Indian 2 Review
The saving grace of Shankar’s expanded universe is the masterful precision with which Kamal Haasan drops himself into a messy setup, only slightly to elevate the pulpy tendencies of Shankar’s vision, observes Arjun Menon.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Shankar |
| Hero | Kamal Haasan |
| Cast | Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Rakul Preet Singh, SJ Surya |
| Runtime | 150 minutes |
| Release Date | 12 July 2024 |
Positives:
1. Kamal Haasan’s Performance:
Kamal Haasan continues the emotional arc of the first installment, relishing the chance to play the timeless ‘Senapathy.’ From the moment he appears on screen, Haasan is locked into the part, his gravitas and personal and political ethos bleeding into his on-screen avatar. This immersion helps to elevate some of the more self-congratulatory writing.
2. Anirudh’s Music:
Anirudh is in his element, skillfully incorporating A R Rahman’s original themes while maintaining his own stylistic tendencies. His music complements crucial scenes, adding depth to the film’s atmosphere.
3. Ravi Varman’s Cinematography:
Ravi Varman’s frames are painterly, providing a bright and glossy visual palette that, while occasionally at odds with the drab subject matter, adds a layer of visual appeal to the film.
4. Siddarth’s Casting:
Siddarth is well-cast as the well-meaning youngster caught between moral compromise and societal degradation. He delivers an emotional sequence that turns the film on its head, showcasing his talent.
5. Promising Ending:
The ending regains some lost goodwill, setting up intriguing developments for the next installment. A glimpse of Indian 3 (2025) hints at a marked departure from the current film’s world, suggesting fresh potential for the franchise.
Negatives:
1. Overwritten and Overlong Sequences:
The film suffers from overwritten and overlong sequences, particularly the kill sequences involving Senapathy’s ‘varma’ practice. These scenes are treated with little self-awareness and often veer into self-parody, dragging out the central idea too thinly.
2. Excessive Glamorization:
Shankar’s love for the excess of his world stifles the immediacy of the social concerns being addressed. The gloss and glamour of Senapathy’s newfound celebrity status undermine the weight of the many tragic lives presented.
3. Underdeveloped Characters:
The young gang led by Siddarth is presented with amateurish writing, resulting in underdeveloped characters that feel like placeholders rather than fully realized individuals. Priya Bhavani Shankar and Rakul Preet Singh, along with Siddarth, are relegated to background players in Senapathy’s larger plans for social change.
4. Misplaced Humor:
The comedic beats, particularly in the varma sequences, are overdone and often misplaced. For example, an enemy paralyzed by Senapathy is forced into a horse-like condition, marching around in a literal pose of a horse, which undermines the seriousness of the scene.
5. Missed Narrative Opportunities:
The film fails to fully explore intriguing narrative ideas, such as the potential threat to Senapathy’s self-image and social standing. A chase sequence and action block that follows this development suspends the momentum of the moral question, leaving a poor taste and missing a chance for deeper exploration.
6. SJ Surya’s Excessive Antagonist:
SJ Surya’s portrayal of the sleazy business tycoon is excessive, matching the overall excess that holds back the film. His character, while entertaining, detracts from the more intriguing narrative ideas and story beats at the film’s center.
7. Sanitized Aesthetic:
The handmade quality of the original film is replaced with a hyper-sanitized, overtly manufactured aesthetic. This shift in style makes the details of Senapathy’s escapades feel less immediate and more like a backdrop for Shankar’s imaginative ideas.
8. Lack of Emotional Grounding:
Unlike the first film, which had a strong foundation of pathos and family dynamics, Indian 2 lacks emotional grounding. The noble lone warrior theme is less impactful without the earlier film’s father-son conflict, leaving Senapathy as a more anonymous, brooding figure.
Conclusion:
Indian 2 does not cohere together as seamlessly as one hopes and works more like an overwritten prelude to the events of the next installment. Kamal Haasan’s performance and Anirudh’s music are the film’s saving graces, but the excessive glamorization, underdeveloped characters, and missed narrative opportunities detract from its potential. While the ending hints at a promising future for the franchise, Indian 2 itself falls short of the mark.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the main highlight of Indian 2?
A: The main highlight of Indian 2 is Kamal Haasan’s masterful performance as the timeless vigilante ‘Senapathy.’ His gravitas and immersion in the role elevate the film despite its many flaws.
Q: How does the film’s music contribute to its overall impact?
A: Anirudh’s music is a standout element, skillfully incorporating A R Rahman’s original themes while maintaining his own stylistic tendencies. The music adds depth and complements crucial scenes, enhancing the film’s atmosphere.
Q: What are some of the issues with Indian 2’s narrative?
A: Indian 2 suffers from overwritten and overlong sequences, particularly in the kill scenes involving Senapathy’s ‘varma’ practice. The film also struggles with underdeveloped characters, excessive glamorization, misplaced humor, and missed narrative opportunities.
Q: How does the cinematography affect the film?
A: Ravi Varman’s painterly frames provide a bright and glossy visual palette that adds a layer of visual appeal. However, this aesthetic occasionally conflicts with the film’s drab subject matter, complicating audience response to the unfolding events.
Q: Are there any notable performances by the supporting cast?
A: While Siddarth delivers a notable performance, particularly in an emotional sequence, other supporting cast members like Priya Bhavani Shankar and Rakul Preet Singh have limited roles. SJ Surya’s portrayal of the sleazy business tycoon, though entertaining, is excessively over-the-top.
Q: How does Indian 2 compare to the original film?
A: Indian 2 lacks the emotional grounding and handmade quality of the original film. The noble lone warrior theme is less impactful without the strong father-son conflict that characterized the first film. The sequel’s hyper-sanitized aesthetic and focus on excess detract from its potential.
Q: Does Indian 2 set up for a sequel?
A: Yes, the ending of Indian 2 hints at intriguing developments for the next installment, Indian 3 (2025). This glimpse promises a marked departure from the current film’s world, suggesting fresh potential for the franchise.
Q: What are some key criticisms of Indian 2?
A: Key criticisms include the film’s overwritten and overlong sequences, excessive glamorization, underdeveloped characters, misplaced humor, and missed narrative opportunities. The hyper-sanitized aesthetic and lack of emotional grounding further detract from the film’s impact.
Q: Despite its flaws, what keeps Indian 2 engaging?
A: Kamal Haasan’s performance, Anirudh’s music, and Ravi Varman’s cinematography are the film’s saving graces. These elements, along with a promising ending that sets up intriguing developments for the next installment, keep Indian 2 engaging despite its many flaws.