Indian 2 Release and Review highlights: Kamal Haasan film off to a great start

Gulshan Grover, who plays the antagonist in Kamal Haasan's Indian 2, told NewsX, “The role in Indian 2 is that of a bad man. The Indian in Indian 2 is looking for people who have done wrong to India. My character has reflectons to such real-life people. Also, the way in which he is punished is something I have never done. The audience has never seen such a thing. I believe in Satyameva Jayate. I also believe that we should not glorify the bad."

In a review, X user claims, S Shankar's film is missing the 'emotional connect'. He wrote, "Typical Shankar’s template. Emotional connect missing. Time to stop painting d hero face in walls wit 500 dancers in songs. Varma kalai scenes used 2 thrilling by it’s made mockery of it. Only goosebumps moment is Senapathy theme music from Indian 1."

One of the fans of Kamal Haasan called his film Indian 2 'strictly average'. In his review on X, the netizen wrote, "1st 30min super tharwatha worst. Second half super. Climax unexpected. #indian3 trailer. Overall: strictly average. #Indian2"

A netizen recently claimed that in Indian 2, a strong subject has been made to look like a comic book content. On his X handle, the netizen wrote, "Totally Disappointing a Strong Subject made to Look like Comic Book Scenes. Director #KShankar Lost his Midas Touch and Failed to Show the Strong Character of Senapathy (Kamalhassan) in the Film. Indian2 has only 2 actors in Sidharth & Kamalhassan who drive the Film safely for 2 Hours. Music from Anirudh  a big let down and absolutely the film missed Services of ARRahman.#Indian2 looked a Masala film with Animated Hero."

An X user recently shared his review on his handle, calling it a 'disappointment'. He wrote, "Story- Poor writting. Narration- old school outdated. Screenplay- complete letdown. Direction-failed execution. Emotions - cringe. Tech- good camera, poor makeup. Lavish production. Music - below average-sorry ani. Overall- DISAPPOINTMENT."

A netizen shared his review of Kamal Haasan's Indian 2 on X, "Indian2 is an outdated and tedious movie. Though the movie tries to give honest messages, it’s done in a boring way with no proper emotion and drama at all. Shankar tried to repeat the screenplay of his old movies but fails to recreate the magic big time. All of the emotions are completely artificial and feel like a serial drama. The film had a good start for about 20 minutes along with Senapathys entry but continues to go down hill after that. The grandeur and production values are nice. Anirudh had no scope to give an impactful score. While you can atleast sit through the first half, the second half doesn’t give you that chance. Disaster! #Bharateeyudu2." 

A netizen shared the photo of Kamal Haasan as Indian Thatha from Indian 2 and wrote, "The worst part to believe in #Indian2 for me is with some varma hypnosis #KamalHaasan gets 6 packs in climax. Was it even @shankarshanmugh  idea to bring that in?"

Sharing a Twitter review of Indian 2, also titled Bharateeyudu 2, a netizen wrote, "Telugu review: It’s just an average to below average movie. There is no story it is just like a set up to Indian3. Yes Indian3 trailer was played after the rolling titles and Indian3 seems pretty interesting and I think Indian3 would be worth waiting. Coming to Indian2 surprisingly movie has no strong story unlike Bhratayeedu.

"Pros: Second half is racy. Preclimax fight is good to some extent. Siddharth scenes in second half are good to some extent and may or may not appeal to Telugu audience. Kamal hasan tried his best and tried multiple get ups. Cons: Shankar mark emotion is missing and when compared to Bharateeydu this movie has nothing to offer. BGM is worst and I think this is the weakest work of Anirudh.
Kamal Make up is odd and not natural. Too many cinematic liberties and logics go for a toss at many places. We got connected to Bharateeyudu but in this part it is hard to connect."

Wasted opportunity and Shankar would have release Indian 3 earlier.

Final ga Kamal hasan I liked Indian 3 more than Indian 2 ani cheppinapuday grahinchalsindhi I did a mistake ?

A Twitter review of Indian 2 reads, "Just done with the show? Kamal Haasan acting peaks ? Shankar missed his mark, Siddharth Rakul did good ?, #Anirudh music ??, Film is bit slow in screenplay, Interval and climax stunts worked well."

A member of the audience panned Kamal Haasan's Indian 2, calling it 'an outdated flick'. A handle called CK Reviews wrote on X, "A Highly Outdated Flick. Grand Visuals, no Creativity, Poor Makeup, Worst dialogues. Kamal scores in few Scenes. Sid ok. BGM ok. SJ Surya No scope. Cringe Scenes throughout. Climax Fight Seq btr. Shankar Disappoints. A Wasted Oppurtunity. DULL!"

