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Mumbai Diaries S2 Review: Mohit Raina, Konkona Sen Sharma's Medical Drama Is Emotionally Heavy & Spirited
Mumbai Diaries 2 Review: The city of Mumbai is unique in its own right, with citizens dealing with calamities in their own iconic way. Several films, shows, and documentaries have portrayed the plight of the city whenever a catastrophe hits it, and one of them was the 26/11 terror attack.
While many fictionalised stories depicted the tales of bravery of the police and paramilitary forces fighting the terrorists, Amazon Prime Video in 2021 brought a different perspective to the fore, with a focus on doctors and medical personnel dealing with emergencies in Mumbai Diaries.
Centred around a government hospital, Bombay General Hospital, the first season of Mumbai Diaries revolved around the doctors, nurses, trainees, and other employees dealing with the aftermath of the 26/11 terror attacks that shook the entire world. We saw Dr Kaushik Oberoi, Chief of Trauma, Dr Chitra Das, and three residents, Ahaan Mirza, Sujata Ajawale, and Diya Parekh, along with other hospital staff, handling the distressing and terrifying events with sheer bravery.
The popular show is now back with another hard-hitting season that captures the woes and untiring chaos of medical staffers at Bombay General Hospital as they deal with new challenges and the devastation caused by the Mumbai floods of 2006. Here's our review for you to decide whether to watch the show or skip it.
Plot
The series begins with Doctor Kaushik Oberoi partaking in court trials for allegedly murdering a police officer and not prioritising his treatment over that of a terrorist. He looks tired from all the allegations against him, making him lose his mind. Simultaneously, a devastating flood-like situation threatens to submerge the city as unprecedented rains lash out.
Unaware of the impending danger, the staff of Bombay General Hospital continue to perform their duties. While we see all familiar faces from the previous installment, there are a few new characters introduced in this season as the BGH members face a bigger enemy, nature's wrath.
We see Dr Chitra Das experiencing traumatic episodes from her past bad marriage. Her estranged husband, Dr Saurav Chandra, arrives at the hospital as a part of the UK delegation, bringing in more difficulties for Chitra. Diya, Ahaan, and Sujata are dealing with their own demons.
Mumbai is on red alert due to incessant rains, and people are advised to stay indoors and be safe. While the dilapidated government hospital is also on the brink of collapse, the doctors and staff have no option but to deal with "unlimited problems with limited resources."
Performances
The characters in the show are not just simple props, they are the heart of the show. Each one of them delivers a hard-hitting performance, with a compelling portrayal of the pressure that doctors go through.
Mohit Raina, disheartened and filled with disappointment over the thought of losing his doctor's licence, makes you feel for him. Mohit gives a restrained and powerful performance with true authenticity.
Konkana Sen Sharma's struggle to live with her past trauma shows off when her ex-spouse suddenly comes in front of her. She is fantastic in scenes of breakdown where she has to show fear and the deep scars that her abusive marriage has left on her heart and mind, which have been ingeniously performed by Sen, letting you sympathise with her.
Parambrata Chatterjee, who joins the cast as the ex-spouse of Chitra Das, adds an eerie and mysterious feel to the series, leaving one to wonder what must have been their story. He is sharp and gives a great portrayal of a controlling husband.
Shreya Dhanwanthary, an upright journalist who has to give in to the ethos and corruption of the TRP-hungry media, plays a demoralised professional with sheer conviction.
Tina Desai, Satyajeet Dubey, Prakash Belawandi, Mrunmayee Despande, Natasha Bhardwaj, and Balaji Gauri all add glory to the roles and are absolutely good at their parts.
What's good & bad
Nikhil Advani and Nikhil Gonsalves have brilliantly put together the story of doctors and medical staff who are the forerunners in providing services to people in distress. Capturing the darkness and atmosphere that come with continuous rainfall keeps the flavour of the show intact.
The subplots effectively merge well with the core theme of the show, while dialogues bring out the nuances of each character.
The visual treatment of the drama series gives the feeling of reality with its constant downpour and flooded hospital wards.
Verdict
Spanning eight episodes, Mumbai Diaries demonstrates the highly pressuring and fast-paced lives of doctors, nurses, and medical staff. The storytelling is gripping and hits you in the gut with its striking visuals and emotional scenes.
Along with a bunch of competent performances, the show has successfully told a multi-layered story with heartbreaking and empathic scenes.
Mumbai Diaries remains authentic to its main story by being more than a medical drama that deals with human trauma and crisis, all the while shedding light on the media that is after scoops for business gain.
