Raid 2 movie review: Ajay Devgn's film crumbles under weight of his stardom

India Today

01-05-2025

An intense drama like 'Raid' is a perfect recipe for an engaging film. Driven by Ajay Devgn, the franchise is both gripping and intriguing. You know that the hero is going to get the work done, and it's now his journey that you are excited about. In 'Raid 2', the new film in the franchise, Devgn reprises the role of a no-nonsense, honest income tax officer, Amay Patnaik. But this time, we don't see enough of him—we see a brooding Ajay Devgn.advertisement'Raid 2' brings Riteish Deshmukh as Dadabhai, a powerful politician hailed as the people's messiah in a fictional state called Bhoj. Patnaik's entry into Dadabhai's state signals trouble - a clash between two towering figures, both well-known and respected in their fraternities, and almost equally sharp and witty.Raj Kumar Gupta, who directed the first film in the franchise, returns to helm the sequel. And there's Saurabh Shukla reprising his iconic 'Tauji' who's still serving his jail sentence. Vani Kapoor replaces Iliana D'Souza as Patnayak's wife.
The film begins with a long shot of the convoy of Ambassador cars, led by Patnaik, arriving at a powerful politician's palace. Govind Namdev plays this royal, womanising power-broker who not only hoards black money but also uses goons and guns to threaten government officers.advertisementDevgn wears his signature aviators - even in the dark - because, of course, stardom. Government officers flee in fear when the politician flexes his muscles. We see how the film makes a fool of the department in that scene. But, we move on.Patnaik is accused of accepting a bribe, and is transferred for the 74th time. Enter Dadabhai - a devoted mama's boy who washes his mother's feet with milk in a temple, someone who's morally flawed but holds his mother's blessings above all. Patnaik and Dadabhai's clash completes the rest of the story - a cat-and-mouse chase where the honest officer must expose and extract illegal assets from one of the nation's most adored political figures. It's not just about a job that needs to be done, but about a dream that people have seen for and with Dadabhai, that needs to be broken.'Raid 2' has a lot going on. It has more than two songs inserted to make it look more 'filmy', and a plot that needs tightening. The first half of the film builds up to Amay Patnaik's smartness and his passion for duty. It also establishes him as a family man - a detail that doesn't have any relevance in the story. But, even if you overlook the songs, the irrelevant characters, and the meandering narrative, you can't help but notice how Devgn never truly lets Patnaik emerge as the hero of the film.advertisementDevgn carries a quiet intensity in his eyes, and a purposeful walk that always conveys he's calculating his next move. All of this is effective - essential, even - but it doesn't assist the character he's playing. In 'Raid 2', the actor feels detached from Patnaik, never fully embodying the character in a way that feels distinct or memorable.Amay Patnaikhardly smiles. He maintains a serious air, appears all business and is entirely driven by duty - all classic Devgn traits. In Patnaik, you never meet a different person. He is who Devgn is.Riteish is well-cast as Dadabhai, but this villain is not menacing enough. His eyes speak trouble and his smile stands for mischievous, but he lacks Shukla's organic style. Dadabhai is not written like a fearsome villain. He's so polished and sophisticated that he ends up looking stupid in front of Amay Patnaik- an imbalance the film clearly didn't intend. 'Raid 2' wants you to look at him as this extensively popular, almost worshipped leader who has a dark, corrupt and exploitative side. The character isn't written with enough nuance to make that contrast believable. The character lacks depth and doesn't quite figure between being a revered son or a crooked people's man, never fully committing to either.advertisement While character development is thin, the narrative structure is also uneven. The dance number featuring Tammannah Bhatia appears completely out of place, and the scenes featuring Vani end up being counterproductive. This is not a film that needs a romantic subplot or any amount of glamour to attract the audiences. The idea of even including all of this in the story suggests a lack of confidence on the makers' part.The dialogues, however, offer some relief. You laugh and feel good about your hero saying "Maine kab kaha main Pandav hoon, main toh puri ki puri Mahabharat hoon", or "Sarkaar koi bhi chalaye, department toh aapke aur mere jaise log chalate hain", or "Raja ko pakadne ke liye har baar kile par hamla karna zaruri nahi hai" - lines that stand out and momentarily lift the narrative.The climax offers some closure and entertainment, and keeps the film from collapsing completely. But, because we have seen better from Devgn's same world of intense dramas, we expect better. This appears more like a frail attempt to take the franchise forward. 'Raid 2' needed more time to develop - more marination, and a subtle nudge while being cooked. Instead, it arrives half-cooked, lacking flavours and leaving us not asking for more.2.5 out of 5 stars to 'Raid 2'.