A fan shared a moment from Indian 2 where Kamala Haasan is seen with the late actor Vivek. "This will be an emotional moment. No two ways about it. It is bittersweet that #Vivekh's long-standing dream of acting with #KamalHaasan is finally being realised and the man isn't here. It will be emotional. For sure. #Indian2," he wrote. Vivek passed away in April 2021 after suffering a heart attack. He left many projects incomplete including Indian 2 but the makers decided not to replace him in the film.

Read kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2's review and release updates in Tamil here.

As promised, Shankar has released Indian 3 trailer with Indian 2 and the Kamal Haasan clip is getting hoots and whistles in theatres. 

#Indian3 trailer #Indian2 review pic.twitter.com/6EnjfqNlkI

— G?U?R?U?? (@guruoffcl2) July 12, 2024

An X user shared a glimpse of the unique title card with which Kamal Haasan is introduced and honoured in Shankar's film. See here:

Rate This Title Card #Indian2 #Bharateeyudu2 pic.twitter.com/olesoYCbnk

— PRASHANTH CB (@ThePrashanthCB) July 11, 2024

Read more - Shankar and the art and craft of creating many blockbusters with the same crux: A journey through Indian 2 director’s films

Reviews for Kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2 remain divisive. One fan, however, called it 'vintage Shankar.' The person wrote, "Vintage Shankar sir seems to be back in form. Crisper editing would have done wonders. Best work in recent years from him. #indian2."

Indian 2 Twitter reviews remain mixed. A netizen, @aggu_siu wrote, "Indian-2 is a flight that had well equipped pilots with farther destination alongside lot of passengers which is ready to take-off but had no fuel in it. Nothing really worked out. Nothing is close to the standards of kamal or Shankar. Ani was decent with score." He further called the film 'walkout stuff'.

Kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2 is showing promise as it releases today. Indian 2 advance box office collection stands at Rs 10.98 crore, with Tamil Nadu contributing almost 70 per cent of the collections.

In an interview with India Today, Kamal Haasan, “Apart from the award and reward, there's a certain amount of calm that Senapathy has given me. Because the collective anger is still there in a lava stage, ready for explosion. This kind of outlet will make them understand this is not the way to go. There are other ways. But you will have to practice it in your life. Rather than expecting a vigilante to come and do it, every one of us will have to be on the vigil. Otherwise, it's not going to work, one man talking about corruption."

On the eve of Indian 2's release, director Shankar tweeted, 'For all those nostalgics out there, Excited to announce that some of Indian’s themes for Senapathy will return in its sequel - #Indian2 Thanks to @arrahman and @anirudhofficial.'

Post the release of the trailer of Indian 2, fans of Kamal Haasan were left dissapointed with the superstar's makeup in the sequel of Indian.

Reacting to the criticism, Shankar said, “When we were working on Indian, the prosthetic makeup was so thick. I could not see the expressions of Kamal sir, who is undoubtedly one of the best actors in the world. While I started working on Indian 2, I learned about the advancement in prosthetics. The makeup layer has become thinner, and hence, the expressions of an actor can be clearly seen now.”

He added, “I want the audience to feel Kamal sir’s performance, and that’s the reason you are feeling the difference in looks. Initially, I designed a different look. As Senapathy got older, I wanted to show him weak by giving him a bald look and hunchback. However, I withdrew my idea. Senapathy is nothing but a representation of the common man’s anger. Hence, he cannot be weak. He is our very own superhero. Just like Superman and James Bond, we have a superhero in the form of Senapathy.”

From starring in the silent film Pushpaka Vimana and playing a dwarf in Apoorva Sagodharargal to stunning cinema lovers by playing ten roles in Dasavatharam, Kamal Haasan has done it all. READ MORE HERE.

In an interview with The Hindu, Indian 2 director Shankar said, 'The challenge itself is the first part (laughs). We’ve shown everything in the first film — how Senapathy is as a person, his background, character, his prowess over the martial art of varma kalai, his anger towards societal injustice and even his family. The challenge was to come up with something new for the sequel. What he deals with stays the same but the situations have changed and what he does forms the story of Indian 2.'

In Indian 2, Kamal Haasan reprises the role of Senapathy, a freedom fighter-turned-vigilante who fought against corruption in India. Kamal first played the role in 1996 film Indian. Indian 2 will hit screens on July 12.