'K.G.F: Chapter 2' is the latest box office release in the town. In this section, we are going to review the period action film.
Story:
Rocky (Yash) has grown to be a leader of the KGF's slaves after assassinating Garuda (Ramachandra Raju). But he now has to contend with a new challenger who has arrived in the form of Adheera (Sanjay Dutt), the merciless monster. There is a double whammy in the form of Ramika Sen (Raveena Tandon), India's Prime Minister.
The story of 'KGF 2' is essentially about whether the Adheera-Ramika Sen duo individually manage to trump Rocky, the indefatigable Gangster of Gangsters.
Analysis:
When the first part was out in December 2018, it ended up being a misunderstood film. Film critics felt that, more than a tale, the film was all about building the image of the protagonist through an endless stream of elevation scenes. Our review noted that the film is replete with elevation episodes, let alone scenes. From dialogues (the punchlines were gold, undoubtedly) to action shots, nothing received their due from the media fraternity. This changed once the film became an unanticipated hit. The film's non-linear screenplay style, the very many sketchy characters, and the confusing narrator (Anant Nag gets replaced by Prakash Raj in the latest edition) warranted a repeat watch.
The second part has many characters talking about Rocky's invincibility. When they are not doing it, Rocky's body language informs us of his tenacity. The editing pattern ably underlines the prowess that Rocky embodies. His larger-than-life character thrives not just on Ravi Basrur's BGM that spotlights his persona but also the editing cuts. Bhuvan Gowda's cinematography emphasizes the El Dorado-ness of the proceedings with drop-dead conviction.
Srinidhi Shetty's Reena was given a raw deal in the previous part. This time, she gets to play a consequential part, at least to add an emotional undercurrent. Talking of the emotional base of 'KGF 2', it is once again steeped in the mother-son sentiment.
The pre-climax of the film is partly blighted by somewhat of an underwhelming face-off. But when the climax comes, the scales are tilted in favour of layered narration.
At 168 minutes, the period actioner, whose drama shifts from 1978 to 1981 in turns, is unapologetically long. The action set pieces are brilliant. Every time there is a low, the BGM, the heroism, the villains come together to make the experience special.
Yash is top-notch. In the second half of 'KGF 1', he didn't get to speak much. In the film under review, he gets to express and explode. Sanjay Dutt accentuates the saga, while Raveena Tandon is an atypical politician with a dictatorial, well-meaning mindset.
The production design is flawless, so also the VFX. 'KGF 2' is the kind of high-octane mass entertainer we needed. Some of the plot points could have been less routine. The editing pattern, written into the clever screenplay, makes even the routine elements seem different. The flavour of 'KGF 1' is retained where necessary. The CBI branch office mayhem scene is awesome. The backdrops (be it Dubai, Narachi or Delhi) are explored to enrich the story. The Kalashnikov, the weapons, the deadly sights... they all make this film irresisitible.
Verdict:
'KGF 2' caters to its kind of demanding audience. In some aspects, it overrides the previous edition. In terms of drama, it is repetitive at times. Overall, though, this is an explosive, engaging action drama.
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