Latest news with #SpecialOps1.5:TheHimmatStory
Scroll.in
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Special Ops 2.0' review: Kay Kay Menon-led suspense thriller often resists momentum
The second season of Special Ops returns to JioHotstar five years after creator Neeraj Pandey first introduced Research and Analysis Wing agent Himmat Singh (Kay Kay Menon). In 2021, Pandey presented Himmat's origin story in Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story. Special Ops 2.0 – a true sequel – picks up the story of the senior operative and his hand-picked team of spies as they find themselves caught up in a complex issue that threatens national security. Directed by Pandey and Shivam Nair, Special Ops 2.0 moves away from traditional field operations towards the unseen battleground of cyberwarfare. The new season turns its focus to digital threats, artificial intelligence conspiracies, financial fraud and the murky web of political-corporate collusion. Episode one is a sprawling one-hour introduction that sets up the kidnapping of Bhargava (Arif Zakaria), a tech entrepreneur tied to a classified government project. At the same time, a RAW officer (Tota Roy Chowdhury) who was monitoring Bhargava's movements at a summit in Budapest is attacked in Delhi. While this premise has potential, Bhargava never leverages his supposed genius to contribute meaningfully to the narrative, remaining strangely passive for someone with the nation's future in his hands. Himmat and his team are tasked with tracking down Bhargava and ensuring his safe return. But the enemy is always one step ahead of Himmat's field agents. The narrative unfolds over seven days (and seven episodes), a structural choice that promises urgency but doesn't always deliver. There are also echoes of Pandey's film A Wednesday! (2008), with a common man, traumatically affected by institutional corruption, threatening the system. The show's attempt to offer a cautionary take on the implications of AI and next-generation technologies is both timely and effective. A subplot involving a banking scam and fraudulent loans occupies a large part of Himmat's bandwidth. There's commentary on the uneasy nexus between politics, big business and tech – where personal and corporate interests distort national priorities. However, the screenplay by Pandey, Deepak Kingrani and Benazir Ali Fida lacks tautness. Entire sequences are bogged down by unnecessary visual fillers – cars making full U-turns after being instructed to, endless walking shots, numerous drone views that serve little narrative purpose. It's a suspense thriller that often resists momentum. Kay Kay Menon remains the show's anchor. His portrayal of Himmat Singh exudes intelligence, resolve and quick thinking in a time of crisis. Menon rarely misses a beat as he portrays a professional nearing retirement while dealing with emotional upheaval in his personal life. The show also features returning characters such as Farooq (Karan Tacker), Avinash (Muzzamil Ibrahim), Juhi (Saiyami Kher), Ruhani (Shikha Talsania), Abbas (Vinay Pathak), Chadha (Parmeet Sethi) and Banerjee (Kali Prasad Mukherjee). Gautami Kapoor plays Himmat's wife Saroj, while Revathi Pillai plays their daughter Pari. Among the new cast, Tahir Raj Bhasin is a mixed bag. As the sinister Sudheer Awasthi, his backstory lacks narrative punch, and Bhasin underplays the menace and unpredictability the role requires. Prakash Raj, however, delivers one of the stronger performances as a bureaucrat grappling with his wife's illness and a broken system. Some supporting performances fall short, particularly the foreign actresses, including an Austrian girlfriend and a Russian honey trap. The fight scenes are long and often excessive. At times, Special Ops 2.0 seems more invested in presenting itself as an international espionage epic than in telling a focused, compelling story. Still, Himmat's emotional vulnerability this season adds depth to a character who has otherwise been defined by duty and stoicism. Special Ops 2.0 is an ambitious follow-up that leans more on visual style and fight choreography than on pace and spycraft. Kay Kay Menon's steady presence, along with strong support from the senior cast, give 2.0 a solid foundation, but the new season stumbles under the weight of padding. Play
Economic Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Kay Kay Menon's Special Ops Season 2 has a new OTT release date. When and where to watch thriller series
Special Ops Season 2 release date shifts to July 18 on Disney+ Hotstar. All episodes will be available for binge-watching. Kay Kay Menon returns as R&AW officer Himmat Singh. This season focuses on cyber warfare. The show previously received critical acclaim and awards. The story follows Himmat Singh's team as they face new digital threats. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads About Special Ops Season 2 Fans of the high-stakes espionage drama Special Ops will have to wait just a little longer. Originally scheduled to premiere on July 11, the highly anticipated second season will now drop on July 18 on Disney+ Hotstar. But there's a silver lining: all episodes will be released at once, making it a full-blown binge-worthy event. The delay, as confirmed by lead actor Kay Kay Menon on Instagram, was due to circumstances beyond by Shivam Nair and created by Neeraj Pandey, the upcoming season promises a gripping new chapter in the Special Ops universe—this time shifting gears from international manhunts to the dark alleys of cyber warfare. Kay Kay Menon reprises his acclaimed role as R&AW officer Himmat Singh , leading a covert task force into an increasingly digital launched in 2020, Special Ops became a defining success for Disney+ Hotstar. It received critical acclaim and multiple nominations at the Filmfare OTT Awards, taking home three. The franchise expanded further with Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story in 2021, a prequel that explored Himmat's origins and cemented the show's hold on fans of the spy-thriller series follows Singh as he spots a common thread running through several major terrorist attacks over the years, suspecting a single mastermind behind them all. He assembles a team of elite agents posted around the world to track the invisible enemy. Alongside Kay Kay Menon, the ensemble cast includes Karan Tacker, Vinay Pathak, Saiyami Kher, Meher Vij, Gautami Kapoor, Rajat Kaul, Sana Khan, Parmeet Sethi, Divya Dutta, and Sharad the story evolves in Season 2, the battlefield moves beyond borders and bombs—into the invisible but devastating world of cyber threats, testing Himmat Singh and his team like never before.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kay Kay Menon's Special Ops Season 2 has a new OTT release date. When and where to watch thriller series
