Pitchers, a popular TVF show that premiered in 2015, follows the journey of four friends who decide to start their own company together after quitting their 9-to-5 jobs. In the recently released season 2, we see the team’s start-up, called “Pragati,” navigate the competitive business world and continue to grow, now with a team of 24. The show’s unique selling point is its portrayal of start-up culture and innovative business strategies, and it resonates with millennials who can relate to the challenges and aspirations of starting a business from scratch.
Arunabh Kumar, the creator of Pitchers, also stars in the show as Yogendra Kumar Pandey, better known as Yogi. He is joined by Naveen Kasturia as CEO Naveen, the mastermind behind the company’s concept, and Abhay Mahajan as marketing head Saurabh Mandal. The fourth co-founder, coder Jeetu (played by Jitendra Kumar), is mysteriously absent in this season, with the reason for his departure being kept a secret from the start. Based in Mumbai, where start-ups face fierce competition, the team at “Pragati” must secure investors in order to keep their company afloat and continue to grow. Will they be able to succeed in this cut-throat market, or will they be forced to exit?
In this season of Pitchers, the memorable monologue “Tu beer hai” from the pilot episode of the previous season has been changed to “Tu whisky hai.” This sets the tone for the season, which begins with Bhati (brilliantly played by Abhishek Banerjee) advising Naveen to approach problems in a different way in order to succeed. The writing team, led by Arunabh Kumar and including Prashant Kumar, Shubham Sharma, and Talha Siddiqui, has crafted a screenplay that delves into the intricate details of entrepreneurial life. Over the course of five hour-long episodes, the show offers a captivating and authentic narrative that many viewers will find relatable. Each episode begins with a motivational quote and includes plenty of funny one-liners, but the pacing may feel a bit slow at times.
Naveen Kasturia returns as Naveen, the leader of the team who is willing to take risks and make important decisions. Arunabh Kumar’s Yogi is still brash and rude, but he serves as a protector for the team and always gets the job done. The heart of the show and the glue that holds the team together is Abhay Mahajan’s Mandal. Riddhi Dogra effectively portrays Prachi, an investor in the team’s start-up. Sikander Kher and Ashish Vidyarthi both deliver strong performances as the business tycoons, although their appearances are brief and could have been given more screen time. Gopal Dutt’s character, Ravi Ram Rastogi, adds humor to the plot with his video blogs.
Vaibhav Bundhoo’s background score deserves recognition for its ability to adapt to the tone of the drama and seamlessly fit into the story.
After a seven-year hiatus, Pitchers 2 delivers a satisfying continuation of the story, with relatable characters and themes of start-up challenges that will resonate with millennials. The return of the “pitcher’s gang” is sure to be a treat for fans of the show.
