BOTTOM LINE
Overstuffed With Moderate Thrills
OUR RATING
2.25/5
CENSOR
A, 2h 7m
What Is the Film About?
Maa Oori Polimera 2 follows the events of part one of the flick set in the village of Jastipalli around the characters Komarayya (Satyam Rajesh), Lakshmi, Balija, Ramulu and Kavita.
A new SI, Ravindra Naik arrives in Jastipalli and starts investigating the case of missing Jangayya (Baladitya). How it ties up with everything happening in the village is the movie’s basic plot.
Performances
Satyam Rajesh plays the simpleton Komarayya, now working at a coffee shop in Kerala’s interior forest areas, with ease. And then there is the important other shade which is the challenging aspect of the part.
Previously, we only got a glimpse of it, but in the sequel, there is more for Satyam Rajesh to chew. He is okay in that he manages things well, but it doesn’t get to the next level. Still, enough moments are there to take note of his normally unexplored dramatic and intense side and make him stand out among the crowd.
Kamakshi Bhaskarla starts normally, but the role turns out well in the end. The character’s emotional arc gives Kamakshi decent material to perform. She doesn’t disappoint and delivers towards the end.
Analysis
Dr Anil Vishwanath directs Maa Oori Polimera 2. The previous part was a straight-up dark thriller with a black magic theme. Here we have more of it with new elements related to history thrown in.
The movie opening is designed well to make people who haven’t seen the previous part aware of the characters and the basic story. So, if you haven’t seen part one, don’t miss the beginning.
What holds the attention from the start in Maa Oori Polimera 2 is the intriguing factor. Things move crisply and we look forward to seeing the story unfold as it gives us a feeling of treading relatively uncharted territory.
However, as the narrative progresses the positive factor turns negative as there is too much happening, too quickly. There is a lot of jumping in time, back and forth, that makes one wonder about the actual timeline. As a result, very little register.
Also, there is so much that’s connected to the first part. A huge chunk of Maa Oori Polimera 2 is reimagining the scenes of part one in a new direction. The scenes we have seen previously get a new meaning here. It’s confusing and tiresome to those who haven’t seen the first one.
Usually, the thriller gets a leeway in reimagination of the narrative as the perspective changes. But, in Maa Oori Polimera 2, the entire character sketches get changed. It kind of takes away one from the story if they are invested in it from the start.
There aren’t enough thrilling moments due to the quick cuts from one place and character to another and their reconnection with the past. The interval block highlights what’s missing in the narrative. Many such moments were needed.
The second half throws a lot of surprises mainly due to the complete shift in characterizations. The twists related to the characters lack impact, but the ones that come out of the black magic space are okay even if far-fetched.
It all builds up to the climax which is a mixed bag. There are elements of thrill and drama simultaneously. Parts of it work, but some are overdone leaving one with a passable watch kind of feeling.
The new backdrop chosen is not properly explored. It offers intrigue but the narrative superficially glosses over it with amateurish dialogues. The end reveals another part that looks to take the temple background seriously. But, it doesn’t change the feelings related to the current outing.
Overall, Maa Oori Polimera 2 offers more elements of part one which works in parts. However, it lacks depth in the newly chosen historical temple-related backdrop. If you like the dark mystery thriller genre, give it a try, but have the expectations under check.
Performances by Others Actors
Baladitya who played a crucial role in part one is missing in action here. It is Getup Sreenu who has a better character. He does well in what’s given to him.
Chitram Sreenu, Ravi Varma, and a few others reprise their parts from the first one. They are alright. Rakendu Mouli is the new addition to Maa Oori Polimera 2. He is okay playing a sharp cop. The rest of the actors range from decent to forgettable.
Music and Other Departments?
Gyaani provides the right background score for the proceedings. It adds to the eeriness and elevates a lot of ordinary moments. The cinematography is okay. Considering the locations and setup, it could have been much better. Similarly, the editing could be cleaner, but allowing for such convoluted narration, it gets a pass. The writing should have been far better keeping in view the historical backdrop involving temples.
Highlights?
Backdrop
Some Well Connected Twists
Few Thrills
Drawbacks?
Convoluted Narrative
Many Unnecessary Twists
Inconsistent Characterizations
Missing Depth
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Reservations
Maa Ooripolimera 2 Movie Review by M9
