Bharateeyudu 2 Movie Review

BOTTOM LINE
Why Bring Him Back, Shankar Ji?

RATING
1.75/5

CENSOR
U/A, 3h 1m


kamal-haasan-indian-2-bharateeyudu-2-movie-reviewWhat Is the Film About?

Indian 2 (Bharateeyudu 2) brings back Senapathy (Kamal Haasan) to once again tackle the rampant corruption. The core story of the sequel revolves around why he became a target for the people and earned so much hatred in the end.

Performances

Legendary Kamal Haasan plays the role of Senapathy once again, and no one can find fault with him. However, the utterly disappointing thing is his troll-worthy get-ups. The intro long hair look and action sequence are outright funny and not at all what director Shankar and his team pulled off in 1996 in the first part.

It is rather shocking how the entire team failed to judge this crucial aspect, as it is not the first time. It is a continuation of the first part that came out in 1996, and they could have simply repeated the same get-up instead of trying several funny comic looks on the legendary actor.

Siddharth plays a key role, but he hardly makes any impact. Be it his performance or the way his role is written, it is patchy. He shines in one particular emotional scene where he confronts Kamal after his mother’s funeral; he does it well. When it comes to Siddharth’s makeup, for the most part, it looks a bit artificial. He is known to look so natural, but here that’s a miss for some reason.

Rakul Preet Singh plays a role that hardly matters to anyone. She appears very randomly, and when she is on screen, we realize she is part of the film; it is that patchy.

Everyone expected fireworks from S. J. Suryah’s role and performance, but it is outright forgettable.


director-shankar-shanmugamAnalysis
Indian 2 is directed by Shankar, who delivered a truly memorable film, Indian, in every sense in 1996. The movie begins by establishing the rampant corruption in the country, setting the mood for the film. The ideas behind Siddharth’s YouTube channel and #ComeBackIndian, while very basic, carry the hope that Senapathy’s entry will elevate the film.

Unfortunately, the opposite happens. Kamal’s introduction and the entire fight sequence give us a clear hint about where the film might be headed. The makeup and long hair used for this crucial sequence provide fodder for the troll army. It’s hard to believe that a perfectionist like Shankar approved such a look.

What follows is also very basic in terms of writing and presentation. Senapathy arrives in India at the behest of a quick request to tackle corruption. Here, Shankar fails to establish a solid cause that would make the audience root for Senapathy. Instead, the story drifts from one place to another, picking random corruption targets from society without a clear direction.

Additionally, the couple of songs in the first half highlight how dishonest or unserious the entire team seems about the script.

The second half of Indian 2 is slightly better compared to the first half due to the increased drama, whether it works or not.

The biggest issue is the confusion with the core idea. Shankar wants to establish the unique concept that youth should reject the benefits that corrupt parents provide through fraudulent practices. However, he fails to convey this with emotion; instead, what he presents is a youth that revolts against Senapathy, highlighting his failure in the second part.

He uses the second half to tie up every single thread, be it Siddharth, Priya, etc., finding their parents corrupt, but the drama feels staged and doesn’t resonate. The less we talk about emotional connection, the better. The first part is known for its core emotions and smooth drama, along with the music and everything, but here it is quite the opposite.

Additionally, the use of poor ideas like #GoBackIndian shows how superficial the writing is.

What’s particularly sad is that Senapathy, a character once loved, becomes one of the most hated figures by the end of the sequel. The people of the country turn against him, hitting him with stones and making him the villain of the film. One might be left scratching their head, wondering what exactly Shankar wants to convey.

In the climax, Indian (Senapathy) gets beaten up for coming back, and we, as the audience, feel that same beating for choosing to sit through Indian 2.

Overall, Shankar should have refrained from making a sequel to one of the best and most powerful social dramas in South Indian history.


siddharth-rakul-preeth-singh-indian-2-bharateeyudu-2-movie-reviewPerformances by Others Actors

Indian 2 has a boatload of support cast members, and most of them do their jobs without leaving any room for complaints. It has more to do with the way their roles were written. For example, Bobby Simha’s role should have added value, but the way it is presented shows how poorly the writing department handled this project.

The late actor Vivek does his job. Priya Bhavani Shankar has good screen presence but wasn’t utilized much to the film’s benefit. Brahmanandam plays a forgettable special role. Others like Samuthirakani and Manobala do their usual performances.


music-director-anirudh-ravichanderMusic and Other Departments?

Firstly, the music by Anirudh Ravichander is a disaster in every sense; he did not even compensate for it with his background score. Anirudh’s work is a great injustice to a sequel like Indian, which has been backed by evergreen music from A. R. Rahman. This once again highlights the shortcomings of the current generation of music directors.

Cinematography by Ravi Varman matches the scale of director Shankar, but the way the story shifts from one state to another and the lackluster drama ruin the impact of any camera work.

Editing by Sreekar Prasad is not good at all. Not only does the film feel boring and unnecessarily lengthy, but the issues are also right in our face, and he lets them go in chunks.

The production values by Lyca are grand as always, matching Shankar’s style.


sj-surya-indian-2-bharateeyudu-2-movie-reviewHighlights?

Kamal Haasan (Not a standout, but some moments shine)

Drawbacks?

Story

Direction

Anirudh’s Music and BGM

Zero emotional connection

Poorly developed main characters


Did I Enjoy It?

No

Will You Recommend It?

No

Bharateeyudu 2 Telugu Movie Review by M9

Final Report:

Indian 2 lacks a basic core plot that can generate emotions like in the first part. Surprisingly, there isn’t much from Senapathy’s nostalgic role either. Even Kamal’s much-appreciated getup from the first part is a big fail here. Anirudh’s work is totally absent. Overall, the sequel is nowhere near the memorable first part that came out in 1996.

Detailed review coming soon.

First Half Report:

The first half looks visually fine but feels outdated content-wise, including Kamal’s intro. Senapathy’s get-up with long hair hasn’t come out well. The much-needed seriousness and emotion in the drama are absent so far. Interval sequence is alright. A strong second half is needed.

Stay tuned for the “Indian 2” (Bharateeyudu 2) movie review from the U.S. premiere.

“Indian 2” (Bharateeyudu 2) is a sequel to one of the most memorable dramas of the 90s, nicely packed with enough action and emotion, which many still consider Shankar’s best work. Its music by A. R. Rahman is also evergreen.

Now, director Shankar has made a bold step in bringing a sequel to “Indian,” and there is a great deal of curiosity about how he will match the high bar set by himself. The music for “Indian 2” is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, and it has been revealed that a few themes from the first part of “Indian” for Senapathy will return in the sequel. Stay tuned for the “Indian 2” review (Bharateeyudu 2 review in Telugu) from the U.S. premiere.

Cast: Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, Kajal Agarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, SJ Surya, Bobby Simha, Vivek, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Brahmanandam, Samuthirakani
Director: Shankar
Music: Anirudh Ravichander
Director of Photography: Ravi Varman
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Dialogue Writers: Jayamohan, Kabilan Vairamuthu, Lakshmi Saravana Kumar

U.S. Distributor: Film Distribution Network (FDN)

Bharateeyudu 2 Telugu Movie Review by M9