Vishwaroopam 2 FDFS Review

Typically, sequels of successful movies tend to get a bigger budget, more marketing firepower and publicity. In the case of Vishwaroopam 2, it is not the case due to various production related reasons.

Kamal Haasan - Actor, Writer, and Director

Given all the budgetary constraints, it is indeed surprising to see Kamal Haasan’s ability to deliver a good quality product of international standards. Kamal Haasan as a director and actor shines through-out the movie. Kamal Haasan dialogues are engaging and have subtle references to real-life. Kudos to Kamal Haasan for successfully mixing them very well as a reminiscing and for introducing minor twists of what was not shown in the narration.

Comparison

Vishwaroopam 2 does not have all the factors going in favour as it was in the first part. The first part dealt with a new genre for Tamil movies, Kamal Haasan’s edge-of-the-seat transformation scene, smart screenplay blending factual details and fictional elements, intriguing scenes leading to Osama's reveal and so on. Added to that are the pre-release political drama and religious tensions. Unfortunately, the second half falls short on almost all of the above aspects. The second part is a bit slower paced, screenplay lacks intensity, fewer number of twists and punches and the unmistakable deja vu due to excessive reuse of a number of action sequences liberally borrowed from final and cut footages from the first part.

The second part gives more weightage to Pooja Kumar (Nirupama), Andrea (Ashmita), Shekhar Kapur. Andrea enacts her role brilliantly in both light and heavy moments. She is fit and looks believable in action sequences. She totally owns the scene overshadowing Kamal Haasan when she finds the bug in the hotel. Clapworthy scene just for Andrea! Pooja Kumar has meatier role and tags along throughout the movie and saves London! Shekhar Kapur looks the part.

The most engaging portions of the movie are involving the scenes with Anant Mahadevan and the UK scenes leading up to intermission. The movie shows how a seasoned actor such as Anant Mahadevan can elevate the engagement level. The intermission scenes set in a small UK port town of Sheerness and the background story tying to World War II and Hitler are interestingly structured. This should have been almost the climax instead for the scope involved.

The production problems are more evident in the second half and lacks the high points of first half. The second half meanders with introduction of Wisam’s mother (Waheeda Rehman) and Alzheimer conditions which dampens the narration pace, despite excellent acting by both Kamal and Waheeda. The second half becomes all about 1-1 conflict with Rahul Bose (Omar) rather than a bigger purpose involving anti-terrorism. Nasser is again a miscast and evoke some laughter among audience.

Technically, background music by Ghibran shows great maturity. Ghibran elevates many scenes without going overboard with instruments. Ghibran deserves a lot of credit for making it international standards. The cinematography maintains the darker and grainier style consistently throughout, as witnessed in movies such as Zero Dark Thirty. The editor does a wonderful job in stitching together the old footage and unused footage from part 1 and new ones without making it look haphazard. Great art direction mostly reused from first edition.

Bottomline:

An engaging sequel despite the inevitable comparison with the prequel and a few misfires. Watch it for Kamal Haasan's unsatiating desire to push the bar higher.  

Rating : 3 out of 5

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