Paatal Lok 2 vs The Last Hour: Which is authentic Northeast and why we need to do more?

I have seen initial four episodes of Amazon Prime show Paatal Lok Season 2. The show, headlined by Jaideep Ahlawat, is a thriller that keeps travelling back and forth between Delhi and Kohima. A conspiracy bigger than anybody’s imagination is unfolding through the omnipresent Indian Railways, and that is where you realise the vastness of the Indian landscape and its diverse people. 

North and Northeastern actors do most of the screen job, and that brings forth the idea of casting certain people in certain roles. Is it about ethnicity or is it about acting prowess? Well, before getting into this debate, let me remind you of another Amazon Prime show The Last Hour which released in 2021. 

Shot in the hills of Sikkim, the show featured Sanjay Kapoor and Karma Takapa in the lead roles. Despite being a cop drama, The Last Hour, created by Amit Kumar and Anupama Minz, delved into the realms of supernatural, while also showing the beautiful Himalayan landscapes. 

So, when Paatal Lok 2 travelled to Nagaland, it immediately reminded me of The Last Hour simply because of the absent facial features in the mainstream webseries and shows made in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Bengali shows occasionally do feature actors from the Northeast, but even they can do much better. 

This leads to another juncture in the debate about non-existent Northeastern actors in mainstream: Is it fine to just showcase the picturesque Northeast or we should give more opportunities to actors from this part of the world?

Paatal Lok 2 has gone where not many mainstream shows dare to go and that deserves applause, but a lot more needs to be done. The Last Hour, in that aspect, was not very much there. 

With Paatal Lok 2 making good noise, more filmmakers are expected to travel to the interiors of Northeast in the coming months.

READ | Paatal Lok Season 2 webseries review: Jaideep Ahlawat returns with fierce energy