How a crime thriller used ancient mythology to map India's social hierarchy
In short: Beyond the gritty investigation of a failed assassination lies a profound social metaphor. By using the traditional concepts of Svarga, Dharti, and Paatal, this neo-noir thriller explores the stratified layers of Indian society through the lens of heaven, earth, and the underworld.
Avinash Arun and Prosit Roy directed Paatal Lok, which debuted on Amazon Prime Video on 15 May 2020 following Sudip Sharma's creation. Jaideep Ahlawat stars as Hathiram Chowdhary, a cynical policeman who probes a major assassination plot that pulls him into East Delhi's shadowy underworld. The script was developed over a year by Sudip Sharma, who collaborated with writers like Hardik Mehta and Sagar Haveli. This production was handled by Clean Slate Filmz, the digital debut for Anushka Sharma's company.
The show's narrative structure is deeply rooted in Indian mythology. The creators used the concepts of Svarga (heaven), Dharti (earth), and Paatal (the underworld) as metaphors for the three social classes of India. In this framework, the victim represents the heavens, the investigator represents the earth, and the suspects originate from the underworld, or Paatal Lok. This allegorical structure allows the investigation to traverse the different estates of Indian life. The storytelling explores these layers through the eyes of the protagonist to highlight societal divisions.
The production was noted for its authenticity, filming in over 110 real locations, including being the first series shot in Chitrakoot. The series was a critical success, earning eight nominations at the inaugural Filmfare OTT Awards and winning five, including Best Actor for Jaideep Ahlawat and Best Series. While the first season arrived in 2020, a second season set in Nagaland was released on 17 January 2025. The cinematography was managed by Avinash Arun and Saurabh Goswami, with Sanyukta Kaza handling the editing. Additionally, the musical score was composed by Naren Chandravarkar and Benedict Taylor.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Paatal Lok
- Also: Wikidata — Paatal Lok · CC0
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