‘Second Chance’: Subhadra Mahajan’s Debut Feature Offers a Masterclass in Quiet Storytelling

In an era of cinema dominated by spectacle and noise, Subhadra Mahajan’s “Second Chance” emerges as a breath of fresh mountain air—literally and figuratively. This debut feature, which premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, presents a deeply personal meditation on trauma, healing, and the unexpected connections that can transform our darkest moments into opportunities for renewal.

A Story Born from Personal Experience

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Himachal Pradesh’s Pir Panjal mountains, “Second Chance” follows 25-year-old Nia (Dheera Johnson), a Delhi-based dancer who retreats to her family’s summer home in the dead of winter. The film opens with the revelation of her trauma—an unwanted pregnancy, subsequent abortion, and abandonment by her boyfriend—setting the stage for what could have been a conventional tale of urban despair. Instead, Mahajan crafts something far more nuanced and ultimately hopeful.

The film’s authentic feel stems partly from Mahajan’s personal connection to the material. The director has stated that the film is inspired by some of her personal experiences, especially growing up in Himachal Pradesh, though she currently resides in Mumbai. This intimate knowledge of both the landscape and the cultural dynamics at play lends the film an unmistakable authenticity that resonates throughout its unhurried 90-minute runtime.

The Director’s Vision

Subhadra Mahajan was born and raised in the Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh and currently resides in Mumbai, India. She has had a long collaboration with filmmaker Pan Nalin, most notably in co-writing “Angry Indian Goddesses” (2015) which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, was Runner Up for the Audience Choice Award and was India’s official entry to the 2023 Oscars.

Mahajan’s approach to storytelling in “Second Chance” is refreshingly patient. Rather than rushing toward resolution, she allows her protagonist—and her audience—to settle into the rhythms of mountain life. The film’s black-and-white cinematography by Swapnil Suhas Sonawane captures the stark beauty of the winter landscape while emphasizing the internal journey of its characters. As noted by critics, the monochrome photography is breathtaking in the best way: elegant without overtly imposing its artistry on already beautiful settings.

A Debut Performance Worth Celebrating

At the center of “Second Chance” is Dheera Johnson’s remarkable debut performance as Nia. She is a mixed medium fine artist and a freestyle dancer with a classical training in Kathak. Dheera is based in Los Angeles for a Full Time Professional Acting Conservatory at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute on a Richard Boleslawski Scholarship, and has since received The Legacy Award Scholarship from the Strasberg Institute.

Johnson brings a naturalistic quality to Nia that perfectly complements Mahajan’s understated directorial style. Her background as a trained dancer proves particularly effective in sequences where Nia expresses her changing emotional states through movement. As FirstPost notes in their review, “Second Chance shows how Nia is a natural dancer and change of mood is shown through her dance moves and these moves aren’t very conventional, but has a slow rhythm.”

“Second Chance” represents an auspicious debut for director Subhadra Mahajan and lead actress Dheera Johnson. The film demonstrates a mature understanding of how cinema can explore complex emotional territories without resorting to melodrama or easy solutions.

Johnson’s performance is notable for what it doesn’t do as much as what it does. She resists the temptation to over-dramatize Nia’s pain, instead allowing it to emerge through small gestures, silences, and moments of unexpected joy. Her interactions with the non-professional actors around her feel completely genuine, creating an ensemble that feels more like a found family than a cast.

The Power of Non-Professional Casting

One of “Second Chance’s” greatest strengths lies in Mahajan’s decision to cast non-professional actors in key supporting roles. She chose non-actors, like Kanav Thakur and Thakri Devi, to create an authentic, moving experience in her debut film.

Thakri Devi, who plays Bhemi, the elderly caretaker’s mother-in-law, delivers what can only be described as a lived-in performance. Her weathered face and natural mannerisms speak to decades of mountain life, and her chemistry with Johnson feels utterly authentic. The Hollywood Reporter noted that “the thoroughly endearing performances by child actor Thakur and the mature Devi, neither of whom had ever acted before, are a key element” in the film’s success.

Eight-year-old Kanav Thakur, playing Bhemi’s grandson Sunny, brings an infectious energy to the film without ever feeling forced or precocious. His natural interactions with Johnson help illustrate Nia’s gradual opening to the world around her.

A Meditation on Grief and Healing

What sets “Second Chance” apart from other films dealing with trauma is its refusal to provide easy answers. As FirstPost observes, “The process followed by Nia in Second Chance shows how sometimes healing hurts more than the wound. And when the wound is done by someone who is alive, you wait for an answer and you keep asking yourself as to, ‘What did I do to deserve this?’”

The film’s strength lies in its understanding that healing is not a linear process, and Mahajan proves adept at lulling us with a slow, unhurried pace so that we eventually succumb to the same quieter rhythms as Nia. Rather than rushing toward catharsis, the film allows for the messy, non-linear reality of processing trauma.

Particularly effective is the film’s exploration of how different people process loss. Both Nia and Bhemi are revealed to be dealing with profound grief—Nia from her recent trauma, and Bhemi from the loss of her daughter. Their intergenerational bond, formed across class and cultural differences, becomes a testament to the universal nature of human suffering and the healing power of genuine connection.

Technical Excellence in Service of Story

The film’s technical elements work in harmony to support its thematic concerns. The decision to shoot in black and white initially might seem like an art-house affectation, but it serves multiple purposes. It emphasizes the stark beauty of the winter landscape while also suggesting the internal bleakness from which Nia is trying to emerge. As color gradually returns to her world—through her relationships, her dance, and her care for a stray kitten—the monochrome palette makes these moments of warmth feel even more precious.

The sound design is equally thoughtful, using the natural sounds of wind, snow, and mountain silence to create an immersive environment that feels both isolating and potentially healing. The film’s pacing mirrors the rhythms of rural life, where time moves differently than in the urban environments most contemporary films inhabit.

A Universal Story in a Specific Setting

While “Second Chance” is deeply rooted in its Himalayan setting, its themes of healing, connection, and resilience are universal. As Variety noted, “without WiFi coverage, Subhadra Mahajan’s spectacular and serene ‘Second Chance’ suggests, a different, deeper kind of connection is possible — to these stark, unearthly landscapes, to the people who’ve made their lives among them, and perhaps even to the self you might have lost”.

The film’s gentle humor and moments of joy prevent it from becoming overly solemn. Scenes involving an elderly shepherd who visits Bhemi provide welcome levity while maintaining the film’s authentic tone. These moments of everyday pleasure—sharing tea, eating homemade dumplings, playing cricket—become profound in their simplicity.

A Promising Debut

“Second Chance” represents an auspicious debut for director Subhadra Mahajan and lead actress Dheera Johnson. The film demonstrates a mature understanding of how cinema can explore complex emotional territories without resorting to melodrama or easy solutions. The film has already captured hearts across Europe, Asia, and the United States, earning both audience admiration at various international film festivals.

In a cinematic landscape often focused on spectacle and speed, “Second Chance” offers something increasingly rare: time and space for contemplation. It’s a film that trusts its audience to engage with subtlety and silence, and in doing so, creates a deeply moving experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

The film serves as a reminder that sometimes the most profound journeys are not about dramatic transformations but about small, daily choices to remain open to possibility. In Nia’s gradual emergence from isolation into connection, audiences will find a story that speaks to anyone who has ever needed to rebuild themselves after loss.