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An Amazing Storytelling Experience by Shankar
Sarkar Rating: 2.5/5 Release Date: July 12, 2024
Crew:
Director: Shankar
Music: Anirudh Ravichander
Director of Photography: Ravi Varman
Production Designer: T. Muthuraj
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Dialogue Writers: Hanuman Choudary
Lyrics: Suddala Ashok Teja – Shreemani
Bharateeyudu 2 is true to what they said the movie is about and what the trailer (Trailer Review) suggested. Although it is one step above than what’s expected from the trailer, because the trailer suggests that Senapathy is the only solution to all problems, but the cinema discusses about how one person cannot be the rescuer but every person of every household is accountable.
Story :
Even after 28 years of Bharateeyudu’s exit from India after killing his son, Bharateeyudu finds only the rise of corruption in India and is prepared to start his Nethaji’s path of rebellion, saying whoever wants to follow Gandhi’s path, follow that, but he will do what he has to do. Siddharth(Chitra Aravindhan) is a common man who feels agitated about all the bad things going in the corrupted society, starts a youtube channel called Barking Dogs demonstrating every crime happened due to corruption.
One day, when he was doing public display of protest in support of the woman who killed herself in the tumultuous turn of events caused by corruption. Police arrest his team with Rakul Preet Singh helps them release on bail. Realising whatever they do is pointless, they call back Bharateeyudu, posting all over the social media from various corners of India. Through a link, he is foud out and in Thailand, when met in person, he says the he had been following everything and confirms, “I will be back.” Why is he in Thailand? What happens when he comes back forms the rest of the story.
Bharateeyudu2 should not be compared to Bharateeyudu(1996) to experience all the emotional storytelling and in depth discussions of all the social issues from wearing a helmet to scamming people in lakhs of money. Bharateeyudu has a cute love story with a magical chemistry between Kamal Haasan and an innocent and cute screen goddess Manisha Koirala. Bharateeyudu2 has no such romantic track. This is the least to say if the comparison is brought between Bharateeyudu(1996) and Bharateeyudu2.
There are many movies after Shivaji, which came with the concept of corruption incorporating the grand approach. They included villains from various backgrounds and hero finally winning over all of them with the climax fights. To do such massive movies were initiated with the inspiration of Shankar movies. What new can be shown with all angles of stories revolving around corruption? That is what is discussed in this movie. What happens if you do follow the footsteps of your hero and try to really change? What will be the consequences? All these consequences are discussed in Bharateeyudu2.
Shankar took his time to discuss all the delicate and keen elements in the movie. One could say it is dragged, but if we see from emotional and in depth point of view, the time taken is justified. Every character has time and space to introspect, explain, understand, and express their woes. Every movie that came with the same story has lacked that emotional connect, where the aucience feel empathetic and completely connect with the characters.
But Bharateeyudu2 has conquered that feet, every detail, every dialogue will allow everyone to connect with the people on the screen making the storytelling successful. The emotional path that Shankar takes us is neither melodramatic nor too lighthearted. The brilliance of handling the emotional and sensitive scenes, the way he gets us invested is remarkable.
Anirudh’s background music complimented the scenes seen on screen well. But it would have been better for the story and especially for Bharateeyudu if it was A. R. Rahman like he did for Bharateeyudu (1996). Yes, when compared to Shankar’s previous movies, the grandeur he brings to the screen is less, but it feels like it is a conscious call that he wants the story to be expressed in a different way, talking mainly about the burning social issues.
Kamal Haasan and Siddharth acted really well. Even now, wearing all the prosthetics, we could feel the sadness that Senapathy felt, and we empathise. After Rang De Basanti, Siddharth played an equivalent role in Bharateeyudu2. He is one of the common men, he is a do-gooder. He starts a YouTube channel, Barking Dogs, thinking the likes and shares he gets on those videos do some good and bring some change in the corrupted world.
Later, his character takes a rollercoaster ride where, by the end of the movie, he is mentally in the darkest space. His portrayal from a smiling, family-oriented responsible citizen who wishes the “Comeback Indian” to most possible mental dark space one can ever face, especially after doing something good, he portrays this journey with maturity and stellar acting.
Issues Discussed :
Swach Bharath, Vijay Malya, the Health Ministry, the food industry, every scam, and every issue are discussed in detail. Shankar explains clearly how corruption has polluted each and every household to the extent that every common person thinks that bribery or corruption is a natural and normal thing. They don’t realise how much of a crime it is or how it affects other people’s lives.
Shankar has dealt with the consequences of doing good in the corrupted society of the present. He discussed how parents say everything they do is for kids, but instead how bad it is for the next generation and how a corrupt doctor can kill a patient who is not in a serious fatal health problem like apendicitis when treated correctly. How following a good path will realistically affect a deep-rooted corrupted society. It also discusses how a corrupt media house can bring light to the aftereffects of doing good and use it as a tool to bring down Senapathy and his path instead of the real victim of the corrupt system.
Verdict :
Shankar is doing multiple movies simultaneously; maybe that could be the reason for him to showcase less grandeur in Bharateeyudu 2. The massive, unique grandeur of Shankar films is not in Bharateeyudu 2. It almost feels like there is doubt about whether it is Shankar’s or someone else’s. All the grandeur is showcased in the display of the criminals’ backgrouds when Senapathy is killing them. The story is definitely worthy. It is important to not coompare with Bharateeyudu (1996), as the traile already suggested.
Read Also: Kamal Hassan Thanks Bribery, as It Is the Reason of Making Bharateeyudu 2