Starring: Vijay Antony, Kavya Thapar, Yogi Babu, Radha Ravi, YG Mahendran, Mansoor Ali Khan, Hareesh Peradi, John Vijay, Dev Gill
Director: Vijay Antony
Producers: Fatima Vijay Antony
Music Director: Vijay Antony
Bichagadu 2 is a standalone sequel to the 2016 blockbuster, Bichagadu. Actor Vijay Antony makes his directorial debut with this sequel, which generated considerable buzz through its promotional content. The film was released today, and here’s our review.
Story:
Vijay Gurumurthy (Vijay Antony) is the 7th richest person in India. His colleague and friend Aravind (Dev Gill), along with his gang, kills Vijay to obtain his wealth and replaces his brain with that of Satya (Vijay Antony), a beggar. Satya seeks revenge by eliminating them and initiates the Anti Bikili project. What is the Anti Bikili project? What compelled Satya to kill Aravind and the others? The film holds the answers.
Plus Points:
- The film carries high expectations as a sequel to the blockbuster Bichagadu, and the makers have emphasized that it can be enjoyed independently.
- The storyline is well-crafted, and Vijay Antony, in his directorial debut, executes it competently, particularly in the first hour. The initial 30 minutes are particularly intriguing and crucial to the rest of the film.
- Vijay Antony delivers a decent performance, particularly in the impressive climax scene.
- Dev Gill, Hareesh Peradi, and John Vijay deliver satisfactory performances. The production values are good, and the dubbing provides the feel of a straight Telugu film.
Minus Points:
- While the storyline is commendable, Vijay Antony could have narrated the second half more engagingly, as it fails to maintain the same level of interest as the first half. A stronger screenplay for the latter half could have enhanced the film’s engagement.
- The concept of the Anti-Bikili project is intriguing, but the execution of those scenes could have been better. The director takes certain cinematic liberties in the scenes related to the project.
- Kavya Thapar’s character has minimal importance in the movie, and it remains unclear why she agreed to the role. The emotional scenes between Satya and his sister Rani lack the depth necessary to connect with the audience emotionally, unlike in Bichagadu.
- The forgettable songs, composed by Vijay Antony, and the casting of Yogi Babu and other actors contribute little to the film. More attention should have been given to Satya’s appearance.
Verdict:
Overall, Bichagadu 2 works in parts. The well-crafted storyline, Vijay Antony’s performance, and the emotional climax are the film’s highlights. Despite a few dull moments, it can be watched this weekend, but it is advisable to keep expectations modest.
