Raid 2 Movie Review : A faithful sequel that wallows in self-admiration

 

Story:

Raid 2 marks the return of the fearless and upright IRS officer Amay Patnaik (Ajay Devgn), who sets his sights on a new adversary — the seemingly saintly but deeply corrupt Dadabhai (Riteish Deshmukh). Beneath his virtuous facade lies a manipulative mastermind, and Patnaik is determined to bring him down.

Review:

Ajay Devgn’s relentless Patnaik is back to rattle the rich and powerful, those who believe they are above the law. His unflinching honesty makes him a rare figure in a system riddled with corruption, and that very rarity makes him fascinating to watch. His encounters with Dadabhai are laced with both tension and a dose of dark humor.

Director Raj Kumar Gupta scales up the sequel, giving Patnaik a larger-than-life aura — complete with slow-motion entries and unstoppable resolve. Even when transferred or suspended, his presence commands authority. Ritesh Deshmukh delivers a restrained yet menacing performance as Dadabhai, the white-collared villain hiding behind philanthropy and political clout. The cat-and-mouse game between the two leads is riddled with mind games and deceit, with only one emerging victorious.

Deshmukh brings a cold elegance to his role, making him a worthy opponent. While Saurabh Shukla makes a memorable special appearance, his limited screen time is felt — he was the scene-stealer in the first film with his wit and timing. The sequel, set in the late 1980s, sticks closely to the original's formula — perhaps too closely. Despite some iconic visuals, like the fleet of Ambassador cars in raid mode, Raid 2 sometimes feels heavy-handed, especially in the first half. The narrative picks up pace and energy post-interval, though the songs tend to disrupt the momentum.

Gupta brings back most of his original team, with Vaani Kapoor stepping in as Patnaik’s wife Malini, replacing Ileana D'Cruz. Supriya Pathak and Amit Sial join the cast, the latter stealing scenes with his hilarious portrayal of Lallan Sudheer Singh aka "Charan Chumbak."

Devgn exudes old-school heroism with signature intensity and dry humor, though the film could’ve tapped more into his comic strengths. Raid 2 maintains its focus on rooting out corruption with grit and style, but in trying to be too earnest, it misses some of the fun that made the original stand out.