Movie Review by Prashant Shukla
Plot:
Amay Patnaik, the fearless and honest income tax officer, returns to conduct his 75th raid – this time on a god-like politician named Dadabhai. As he navigates a web of deceit and corruption, the film unfolds around how Amay manages to uphold his duty.
The Performances:
Raid 2 is packed by strong performances across the board. The face-off between Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh is hands down the highlight – intense, thrilling, and especially gripping in the first half. Among the supporting cast, Shruti Pandey as Geeta Devi and Amit Sial as the hilariously unpredictable Lallan make a lasting impact, despite their limited screen time.
Writing & Direction:
Writer-director Raj Kumar Gupta, along with co-writers Aditya Belnekar and Ritesh Shah, crafts a film that strikes the right chord with the masses. Raid 2 doesn’t drift into overly artistic territory, nor does it become a typical masala action thriller – instead, it finds a perfect middle ground. This balance keeps the ‘hook’ alive throughout, making the film both accessible and engaging.
The Technical Aspects:
Raid 2 shines the most in its technical department. From the crisp editing to the carefully constructed frames, it checks all the boxes. However, the BGM by Amit Trivedi is easily the best part of the film, raising the tension where needed and accentuating the intense moments even more. Truly commendable.
What Could’ve Been Better:
The film drifts away from the grounded approach of the first part, with a constant hero treatment given to Ajay Devgn’s character that sometimes feels out of place with the narrative. Saurabh Shukla’s inclusion also feels forced, added more for call-back value than actual significance to the story. And perhaps the most noticeable flaw is the film’s spoon-feeding nature – even the simplest information is handed to you on a plate, unnecessarily dragging out the runtime.
Final Verdict:
In conclusion, Raid 2 is thoroughly engaging and entertaining, despite some noticeable flaws. It may not match the grounded charm of the first film, but it still delivers a satisfying cinematic experience.
