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Time of India
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Raid 2 OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh's crime thriller film online
Raid 2 OTT Release Date: Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh recently arrived in theatres with their much-awaited thriller on 1st May. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, the crime saga has earned Rs 225.5 crore so far and is still going strong at the box office. Now, the reports of its digital debut have now surfaced. According to Sakshi Post, Raid 2 will be streaming on Netflix starting 27th June, 2025. Raid 2's cast and crew Other than Ajay and Riteish, Raid 2 also stars Vaani Kapoor, Rajat Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla, Supriya Pathak, Amit Sial, Shruti Pandey, Brijendra Kala, Yashpal Sharma, Govind Namdev, Jayant Rawal, Pritisha Srivastava, Tarun Gehlot, Navneet Ranag, Sanjeev Jhori, Madhavendra Jha and Ashish Gokhale among others. This Amit Trivedi musical is cinematographed by Sudhir K. Chaudhary and edited by Sandeep Francis. Raid 2's plot overview Set seven years after the events of the first film, Raid 2 follows Amay Patnaik as he is transferred to the fictional town of Bhoj in Rajasthan. There, he targets Manohar Dhankar, alias Dadabhai, a corrupt politician with a vast network of black money. Despite facing obstacles, including suspension and personal threats, Amay persists in his mission. The film ends in a dramatic showdown, leading to Dadabhai's surrender and hinting at future conflicts in the series. Raid 2's review The Times of India rated the film 3 out of 5, and a part of their review read, 'Raid 2 fangirls its own prequel by following a template so meticulously that it forgets to have some fun along the way. The film has some clever one-liners too that mock the sycophants and the corrupt, as it oscillates between no frills and old school dramatic storytelling. Raid 2 stays true to its theme, but it takes itself a bit too seriously.'
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Raid 2 Movie Review: Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh dabble through a dull, tiring thriller
Amay's steadfast honesty is introduced in the first part, Raid (2018), where he brings his own modest alcohol bottle to a lavish party. 'I only drink what I can afford,' he reasons. Seven years later, in Raid 2, he is shown to be asking a bribe of Rs 2 crore from a character hoarding unauthorised money. No, this is not his time of breaking bad; there's a catch. It is just a ploy in order to get transferred to Bhoj, a small town in Rajasthan, to look into the background of a politician, Dadabhai (Riteish Deshmukh). It is a convenient 'cinematic liberty' that he is merely transferred (for the 75th time!) and not suspended for the plotted act, with no other character holding a questioning glance. Suspension comes, but only when he decides to conduct a raid on the multiple properties of Dadabhai and ends up finding nothing illegal. This time, it's Dadabhai who plotted the entire thing. The film's storytelling works largely on this deception. Nothing is to be taken at face value; every character has a flashback revealing their hidden intentions. Be it Lallan Sudheer Singh (Amit Sial), making an appearance in the second half; the hustler lawyer played by Yashpal Sharma; or the subordinate of Dadabhai, Vinay (Brijendra Kala). These characters bring twists in the narrative, yet none of it feels like a revelation. It is just a long battle of outsmarting each other. The screenplay (by Ritesh Shah, Raj, Jaideep Yadav and Karan Vyas) is filled with excesses. It is not enough for the film to just be about corruption; the antagonist has to also be a predator, blackmailing young women for sexual favours. Even Amay has to take on the role of an investigator, as he goes on to unearth the misdeeds of Dadabhai. He becomes even more invincible, without a shred of vulnerability in him. There is nothing that Amay cannot do, and hence nothing that he does comes as a surprise. Perhaps the film's biggest spoiler lies in its name. You know there's a raid going to take place ultimately. It's just a matter of how, and Raj makes it all about that without adding any layer of emotionality to the characters. Years ago, in 2008, when he made his directorial debut with the edgy and evocative Aamir, Raj showed promise in crafting thrillers with a heartbeat. With the Raid films, he has remained satisfied with bare-minimum storytelling. What's further unfulfilling is Ajay's laid-back screen presence. What should have been quiet resilience becomes mute rigidity. At times, he says dialogues with a strange nonchalance, failing to make any of it memorable. There's not much even for Riteish to do other than just be an epitome of evil, with a cunning smile here and an angry outburst there. Much of the film runs with a dullness that only dampens a little with the antics of Amit Sial. He brings a new life to some of the dead scenes, always having more to do than what is meant to be done. Saurabh Shukla is left to be only a means of comic relief this time after his menacing act in the first part.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Raid 2 Movie Review: A faithful sequel that wallows in self-admiration
