Starring: Neena Gupta, Sanjay Mishra, Kumud Mishra, Amitt Singh, Shilpa Shukla, Yogita Bihani, Akshay Dogra Written & Directed by Ja...
Starring: Neena Gupta, Sanjay Mishra, Kumud Mishra,
Amitt Singh, Shilpa Shukla, Yogita Bihani, Akshay Dogra
Written & Directed by Jaspal Singh Sandhu
Jaspal Singh Sandhu’s Vadh 2 is an intriguing
follow-up that dares to break away from the original while holding on to its
core spirit—vigilante justice. Interestingly, the film reprises the names
Sambhunath Mishra and Manju, but places them in an entirely different
narrative, unconnected to the first film. This time, they are not bound by
marriage—only by their shared moral compass and a subtle drawing towards one
another in the autumn of their lives .
Set against the stark backdrop of a prison, the
film introduces us to Manju, an elderly inmate serving 28 years for a double
murder, and Shambhunath, a seasoned jail official. Their gentle, empathetic
bond unfolds with remarkable sensitivity, adding a layer of emotional depth to
the otherwise gritty narrative.
The plot thickens with the arrival of Naina, a
young inmate who becomes the target of Keshav, the entitled and dangerous
younger brother of a local MLA, also lodged in the same prison. Tensions
escalate further when the newly appointed jailor, Prakash Singh, locks horns
with Keshav. The situation spirals into chaos when Keshav mysteriously
disappears, setting the stage for a gripping investigation that drives the rest
of the film.
While Vadh 2 may not match the raw intensity and
hard-hitting impact of its predecessor, it compensates with engaging
storytelling, clever twists, and a narrative that keeps you invested. The
performances across the board—Kumud Mishra, Amitt Singh, Shilpa Shukla, Yogita
Bihani—are top-notch. Akshay Dogra, though effective, doesn’t quite reach the
menacing heights set by the antagonist in the first film. But of course the
film rides on two scintillating performances by the lead pair Sanjay Mishra and
Neena Gupta.
Overall, Vadh 2 is a compelling watch and a
commendable continuation of a unique cinematic voice. More importantly, it
sparks hope for a third installment. After all, it’s not every day that you see
the emergence of a franchise led by two actors in their 60s—and that, in
itself, is refreshingly different and welcome.
By Pratik Majumdar (author: Love Coffee Murder and
1975 The Year That Transformed Bollywood)
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