Dupahiya Season 2 review: Paper leak, village politics but comedy misses a beat

Dhadakpur may have left its crime-free reputation behind, but the village is still full of people who can turn an ordinary problem into a full-blown crisis. Dupahiya returns for a second season with familiar faces, new complications and a fresh set of reasons for its people to worry. This time, a mobile tower, rumours about its effects and Roshni’s race to prepare for a competitive exam keep the village busy.

The Prime Video series picks up after the events of the first season. Banwari Jha, played by Gajraj Rao, is dealing with the consequences of his family’s earlier troubles, while his daughter Roshni, played by Shivani Raghuvanshi, has a crucial public service examination ahead of her. With only a week left to prepare, the pressure is on. Amavas (Bhuvan Arora) is around to help, though his idea of a solution is not necessarily the one she needs.

Meanwhile, a mobile tower planned for Banwari’s barren land becomes the latest subject of village gossip. What should be a straightforward development soon turns into an issue with villagers opposing it and becomes a source of suspicion and chaos. Inspector Mithilesh, played by Yashpal Sharma, this time moves to bigger things. From investigating a stolen bike, he has now moved on to investigating a paper-leak nexus. As these stories unfold, the series brings together village politics, superstition, romance and a touch of mystery.

The village remains the biggest draw

One of the pleasures of Dupahiya is its setting. Dhadakpur has a personality of its own, shaped by its residents, their rivalries and their very particular understanding of the world around them. What Phulera is to Panchayat, Dhadakpur is to Dupahiya. The new season continues to find humour in the gap between what is happening and what the villagers believe is happening.

The mobile tower track offers several opportunities for comedy. It also touches on how rumours can spread when people are uncertain about something new. And, social media aids these rumours. The show does not need to look far for its jokes; much of the fun comes from watching the residents react to a situation that gradually grows beyond their control.

The ensemble cast helps keep this world lively. Gajraj Rao remains a natural fit for Banwari, bringing comic timing to a man whose troubles rarely seem to end. He has been ousted from his temporary job that he dreamt of making permanent. His character’s personal and professional setbacks give the season a thread of emotion beneath the comedy.

Renuka Shahane’s Pushplata Yadav, a Panch in the village ((one of the village heads), continues to have her goal set on becoming the Sarpanch. Determined to strengthen her position among the locals, she uses the growing opposition to the proposed 5G tower to her advantage. Villagers are alarmed by rumours that the tower’s radiation could cause infertility among men, cause a tsunami, or lead to an increase in typhoid cases. The fear soon turns into anger against Banwari, whose land is being considered for the tower. As tensions rise within the community, Pushplata takes an active role in rallying the villagers against him.

Shivani Raghuvanshi’s Roshni has an important task ahead of her, and the exam track gives the story a clear deadline. Bhuvan Arora adds energy as Amavas, whose feelings for Roshni often complicate his attempts to help her. Sparsh Shrivastava’s Bhugol, meanwhile, finds himself navigating the unexpected consequences of viral fame. Nirahua aka Dinesh Lal Yadav’s addition to the cast brings another element to the village’s already busy life.

The paper leak track gives the story a timely edge

Beyond the mobile tower controversy, Dupahiya Season 2 takes on another issue that feels particularly relevant today: examination paper leaks. As Roshni prepares for her SSC exam, the pressure to secure a future and move past a failed relationship pushes her towards a shortcut that raises questions about the cost of chasing success. The track adds more than comic confusion to the story, bringing the world of competitive examinations and the desperation surrounding them into Dhadakpur.

Interestingly, the makers were worried about this part of the story due to its similarity to real-life events, even though it had been written a year earlier. Its relevance today gives the season an unexpected connection to the world outside the village. The paper leak angle also gives Inspector Mithilesh a purpose in this season, and takes the story beyond the everyday misunderstandings and eccentric behaviour that drive much of the comedy.

Too many troubles at once?

Directed by Sonam Nair, the new season has several promising ideas. Roshni’s exam preparation, the mobile tower controversy, the police investigation and the personal problems of the villagers all compete for attention. While these tracks give the show variety, the narrative feels pulled in many directions.

The exam storyline creates tension, but some events take attention away from the main conflict. The romance between Roshni and Amavas remains underdeveloped. Their relationship could have added a layer of depth to this comedy, but the series does not explore it as much as it could.

The humour in Season 2 doesn’t always hit the bullseye. Some of the better laughs come from the characters themselves and the everyday situations they find themselves in. But there are also moments where a joke feels stretched a little too far. Because of this, the season lacks some of the easy charm and freshness of the first one, and a few parts could have been tighter and more focussed.

That said, the characters are still what make the show work. There is something likeable about the people of Dhadakpur, and even when the story gets a little too busy, they keep things interesting. They make silly choices, get into ridiculous situations and often react in ways that feel oddly believable for this little world that they've created.

Dupahiya Season 2 brings back the same madness, with Gajraj Rao and the rest of the cast doing their part to keep things fun. The 5G tower issue continues to drive the story, while the paper leak track adds a timely layer to the story. Roshni’s struggle with her SSC preparations also brings in the pressure that comes with competitive exams. There is quite a lot happening this time around, though, and not every storyline gets the same attention.

The season works best when it simply lets its characters interact and create the comedy themselves. Some of that easy charm from the first season is missing, but there are still enough funny moments to make a return to Dhadakpur enjoyable. If you liked the first season, there is plenty here that will feel familiar, even if Season 2 doesn’t always have the same flow.