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Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Special Ops 2 review: 5 years later, Neeraj Pandey and Kay Kay Menon surprise with a banging sophomore season
I'm just done binge-watching seven episodes of Special Ops 2, each lasting about 50-57 minutes, and I'm here to tell you that this one is a banger. Most sequels flatten and disappoint. Special Ops came in 2020, when we were in the midst of the pandemic; five years later, where much has changed in the media landscape, and part twos are where creativity goes to die, I'm most pleasantly surprised that this sequel, again co-directed by Neeraj Pandey and Shivam Nair, and written by creator Pandey, Deepak Kingrani, Benazir Ali Fida, has exceeded my expectations. We have finally got ourselves a spy franchise that is globally ambitious in the way it goes about laying out its wares, dropping in and out of political hot-spots casually, bunging in enough lol moments: what's the point of a spymeister who can't just say, 'hamare pass CIA waalon ke liye kuchch hai,' and his faithful dogsbody coming up with just a teeny detail that has the Langley HQ in Virginia salivating. Of course, we know that spying is both a deadly serious and enormously funny business, and in between all the skirmishes and shoot-outs, there are patches of dry, wry humour: I mean even Jason Bourne has to smile sometimes, right? Someone who thinks of themselves as geopolitically savvy can laugh and say, in your dreams, and our whip smart RAW officer Himmat Singh (Kay Kay Menon) would just allow himself his trademark tight smile, and go about his business, setting up efficient 'back-channels' with counterparts in Beijing and Washington, and getting our boys, and girls, safe home. Part 2 starts where part one ended. The usual suspects are in play, but this time around, keeping up with the times, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is leading the way. The series opens with a high-profile kidnapping of an AI expert (Arif Zakaria) in Budapest, the new favourite location of Indian web-series, and movies. At the same time, an operative (Tota Roy Chowdhury) gets shot in Delhi. What is the connection between the two events? Who is the shadowy villain who has operated in the margins for so long, and is now out, creating mayhem? And who is the mole– yes, there is one– leaking all our secrets to the enemy? China is the big bad villain, planning to sabotage the Indian economy by cyberattacks orchestrated with the help of zero-morals-only-moolah bizman Sudhir Awasthi (Tahir Raj Bhasin), whose living arrangements have been dreamt up by someone who is clearly a fan of colourful old-school hideouts from the movies, the scale of which even a Bond baddie would be proud of. The small man on the streets is getting hit by 'ghotalas' created by corrupt politicians and greedy Gujju billionaires on the run (a Nirav Modi stand-in?), and banks are running out of ready cash. It's a busy plot, with multiple killings and hired assassins lurking about in such places as Slovenia, Serbia, Georgia, all of which add to the scenic locales the characters flit through. There are riots in Rawalpindi, and an ISI asset is pressed into service. Meanwhile, back home, Himmat and his merry band (Karan Tacker, Muzammil Ibrahim, Saiyami Kher, Meher Vij, Shikha Talsania, Kamakshi Bhat) are on the job, tracking culprits and tracing their movements via all manner of shiny tech: Bhat plays a crack coder who has a fix on everything, while managing a small flirtation on the side; in fact, all the ladies lend colour and flavour to the whole thing. That spies are family men and women is a constant reminder. Himmat has a bit of a problem on the domestic front, with always-holding-the-fort patient wife (Gautami Kapoor) trying to figure out how to keep a dark secret from daughter Pari (Revathi Pillai). Old senior cop associate (Vinay Pathak) and Himmat keep their running green tea joke going. New addition in the shape of retired spy-and-mentor (Prakash Raj) is a good addition even if his strand sometimes threatens to slow down the proceedings. His character borrows from his real-life persona and makes it the upright moral bone of the series: citizens have forgotten to ask questions, he says at one point, and that's why these power-hungry netas and unscrupulous rich are allowed to get away with plunder and murder. There are throwaway remarks about the plight of 'Chinese Uyghur Muslims'. A fellow named Zhang is up to no good. A big bank defaulter called Jignesh Dholakia, who knows a thing or two about 'honey-traps', is hiding out in a picturesque mansion. Through all these threads, most of which land, an awareness of the world and who is actually pushing its levers leaches through, even if done in a light, let's-get-on-with-it manner. Just by letting Raj's true voice carry through in his listen-to-the-people-avataar, and his warning– do something or else I will take matters in my own hands– takes you back to Pandey's A Wednesday glory days. Throwing that in is a neat balance with Zakaria's Bharat-was-a tech-giant-in-ancient-days schtick (have you ever heard of a 'yantrakaar'?) just before a tape is slapped on his mouth, and he is whisked away. Given its length, there definitely are spots where things slacken, but on the whole, this buzzy spy-saga stays mostly on-point, always entertaining. And Kay Kay, mostly enclosed in his office, juggling his non-smart phones, tossing out impossible orders to his intrepid field officers, shows how it is done: head down, brain in top gear, barking 'wait for my instructions'. Yes sir, Himmat Sir. Special Ops 2 cast: Kay Kay Menon, Karan Tacker, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Prakash Raj, Muzammil Ibrahim, Arif Zakaria, Vinay Pathak, Saiyami Kher, Meher Vij, Gautami Kapoor, Shikha Talsania, Kamakshi Bhat, Parmeet Sethi, Dalip Tahil, Kali Prasad Mukherjee, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Revathi Pillai ; director : Neeraj Pandey, Shivam Nair Special Ops 2 star rating: Three and a half stars
Scroll.in
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Special Ops 2' trailer: Kay Kay Menon returns as RAW agent Himmat Singh
Ad Streaming Created by Neeraj Pandey and directed by Shivam Nair, the Hindi show will be out on JioHotstar on July 11.
