Selection Day Part 2 review: Story derails after heightened drama, performances hold the fort

After a gritty and pacy six-episode Part 1, Selection Day-the adaptation of Aravind Adiga's novel of the same name--returns with the Part 2 (streaming April 19 onwards) and the concluding set of six episodes that turn the tide and bring some unpredictable twists to the story. However, the season doesn't culminate into a satisfying climax the viewers were expecting after the heightened drama of the last two episodes. Starring Rajesh Tailang, Ratna Pathak Shah, Mahesh Manjrekar, Mohammad Samad, Yash Dholye and Karanvir Malhotra, the second part is directed by Karan Balooni.

The Part 2 starts from the point where Radha (Yash Dholye) is hospitalized after he's thrashed by goons and Manju (Mohammad Samad) starts to realize his real feelings for Javed, the Kumar brothers' biggest rival.

The second part is more crucial than the first one considering the characters as well as story take an unpredictable turn as the shiny surface holding them starts to wear off and the reality becomes clearer. Turns out Radha (Yash Dholye) the champion no. 1 is not that calm, perfect and ideal as he is made out to be by his father Mohan (Rajesh Tailang), while Manju's all-rounder side comes to the foray. The seemingly frivolous Javed has a deeper side to him and is trying to save a 'firefly' from a grave tragedy.

Mohan's entrepreneurial temperament and steely resolve help him set up a new venture, but it comes crashing down as details of his reckless past comes to surface. The mystery behind the missing mother of Radha and Manju intensifies and although viewers would want a more coherent sub-plot, the focus is more on selection day than anything else.

Tommy sir (Mahesh Manjrekar) finally takes a stand for the bright kids as he continues to work relentlessly on each one of his students to bring out their true potential. Ratna Pathak Shah's softer side to the strong and independent lady that she's portrayed in Part 1 comes to surface.

The season ending is not satisfying for those who were looking for conclusion of events, even as Anand, the businessman, meets a deadly fate while the teenage protagonists break free from the shadow of their father only to fall in another deadly trap. The climax indicates rough times ahead but leaves many unanswered questions.

On one hand, there is this growing tension between the sons and their father that finally explodes and brings an end to a toxic relationship. Then there is a series of internal tussles that makes Manju's head spin and to which even Lord Subramaniyam can't find any answers. Torn between cricket and science, brother and love of his life (Javed), finding his mother or preparing for the Selection Day, Manju's fate veers him towards the right direction even as he sails on uncertainty.

Recap to Season 1
Directed by Udayan Prasad, the first season established the character and the plot.
Mohan is your hanikarak bapu who trains his sons Radha and Manju to rule the cricket world with technique, passion and aggression. The triumvirate starts out in a small village of MP, but moves to Mumbai to be part of Selection Day where the three best players will get the opportunity to be part of Under 16 Mumbai team. With Weignberg Academy, their search for a cricket academy ends, as Tommy sir (Mahesh Manjrekar), a veteran but tainted coach decides to sponsor their training after seeing the spark in them.

Characters
Radha (Yash Dholiye) is someone who has not tried hard enough to explore his real dreams and passions as he's uncomfortably comfortable in the shadow of his father who is training him to be a cricketer since the age of 3. He sees the world from the eyes of his father, and believes he is the Champion No. 1 till he faces the world outside his village and discovers his weaknesses and also his over-reliability on his 'Champion No 2' brother but might be a better player than him. Towards the end of Season 2, he gives priority to thing that matters more than cricket to him and is ready to explore the world afresh.

Manju (Mohammad Samad) is torn between his father's ambition, his own dreams and his love (Javed) who wants to bring him closer to his passion. As put by Manju's school friend, a particle can exist in two different realities at the same time according to Quantum Physics. Lord Subramaniyam (Shiv Pandit) or maybe his inner voice is the only guiding force for Manju who helps him take decisions at the most crucial moments. But for most part of the series, the voice is forced shut by his daddy not-so-cool for whom nothing matters (not even the emotions of his poor children) in front of cricket.

Mohan (Rajesh Tailang) is blinded by his ambition and driven by his greed to encash his children after years of training on them. He has a violent streak that makes everyone around him uncomfortable. A wife beater, and someone who leaves an irreparable damage on his kids' psyche with his overbearing ways, Mohan is hardly a father in the true sense of the word but more of an astute businessman whose instincts are better than his luck.

Javed's (Karanvir Malhotra) character has the most interesting trajectory who started out as a confident, charming and vivacious boy on surface and who is also a bully and an insecure person, but as the story unfolds, viewers get to explore his deeper side where a loving (to the point of turning obsessive), independent yet deeply wounded soul resides.

Ratna Pathak Shah (head mistress) and Mahesh Manjrekar (Coach Tommy Sir) are the mentors that help Radha and Manju break free from their inner shackles. Marathi actress Amruta Subhash's natural and earthy performance also deserves a mention. Parul Chauhan and Akshay Oberoi's track moves at a snail's pace but culminates in a rather unpredictable way.

Out verdict
In all, the second part of Selection Day (Episode 7-12) will leave you dissatisfied with a lot of unanswered questions. Only a second season can justify all the loose ends and chaos in the last episode.