KGF Chapter 2 (2022)

Critic No. 278

Director: Prashanth Neel

Written by: Prashanth Neel

Produced by: Hombale Films

Casts:  Yash, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Srinidhi Shetty, Prakash Raj, Malavika Avinash

Music: Ravi Basrur

Language: Kannada

Genre: Action, Drama

SYNOPSIS: 

In the blood-soaked Kolar Gold Fields, Rocky's (Yash) name strikes fear into his foes. While his allies look up to him, the government sees him as a threat to law and order. Rocky must battle threats from all sides for unchallenged supremacy.

REVIEW:

In all honesty, when K.G.F Chapter 1  was released about 4 years ago, I was not really intrigued by the subject matter and felt that it is overrated. I revisited the film 1 week before I watched the sequel and felt that I understood the film and its dramatic yet novel world-building. I was then truly excited to see how this world evolves. With a much bigger budget and star casts, has Prasanth Neel managed to fulfill the mammoth expectation?

The story kicks off with Vijayendra Ingalagi (Prakash Raj), the son of Anand Ingalagi, taking over as the narrator after the latter falls ill. Rocky (Yash) has won over the people of KGF and he is now in the process of dreaming bigger and treading more dangerous paths. In this process, he encounters Adheera (Sanjay Dutt), who wants KGF back. Simultaneously, Rocky also has to encounter the righteous Prime Minister Ramika Sen, who also wants Rocky and his empire taken down.

This time the screenplay feels more focused and emotional than the predecessor without any wasted time building up the protagonist or spilling into any uninspired romantic situations. It also moves quicker and one gets to meet more characters that are clearly designed as a strong conflict for Rocky. The conflicts faced by Rocky is much more challenging this time which keeps us invested. Unlike the predecessor where Rocky is untouchable by his opponents, here he gets down many times to rise back. The romantic track of Rocky is filled with much more purpose now and even fuels the climax with peaking emotions. 

Yash is flamboyant as Rocky Bhai. His towering presence and dialogue delivery is a sheer joy to watch. Similarly, Sanjay Dutt's Adheera, who is inspired by the Vikings, strikes fear with his violent activities and his eerie look. Though I wished that he had more screen time, he is really effective. Raveena Tandon as the PM of India delivers an earnest performance as Rocky’s final foe. Srinidhi Shetty's role though slightly better than the first part remains problematic. Rocky brings her home as he considers her 'entertainment.' However, he doesn't touch her, because he believes that women and children cannot be touched without consent. Isn't that quite contradicting? Such conflicting ideas make you question the intention of the female roles in the film. 

Technically the film is a ‘beast’. The fight scenes are cut and shot really well in a hyper-stylised way - a definite USP of the KGF franchise. Cinematographer Bhuvan Gowda, editor Ujwal Kulkarni (a stunning 20-year-old talent), and Ravi Basrur's are the biggest pillars of the film that contributes to the immersive experience it possesses. Every frame feels like a painting and do watch out for the racy climax sequence in the Indian Ocenan. 

For the audience who is open to watching an action film with stylized violence and simple emotions, this film is a definite treat. KGF: Chapter 2 might not appeal to the seemingly woke audience, who would question consent or nitpick on commercial elements without adapting to the world-building of the franchise. The film is a milestone in the Indian film industry and its monstrous box office returns are a clear indication. 

VERDICT:

Prasanth Neel comes up with an explosive sequel with a heart-pumping screenplay, excellent technical details, and thunderous performances from the star-studded cast ensemble.  

CELLULOID METER- 4/5: