Ajay Devgn works for the genre – his brooding personality just stiff but imposing enough to make sure the focus remains on him even as the story moves forward. It worked for ‘Drishyam’, it worked for ‘Shaitaan’. He has the uncanny ability to soften a character’s edges when necessary without making it seem jarring.
In a movie like Raid 2, where he's the fulcrum of action – in that, everything happens because of him and around him – this works again. The film, releasing seven years after its predecessor, is a product of the Bollywood drama-thriller factory. But it does enough to rise above the noise – the first half, despite being a set-up for the higher octane second half, is actually quite watchable.
The film follows the straight-laced IRS officer Amay Patnaik (Ajay Devgn) who is transferred to Bhog; marking more than 70 times since he and his family have had to move cities for his job (and his morals) but this time there’s a bribery charge to his name. ‘When a place’s ruler is so committed to serving his people, why would the people break the law?’ is the sentiment he’s greeted with. The people of Bhog worship the local politician Dada Bhai (Riteish Deshmukh) – he’s the common man’s common man – who in turn worships his mother (Supriya Pathak).
Dada Bhai’s political journey, told through a dramatisation of past events, introduces a man who fought against all odds to win the elections against the majority party; seemingly all because he had the people of Bhog on his side. On the surface he is as squeaky clean as Amay – the people’s messiah.
It’s obvious to all that Amay’s transfer isn’t incidental and Dada Bhai’s benevolence definitely comes at a price. It’s a cat-and-mouse chase disguised as a chess match – every move well-thought-out, no sudden moves.
To their credit, Devgn and Deshmukh have crackling chemistry as foes – from one staring match to a jibe and an upset, there’s something incredibly fun about their attempts to outsmart the other. In that sense, Raid 2 does enough in the first half to keep you hooked, despite the feeling of familiarity in the script. But it’s not without flaws – one that runs throughout the film.
There are random musical breaks that the film doesn’t need – do we really need two songs within the span of half an hour? Admittedly, a good song-and-dance sequence can elevate a Bollywood film – it is a staple for a reason – but the songs need to seamlessly woven into the narrative.
That doesn’t often happen – it’s tough to enjoy a romantic number focusing on Amay and his wife Malini’s (Vaani Kapoor) swoon-worthy relationship after their easygoing chemistry was already established in a song earlier. Or the way their journey to Bhog has the same look and feel as a tourism advertisement.
Their young daughter, earlier upset that she’s never managed to make any friends because her family keeps shifting cities – doesn’t show any other signs of distress. It’s a film more focused on its plot than its characters – their feelings and most of the (frankly corny) dialogue exists to forward the story, not to give us a lot of insight into the people we’re watching.
The one song that (while still seeming out of place) is a more lively addition than others is a reprisal of the ‘Paisa Yeh Paisa’ track from Karz. It does help, however, that despite the multiple slo-mo shots focused on them, the actors do have enough chemistry on screen to compensate for almost paper-thin characters.
The issue with a film like Raid 2 is that it’s focused too much on the big picture when the actual story is in the intricacies. Once Dada Bhai defeated the ruling party, is that where their influence end?
Not only does Dada Bhai's influence start to feel repetitive but, at some point, you can't help but wonder why the film hesitates to delve into any actual repercussions for a government official hellbent on taking on these bigwigs.
Instead the film packs the narrative with characters – although, many of them are entertaining to watch. In a film where most things are either surface-level or dialed up to a 100 (including the background score that sometimes works but other times drowns everything out), Amit Sial’s act as a corrupt government official who practically grovels at Dada Bhai’s feet is a hilarious breath of fresh air.
Meanwhile, the writers don’t forget Malini – which in itself is quite a win for the genre. But they don’t go as far as to give her part in the ‘raid’ enough time or space for it to feel believable or effective. Even the film’s primary social angle (a powerful man’s exploitation of young women) doesn’t have the weight it should – the plot moves on too quickly, making their plight a catalyst for the residents’ rage and, essentially, leaving their trauma and the consequences of their courage out.
Once again, characters are asked to step back for the film to proceed. Most of the scene works because Vaani Kapoor and Supriya Pathak manage to keep the scene together.
Even in their limited time on screen, most of the cast makes an able effort to do just that. When Raid 2 starts moving too fast, forgetting to let a scene or a ‘win’ have its moment of glory on screen, it’s the actors who step in and keep the film grounded.
Raid 2 has all the ingredients for a memorable film but it spends most of its time setting the table.