. How Gaitonde unearths the truth behind the empire of Guruji, and how Sartaj saves Mumbai from imminent destruction, forms the crux of the story.
The Bad –
Some of the web series or films are considered as ideal examples of how to make one. But if we look at ‘Sacred Games 2’, it is a perfect example of how not to make one. ‘Sacred Games 2’ doesn’t only disappoint us, it also serves extremely idiotic content in the name of entertainment. The story is far from palatable, the abuses are unnecessarily stuffed in order to make the project look cool, and in order to make the series bolder, some scenes that promote excessive vulgarity are infused at random places in the web series. To be honest, it feels as if ‘Sacred Games 2’ is a puke inducing mixture of series like ‘Ghoul’, ‘Quantico’ etc., intending to target just a specific community.
None of us are unaware about the anti-Hindu and the anti-Indian attitude of the directors. However, the second season of ‘Sacred Games’ shows Hinduphobia and Indophobia of another level altogether. Here, a Sanatani teacher is not only venomous, but also is ready to blow up an entire city in order to achieve his goals. Like ‘Quantico’, the vicious Hindu villains want to frame the ‘poor and innocent Muslims’ for the same. You can also witness the glorification of the tainted ‘Placard Gang’ in this web series.
Going by the content of this series, even ‘Leila’ might look better to some. If someone has read the book on which ‘Sacred Games’ is purportedly based, one would find that there are many scenes, which don’t even exist in the original book. In order to spice up the content, it is hard to digest that someone can stoop to this level. But we forget that these are the same folks who made absolutely unpalatable propagandas like ‘Mukkabaaz’, ‘Bhavesh Joshi’ etc.
In this series, almost every Hindu character is shown as wicked, uncouth and barbaric, while Muslim characters , especially Inspector Majid [Shahid being the sole exception] have been shown as innocent, resolute, not hesitating to sacrifice themselves if need be. To glorify one community and despise another to the worst levels imaginable; isn’t that Divide and Rule? However, if we raise fingers at these people, we hear statements like ‘Our Country is in Trouble?’ The country has become intolerant?
Is there anything Good?
The only thing that was remotely good was the acting of Pankaj Tripathi, Ranveer Shorey and to an extent Saif Ali Khan. However, if the series is overstuffed with propaganda, what would mere acting do? When your propaganda overrides your work, your work cannot be salvaged despite the best of your efforts. In such a case, the likes of Anurag Kashyap need to pull up their socks quick.
I’d rate ‘Sacred Games 2’ 1.5/5. The fact being, even shamelessly peddling of such half baked propaganda needs some courage, and for that, the makers do deserve 1.5/5.