Brochara Season 2 review: The bros return for a surprisingly poignant, and still uplifting new season of bromance

3.5/5

Story:

Pranay (Varun Tiwari), Kannan (Amey Wagh) and Shivashish (Sayandeep Sengupta) are back for another season of navigating life and relationships, this time with a new addition to their group. After Dhiren (Dhruv Sehgal) moves to Dubai, Abhimanyu (Ankur Rathee) is designated as the newest ‘bro’ in the quartet. These are not the only changes the group have to go through, as their carefree lives become interrupted by some major changes. But despite the ups and downs one thing remains constant- the bros and their steadfast ‘brochara’.

Review:

The latest season of Brochara does not hesitate to delve into some sensitive, poignant topics leading to a season that is rife with emotion and surprisingly moving. And the show does it all without letting go of the delightful lightheartedness that made it so popular among viewers.

In its second season, Ankur Rathee joins the show as Abhimanyu, the newest addition to the group, after Dhiren’s (Dhruv Sehgal) absence is explained away with a job opportunity the latter got in Dubai. But despite being a newcomer, Rathee blends in with our beloved group of bros beautifully, and the thought that he is a ‘replacement’ for Sehgal does not even cross one’s mind. His chemistry with the rest of the lead cast is displayed beautifully, although when it strictly comes to Abhimanyu’s characterisation, he at times does seem to take on the role of the ‘weak link’ in the group. Tiwari, Wagh and Sengupta are as delightful as ever, and I dare say seem to be giving better performances than in Season 1.

Unlike its first, the new season does not shy away from delving into some serious subjects. We see the bros having to grapple with some significant changes in their lives, due to which they are forced to re-evaluate their life. The bros are allowed to showcase their sensitive sides a lot more this season, helping each other out in times of need. In a slap to the ‘toxic masculinity’ trope that seeps into most onscreen depictions of male friendships, the bros are showcased to be vulnerable with each other. They do not hesitate to be open with each other and lean on each other in times of need. The show also chose to address some important topics as well while going taking viewers through the problems the friends face in their lives.

Another very significant aspect is that the show also chose to explore the messier parts of their friendship as well. They are not perfect people, and even despite their strong bond they are prone to making mistakes with each other. We see Abhimanyu go too far with a joke at Pranay’s expense, unaware that the latter is deeply affected by his comments until it's too late. Rather than brush it aside, Abhimanyu is seen taking responsibility for his actions, after some encouraging nudges from the rest of the groups. Pranay and the rest of the bros too are seen taking missteps at various instances too, inadvertently hurting their loved ones in the process. But more importantly, they are seen taking accountability for what they did in the end, acknowledging they are not perfect but striving to do better. And their journey of growth is made all the more better by the unwavering support they give each other.

The poignant moments are given their fair share of screen time. By not rushing through them, the writers manage to flesh out the characters and their growth arc in a very realistic and relatable way indeed.

The show does a fantastic job at balancing the humorous and emotional elements in the story, which will keep audiences going through a spectrum of emotions from the start of the season till its end.

Verdict:

The second season of Brochara manages to strike the right balance between uplifting, heartwarming and poignant. The new season is a vast improvement over the first, and the bros are as delightful as ever.