Rating: 2.75/5
Starring:
Kamal Haasan, SJ Surya, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Kajal Aggarwal, Siddharth, Rakul Preet Singh, Nedumudi Venu, Vivek, Kalidas Jayaram, Samudrakhani, Bobby Simha, Brahmanandam, Zakir Hussain, Piyush Mishra, Guru Somasundaram, Dilli Ganesh, Jayaprakash, Manobala, Ashwini Thangaraj, etc. (Bharateeyudu 2 Review: Bharateeyudu 2 Movie Review and Rating)
- Story, Direction: S. Shankar
- Producer: Subhaskaran
- Screenplay: S. Shankar, B. Jayamohan, Kabilan Vairamuthu, Lakshmi Saravana Kumar
- Music: Anirudh Ravichandran
- Editing: A. Srikar Prasad
- Cinematography: Ravivarman
- Art: Muthuraj
- Stunts: Anal Arasu, Anbarivu, Ramzan Bulat, Peter Haynes, Stunt Silva
- Dialogue Writer: Hanuman Chaudhary
- VFX Supervisor: V. Srinivas Mohan
- Choreography: Bosco Caesar, Baba Bhaskar
- Songs: Shrimani
- Sound Designer: Kunal Rajan
- Makeup: Legacy Effect – Vance Hurtwell – Pattanam Rasheed
- Costume Design: Rocky-Gavin Mughal-Amrita Ram-SB Satishan-Pallavi Singh-V Sai
- Executive Producer: Sundar Raj
- Head of Leica Productions: GKM Tamil Kumaran
- Red Giant Movies: Senbaga Murthy
- Release Date: 2024-07-12
Kamal Haasan and Shankar’s much-anticipated ‘Indian 2’ aka ‘Bharateeyudu 2’ graced the silver screens today, showcasing an ensemble cast featuring Siddharth, Rakul Preet Singh, and SJ Suryah. Directed by Shankar, the film resumes the saga of Senapathy, a freedom fighter turned vigilante, who returns from Hong Kong to aid Chitra Aravindhan in her crusade to unmask corrupt politicians through digital exposés.
Storyline
The narrative trails Senapathy as he allies with Chitra Aravindhan, essayed by Rakul Preet Singh, who is ardently unveiling corruption online. Despite an intriguing premise, ‘Bharateeyudu 2’ falters in capturing the emotional resonance and fervor of its predecessor.
Plot and Execution
‘Bharateeyudu 2’ is bereft of the core plot elements that rendered the original film so emotionally stirring. Senapathy’s nostalgic comeback, anticipated as a centerpiece, falls short. Kamal Haasan’s once-iconic avatar is disappointingly lackluster, failing to evoke the previous excitement. Anirudh’s musical contribution, which could have elevated the experience, is conspicuously absent, further diminishing the film’s impact.
Screenplay and Direction
Shankar endeavors to replicate the enchantment of his previous works, but the screenplay feels anachronistic and laborious. The emotions conveyed are contrived and reminiscent of a soap opera rather than a compelling cinematic journey. The film opens with promise, offering a robust opening 20 minutes and a grand entrance for Senapathy, but it swiftly loses steam, succumbing to predictability and monotony.
Technical Aspects
While the opulence and production values are laudable, they cannot salvage the film. Anirudh’s music, which had the potential to uplift the film, is sorely missed, rendering the score insipid. The first half is tolerable, but the second half deteriorates drastically, failing to sustain audience engagement.
Final Verdict
‘Bharateeyudu 2’ is a disheartening sequel that fails to honor the legacy of its predecessor. Despite its attempts to deliver earnest messages, the film is bogged down by a paucity of genuine emotion and drama. Shankar’s reliance on antiquated screenplay structures renders the film stale and uninspired. Although the production values are impressive, they cannot compensate for the film’s deficiencies.
‘Bharateeyudu 2’ is, at best, an average sequel with a promising start that quickly devolves into a predictable and uninspiring narrative. For aficionados of the original, this sequel is likely to be a letdown.
