Patnaik (Devgn) and Dada Bhai (Deshmukh) Fail to Ignite Raid Sequel
Seven years after the original film, the "Raid" franchise returns with Ajay Devgn reprising his role as the upright IRS officer Amay Patnaik. The sequel pits him against a new powerful adversary, aiming to replicate the success of its predecessor. However, critical assessment suggests "Raid 2" struggles significantly under the weight of repetition, offering a familiar template that ultimately feels stale and lacking in genuine engagement or excitement.
Buildings and Familiar Landscapes
The narrative follows IRS Deputy Commissioner Amay Patnaik to the town of Bhoj, where he targets the seemingly benevolent local ruler, Dada Manohar Bhai (Riteish Deshmukh). Dada Bhai maintains a clean public image while commanding deep loyalty, presenting a familiar challenge for the incorruptible tax officer who suspects deep-seated corruption beneath the surface. This setup closely mirrors the structure of the first film, which was based on a real-life raid from the 1980s.
Lack of Freshness
A central criticism leveled against "Raid 2" is its overwhelming sense of predictability and "sameness." The review highlights recurring visual and narrative tropes: imposing fortresses guarded by henchmen, convoys of official vehicles traversing landscapes, overly dramatic dialogue delivery, and intrusive background music. This adherence to the established formula makes large portions of the film, particularly the first half dedicated to setting up the conflict, feel redundant and superfluous, especially given the audience's prior familiarity with the protagonist's methods and character.
The direct confrontations between Patnaik (Devgn) and Dada Bhai (Deshmukh) are described as particularly uninspired, labeled as "eye-glaze scenes" that fail to generate compelling drama or interest. This lack of dynamism between the leads leaves the viewer searching for engagement elsewhere.
Supporting Cast Excels
While the central conflict underwhelms, moments of enjoyment reportedly come from the supporting cast. Returning actors Saurabh Shukla (as Tauji) and Amit Sial (as the morally ambiguous colleague Lallan Sudheer) are singled out for injecting energy and humour into the proceedings. Yashpal Sharma, in a new role as a principled lawyer, also earns praise. These actors appear to embrace the film's heightened tone effectively.
However, other additions, including Vaani Kapoor as Patnaik's wife and Rajat Kapoor as his supportive boss, seem underutilized or struggle to make a significant impact within the formulaic structure. Supriya Pathak, as Deshmukh's mother, is noted as a solid presence but perhaps not enough to elevate the core narrative.
"Raid 2" appears to fall short of expectations, largely failing to innovate or build effectively upon the foundation of the first film. Critical reception suggests that by closely adhering to a familiar template and relying on recycled narrative beats, the sequel sacrifices surprise and engagement. The central conflict between the protagonist and antagonist lacks spark, leaving the film feeling dull and overly long. While moments of levity are provided by a few adept supporting performances, the overall impression is one of repetitive action and missed opportunities, resulting in an experience deemed significantly less fun than its predecessor.