News18
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
The Diplomat Review: John Abraham-Starrer True Story Is A Must-Watch Amid Brewing India-Pak Tension
Amid the India-Pakistan tension brewing that's left the nation holding its breath, Tavishi Paitandy brings her honest review of 'The Diplomat'. This political action thriller, directed by Shivam Nair, is based on the story of a real-life hero — an Indian diplomat who attempts to repatriate a young Indian girl from Pakistan, where she was presumably deceived and forced into marriage. Watch the full review here to know why this one hits close to home. bollywood news | entertainment news live | latest bollywood news | bollywood | news18 | n18oc_moviesLiked the video? Please press the thumbs up icon and leave a comment. Subscribe to Showsha YouTube channel and never miss a video: Showsha on Instagram: Showsha on Facebook: Showsha on X: Showsha on Snapchat: entertainment and lifestyle news and updates on:
Economic Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
John Abraham's The Diplomat, based on India-Pakistan relations, released on OTT: Where to watch
About The Diplomat MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, a gripping political thriller rooted in real-life Indo-Pak dynamics is making its much-anticipated digital debut. The Diplomat, starring John Abraham , arrives on Netflix on May 9, just weeks after its successful theatrical run. Set against the volatile backdrop of India–Pakistan relations, the film's timely arrival on streaming has sparked fresh interest, especially as its plot echoes current events and delves into the psychological strain and moral dilemmas faced by those on the frontlines of a conversation with ANI, John Abraham shared what compelled him to take on the role. He described The Diplomat not merely as a patriotic narrative but as an emotionally charged, high-stakes psychological thriller. He likened its tension and impact to the acclaimed film Argo, emphasising how the story grips the viewer from start to took to social media to announce the release of the movie. The announcement read, 'Mark your calendars. The Diplomat arrives on 9 May, on Netflix.'Directed by Shivam Nair and written by Ritesh Shah, The Diplomat is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language political action thriller that weaves together personal sacrifice, geopolitical tension, and emotional depth. Co-starring Sadia Khateeb, the film draws inspiration from the true story of Uzma Ahmed, an Indian national who was rescued and repatriated from Pakistan in 2017 after a harrowing in theatres on March 14 during the Holi weekend, the film received widespread acclaim for its intense storytelling and strong performances, grossing over ₹53 crore globally. As The Diplomat lands on Netflix, it offers viewers not only an edge-of-the-seat cinematic experience but also a timely reflection on the human side of cross-border conflict and diplomacy.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
John Abraham's The Diplomat, based on India-Pakistan relations, released on OTT: Where to watch
About The Diplomat MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, a gripping political thriller rooted in real-life Indo-Pak dynamics is making its much-anticipated digital debut. The Diplomat, starring John Abraham , arrives on Netflix on May 9, just weeks after its successful theatrical run. Set against the volatile backdrop of India–Pakistan relations, the film's timely arrival on streaming has sparked fresh interest, especially as its plot echoes current events and delves into the psychological strain and moral dilemmas faced by those on the frontlines of a conversation with ANI, John Abraham shared what compelled him to take on the role. He described The Diplomat not merely as a patriotic narrative but as an emotionally charged, high-stakes psychological thriller. He likened its tension and impact to the acclaimed film Argo, emphasising how the story grips the viewer from start to took to social media to announce the release of the movie. The announcement read, 'Mark your calendars. The Diplomat arrives on 9 May, on Netflix.'Directed by Shivam Nair and written by Ritesh Shah, The Diplomat is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language political action thriller that weaves together personal sacrifice, geopolitical tension, and emotional depth. Co-starring Sadia Khateeb, the film draws inspiration from the true story of Uzma Ahmed, an Indian national who was rescued and repatriated from Pakistan in 2017 after a harrowing in theatres on March 14 during the Holi weekend, the film received widespread acclaim for its intense storytelling and strong performances, grossing over ₹53 crore globally. As The Diplomat lands on Netflix, it offers viewers not only an edge-of-the-seat cinematic experience but also a timely reflection on the human side of cross-border conflict and diplomacy.
