Director - Anand Tiwari
Writer - Atmika Didwania, Karan Singh Tyagi, Anand Tiwari
Cast - Ritwik Bhowmik, Shreya Chaudhry, Atul Kulkarni, Sheeba Chadha, Rajesh Tailang, Kunal Roy Kapur, Saurabh Nayyar, Rohan Gurbaxani, Yashaswini Dayama, Aaliyah Qureshi, Divya Dutta
Platform – Amazon Prime
Episodes – 8 
 
Bandish Bandits is back for season 2, and let’s just say, it’s serving more drama, more music, and more feels than a Bollywood rom-com with a side of classical notes. Grab your tambura, folks, because we’re diving into a season where voices are raised, families are divided, and yes, there’s even a mystery band lurking around, but the true star? Music. And, okay, also some intense side glances and dramatic pauses. 
 
Radhe (Ritwik Bhowmik) is officially the Sangeet Samrat of Jodhpur, and if that doesn’t sound like the title of your future Spotify playlist, what will? Our boy Radhe has come a long way since he was the nervous classical music prodigy. Now, he's holding his own in the music world— but oh boy, things are far from being smooth as a sitar’s strings. His late mentor Pandit Radhemohan Rathod is gone, and suddenly, the Rathod legacy has a serious PR problem, thanks to a book that spills all the tea about Mohini (Sheeba Chaddha) being sidelined for years. Cue dramatic gasp.
 
Meanwhile, Tamanna (Shreya Chaudhry) is finding her voice—literally. She wants to become a musician like Radhe, and honestly, it's like watching your favorite show’s side character step into the main spotlight. Yas, queen. These two cross paths in the most melodious way during an international music championship (think Coca-Cola music showdown meets an old-school raga competition)—and you know what that means, right? A mix of love, hate, and some really intense musical battles.
 
What makes Season 2 so much more fun than its predecessor? The shift in perspective, folks! No longer is it just a drama about two kids battling for love, oh no. This season is about voices—those that were suppressed, those that are about to break out, and those that have been desperately trying to be heard. It’s about the legacy of the Rathods, the struggles of staying relevant, and the complicated mess of art and identity (cue the sound of tabla). 
 
And let's talk about Mohini (Sheeba Chaddha) because honestly, she’s the real MVP this season. Last season, she was kind of the tragic “in-the-shadows” character. But in Season 2, oh honey, she’s here to claim her throne. She’s the true star of this show, and watching her rise from the ashes is like witnessing a fiery raga come to life. It's a true redemption story, and Sheeba Chaddha is absolutely killing it—every glance, every gesture, every expression screams, "I was always here, just waiting for my time to shine." 
 
And oh, the drama—there’s a romance in the air! Nandini (Divya Dutta) and Imroz (Arjun Rampal) have a beautifully unexplored love story that feels more like an incomplete sketch—you can almost hear the unfinished notes in the background. It's gorgeous, but it’s never fully explored. Sort of like a half-formed raga that never quite reaches its crescendo. 
 
Now, not everything in Bandish Bandits is perfectly tuned (because hey, what’s a symphony without a few wrong notes?). The musical rivalry between Tamanna and the band at her college feels a bit rushed and, honestly, could’ve used more spice—you know, like a tabla drum solo in the middle of a quiet moment. Plus, there’s the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy sized hole in the soundtrack. Yes, the tracks are decent—“Nirmohiya” is still on loop in my head—but it doesn't have that same “Garaj Garaj” magic from Season 1. I mean, come on, where’s the earworm hit? Virah just didn’t do it for me, guys. 
 
And then there’s the ensemble—oh wow, talk about an A-list cast in the world of classical music (and complicated family drama). Ritwik Bhowmik is growing into Radhe like he's been possessed by the spirit of every tabla player ever. He’s practically living the character. Shreya Chaudhry doesn’t hit the high notes like Radhe, but she’s steady—like a reliable sarangi player that just never falters. And the iconic Sheeba Chaddha absolutely owns Season 2. If there was a standing ovation for TV performances, this woman would have every critic on their feet.
 
In short, Bandish Bandits Season 2 is the spicy, emotional, and musically-charged ride we didn’t know we needed. It's a mix of redemption arcs, love triangles, family feuds, and honestly, a little too much classical music for my non-sitar-playing soul, but I’ll take it. It’s deeper, more ambitious, and really shows the evolution of the Gharanas. So, will music heal the broken this time? Spoiler alert: it doesn’t fix everything, but it sure makes everything sound better.