Ep 2. Shuddhikaran

Bandish Bandits is a Hindi language musical drama streaming in Amazon Prime Video. The show, created by Anand Tiwari, follows the lives of two musicians, Radhe and Tamanna, from two different musical backgrounds who embark on an unlikely romance. The show deals with themes such as following one's passion, cultural identity, and the tension between tradition and modernity.

Season 1 episode 2 titled "Shuddhikaran" picks up from where the pilot left off. Radhe, the young and talented Hindustani classical singer, has been selected for the Taan Samrat competition, the biggest classical music competition in India. Meanwhile, Tamanna, a pop-star, is struggling to find her footing in the industry. The episode introduces us to an important character, Digvijay, a musician of high stature, who happens to be Radhe's grandfather.

The episode begins with Digvijay performing a traditional ceremony called "Shuddhikaran" in his ancestral temple. Shuddhikaran is a purification ceremony performed to cleanse an individual's soul of its impurities. Digvijay's character is established in this scene as a traditionalist, who is proud of his lineage and would do anything to preserve his culture. His daughter and Radhe's mother, however, is a more liberal character, who encourages her son's musical pursuits.

Radhe's music teacher, Pandit Rathod, is introduced in this episode. Pandit Rathod is a strict disciplinarian who believes that "music is not for amusement." Radhe, who is preparing for the Taan Samrat competition, is finding it hard to keep up with his teacher's standards. Pandit Rathod tells Radhe that if he wants to be a great musician, he has to make music his entire life.

Meanwhile, Tamanna is facing a crisis of her own. Her album has not done well, and her manager is urging her to change her image to appeal to a wider audience. Tamanna, who hails from a royal family, is struggling to find her identity in the world of pop music. She feels that changing her image to suit the masses would mean that she is compromising her values.

Radhe's grandfather, Digvijay, invites Pandit Rathod and his family for dinner. The tensions between the traditional and modern ways of making music are highlighted in this scene. Pandit Rathod is unimpressed by the modern pop songs being played on television. He criticizes Tamanna's music and says that it lacks the sophistication and depth of classical music. Tamanna is hurt by the criticism and leaves the dinner table.

Radhe, who is eavesdropping on the conversation, tries to make sense of what he has learned from both his teacher and his grandfather. He realizes that there is merit in both traditional and modern ways of making music. Radhe, who has always been proud of his Hindustani classical music background, is inspired by Tamanna's passion for pop music.

The episode ends with a cliffhanger. Radhe's family receives a phone call informing them that Pandit Rathod has suffered a heart attack. The news sends shockwaves through Radhe, who has realized that his teacher's tough love has been his guiding force all along.

Overall, the second episode of Bandish Bandits is a well-crafted continuation of the pilot episode. The themes of tradition vs. modernity, passion vs. commerce, and cultural identity are explored in depth. The performances by the cast are excellent, especially Sheeba Chaddha, who plays Radhe's mother, and Naseeruddin Shah, who plays Digvijay. The episode leaves the viewer wanting more and sets up the stage for the next episode, where the competition and the tensions between the characters reach a fever pitch.