Story: Raid 2 follows the return of fiercely honest and incorruptible IRS officer Amay Patnaik (Ajay Devgn), as he goes after yet another powerful nemesis — Dadabhai (Riteish Deshmukh), who's a snake in the garb of a saint. Review: Relentless Patnaik (Devgn) is a thorn in the lives of the corrupt. He is the party pooper of the privileged who think they can evade law and hence, the chemistry and conflict that unravel once he goes digging has a comic-thrilling element to it. One does not expect efficiency or honesty from public servants let alone heroism and hence the anomaly makes for an interesting watch. The second time around, Raj Kumar Gupta mounts his crime drama on a bigger scale. A brooding Patnaik dressed in formals, enjoys Singham like slowmo entry, glamour and clout. He can be transferred or suspended but he is always in power much against the odds. Ritiesh Deshmukh makes for an interesting no-nonsense, white collared antihero Dadabhai. He is a prodigal son, revered philanthropist and a powerful political leader. He is too good to be true and that leads Patnaik to go sniffing after his massive empire and assets. The two outsmart each other in a series of deceitful activities but only one can emerge victorious. Riteish keeps the character, and his sinister energy understated. He makes for a fine nemesis. Shukla works his magic in a special appearance, but you sorely miss his presence throughout. It was the senior actor who owned the previous film single-handedly with his wit and one-liners. His jugalbandi with Devgn fuelled the film. The sequel set in the late 1980's, Raid 2 fangirls its own prequel by following a template so meticulously that it forgets to have some fun along the way. A fleet of ambassador cars aggressively heading for a raid is a visual that stays constant. At 2 hours, 20 minutes, the film feels heavy too. The first half is unhurried, it's the second half that gets the wit, energy and thrill in place. Songs interrupt the story. Gupta reunites with his set of actors and writers, barring a few. Ileana D'Cruz, is replaced by Vaani Kapoor as Patnaik's wife Malini. Saurabh Shukla as Tauji takes a backseat for Ritiesh Deshmukh to take the centre stage. Supriya Pathak as Dadabhai's mother is a new addition too. Amit Sial as 'Charan chumbak' Lallan Sudheer Singh is an absolute riot. Ajay Devgn and his sunglasses are intense. He portrays the old-school heroism with swag. He has a solid comic timing too. You wish that aspect was explored more here. The film has some clever one-liners too that mock the sycophants and the corrupt as it oscillates between no frills and old school dramatic storytelling. Raid 2 stays true to its theme, but it takes itself a bit too seriously.
India Today
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Raid 2 movie review: Ajay Devgn's film crumbles under weight of his stardom
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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' 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 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'.
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First Post
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Raid 2 movie review: Ajay Devgn-Riteish Deshmukh's intense face-off is powerful & compelling
Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh's Raid 2 promises to be a winner due to its gripping story and impeccable performances. read more Star cast: Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Vaani Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla, Supriya Pathak, Rajat Kapoor, Amit Sial, Yashpal Sharma, Govind Namdev Director: Raj Kumar Gupta Amay Patnaik IRS, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax is back to conduct his iconic 75th Raid in Raid 2 and this time he is against Central Minister Dada Manohar Bhai. While the trailer packed a solid punch, let's find out whether it lives up to the sky-high expectations of the cinegoers… STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The story begins in 1989 in Rajasthan, where Amay (Ajay Devgn) is on his way to conduct a raid at Kunwar Kuldeep aka Rajasaab (Govind Namdev)'s palace. As he is busy indulging in alcohol, one of his servants informs him about the raid. He plays a trick by making his men fire bullets in the air to scare the income tax officers so that he can move all the assets and black money secretly from trucks via the back gate. As Kunwar's subordinates are on their way with all the assets, Amay waits for them on the road and reveals it is a trap. Kunwar's subordinate offers Amay a bribe and he accepts his offer by demanding Rs 2 crore. As an accused of bribe, Patnaik gets transferred to Bhoj, where people worship central minister Dada Manohar Bhai for his generous nature and his hardships for the development of the city. He runs a foundation in the name of his mother Sushma (Supriya Pathak), which is huge and grand. While roaming with his wife Malini (Vaani Kapoor) and daughter in the foundation, Amay crosses paths with Dadabhai, who praises him for his honesty and in return, Patnaik compliments him for his work for the development of the people. However, Amay knows that Dadabhai is just pretending to be a good person and has hidden the black money and assets worth Rs 500 crore. As he makes strategies to find evidences against Dadabhai, the latter is also smart and is always one move ahead of him. In the intense face-off between Amay and Dadabhai, who will win the final showdown? Will Amay successfully conduct his 75th Raid against Manohar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Director Raj Kumar Gupta has beautifully blended the thriller with smart twists and turns, which makes you at the edge of your seat. Despite being a pacy-affair Raid 2 has a rhythmic pause in the narrative, which makes it compelling. The director has given us several highlights with some powerful goosebumps moments, which will leave you speechless. Amit Trivedi and Amar Mohile's BGM add intensity to the storytelling and enhance the viewing experience. Talking about the performance, Ajay Devgn once again nails the character of Amay Patnaik with his charisma and unmatchable swag. His portrayal of a no-nonsense honest Income Tax Officer is simply brilliant. Riteish Deshmukh is superb as Dadabhai and plays the complex character of with ease and finesse. Vaani Kapoor manages to make a mark as Malini while Saurabh Shukla, Supriya Pathak, Rajat Kapoor, Amit Sial, Yashpal Sharma and Govind Namdev play their characters to the T. On the whole, Raid 2 promises to be a winner due to its gripping story and impeccable performances. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars) Raid 2 is playing in cinemas