About Special Ops Season 2 Fans of the high-stakes espionage drama Special Ops will have to wait just a little longer. Originally scheduled to premiere on July 11, the highly anticipated second season will now drop on July 18 on Disney+ Hotstar. But there's a silver lining: all episodes will be released at once, making it a full-blown binge-worthy event. The delay, as confirmed by lead actor Kay Kay Menon on Instagram, was due to circumstances beyond by Shivam Nair and created by Neeraj Pandey, the upcoming season promises a gripping new chapter in the Special Ops universe—this time shifting gears from international manhunts to the dark alleys of cyber warfare. Kay Kay Menon reprises his acclaimed role as R&AW officer Himmat Singh , leading a covert task force into an increasingly digital launched in 2020, Special Ops became a defining success for Disney+ Hotstar. It received critical acclaim and multiple nominations at the Filmfare OTT Awards, taking home three. The franchise expanded further with Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story in 2021, a prequel that explored Himmat's origins and cemented the show's hold on fans of the spy-thriller series follows Singh as he spots a common thread running through several major terrorist attacks over the years, suspecting a single mastermind behind them all. He assembles a team of elite agents posted around the world to track the invisible enemy. Alongside Kay Kay Menon, the ensemble cast includes Karan Tacker, Vinay Pathak, Saiyami Kher, Meher Vij, Gautami Kapoor, Rajat Kaul, Sana Khan, Parmeet Sethi, Divya Dutta, and Sharad the story evolves in Season 2, the battlefield moves beyond borders and bombs—into the invisible but devastating world of cyber threats, testing Himmat Singh and his team like never before.
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Business Standard
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Special Ops 2 trailer: Kay Kay Menon as Himmat Singh to fight cyber threat
"Special Ops," starring Kay Kay Menon, is scheduled to return for season 2. On Monday, the series' trailer was made public by the producers. Like its predecessor, "Special Ops 2" is expected to be a high-octane spy thriller, with Kay Kay Menon returning as Himmat Singh, the leader of Research and Analysis. Special Ops 2 will address cyber-terrorism and the risks posed by artificial intelligence, as the trailer indicates. The show's tagline reads, "This time, everyone is a target". The teaser for the second installment of the well-known espionage thriller was just released, exclusively on JioHotstar. The release date of the series is July 11, 2025. Special Ops season 2: When and where to watch online? Release platform - JioHotstar Release date - July 11, 2025. Special Ops season 2: Trailer talk Himmat leads a mission against the antagonist (Tahir Raj Bhasin), who appears prepared to up the ante, as seen in the trailer. There are enough action sequences and espionage drama in the trailer to make you want to see more. Other notable actors in the series include Gautami Kapoor, Kamakshi Bhat, Prakash Raj, Dilip Tahil, Vinay Pathak, Dilip Tacker, Parmeet Sethi, Kali Prasad Mukherjee, Muzammil Ibrahim, Saiyami, Arif Zakaria, and Revathi. According to rumors, the series was filmed in Georgia, Turkey, and Budapest. Special Ops 2: About the series By publishing all of the episodes at once, the makers of "Special Ops 2" will also break the trend of delaying episodes to keep viewers interested. On Jio Hotstar, fans will then be able to watch every episode at once. In order to catch the culprit, Himmat Singh was shown in the first episode of the show decoding a pattern in terrorist attacks throughout the nation. Neeraj Panday is the creator of "Special Ops," which is produced by Friday Storytellers. On March 17, 2020, the first installment of the series was made available on Hotstar. The spin-off, "Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story," was released on November 12, 2021, after this.
India Today
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Special Ops 2 trailer: Kay Kay Menon and team to fight cyber terrorism this time
Actor Kay Kay Menon's 'Special Ops' is set to be back with another season. Ahead of its premiere on July 11, the makers released the trailer of the series on Monday. 'Special Ops 2', just like its predecessor, promises to be a high-octane spy thriller with Kay Kay Menon reprising the role of Research and Analysis leader, Himmat shown in the trailer, 'Special Ops 2' will deal with cyber terrorism and the dangers associated with artificial intelligence. "This time, everyone is a target", says the tagline of the The trailer gives a glimpse into Himmat leading a mission against the antagonist (played by Tahir Raj Bhasin), who looks ready to raise the stakes higher. The trailer is packed with action sequences and espionage drama, enough to [ique the curiosity of what's more to come. The series will also feature Karan Tacker, Vinay Pathak, Dilip Tahil, Prakash Raj, Parmeet Sethi, Kali Prasad Mukherjee, Muzammil Ibrahim, Saiyami, Arif Zakaria, Gautami Kapoor, Kamakshi Bhat, Shikha Talsania and Revathi in prominent roles. As per reports, the series has been shot in locations like Budapest, Turkey and makers of 'Special Ops 2' will also break away from the trend of stalling episodes to maintain intrigue by releasing all the episodes in one go. Subsequently, the viewers will be able to watch all the episodes in one go on Jio Hotstar. In the first instalment of the series, Himmat Singh was seen decoding a pattern in terrorist attacks across the country to catch the culprit.'Special Ops' is created by Neeraj Panday and produced under the banner of Friday Storytellers. The first instalment of the series was released on Hotstar on March 17, 2020. This was followed by a spin-off titled 'Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story', which was released on November 12, 2021.
