Starring: Raghava Lawrence, Kangana Ranaut, Vadivelu, Mahima Nambiar, Radhika Sarathkumar, Lakshmi Menon, Rao Ramesh, and others
Director: P. Vasu
Producer: Subhaskaran
Music: M.M. Keeravani
Chandramukhi is famous for being one of the best horror movies ever made. Now, P. Vasu has come back with its sequel, ‘Chandramukhi 2’. This time, it stars Raghava Lawrence and Kangana Ranaut in major roles and has created quite a buzz before its release. Now that it’s out in theaters, let’s see how it measures up.
Story:
The story revolves around a wealthy family led by Radhika Sarathkumar. This family is dealing with several problems, so they seek advice from Rao Ramesh. He suggests they perform prayers at a temple that’s near Vettaiya’s palace. Basavaiah (played by Vadivelu) leases the palace to Radhika’s family. What they don’t know is that the palace is haunted by the malevolent spirit of Chandramukhi.
As the family starts these prayers, they encounter various challenges. How is Madhan (played by Lawrence) connected to their problems? What does Chandramukhi want? Chandramukhi 2 unfolds the answers to these intriguing questions.
Positives:
- Kangana Ranaut, a National Award-winning actress, delivers an outstanding performance as Chandramukhi. She effortlessly becomes the character and gives an impressive performance. Her captivating presence and dance sequences add to the movie’s charm.
- One of the movie’s strengths is the revamped backstory of Chandramukhi. With Kangana taking on the lead role, the filmmakers have made creative changes to the original story. The drama in the second half is engaging, and Lawrence does a commendable job as Vettaiyan.
- The action scene at the climax, featuring Kangana and Lawrence, is expertly choreographed. Both actors bring intensity to this scene. Several emotional moments in the film also strike a chord with the audience, and Lakshmi Menon’s surprising role is well-executed.
Drawbacks:
- Chandramukhi 2 lacks the thrilling moments expected from a horror movie. The essential elements of horror, like a spooky atmosphere and genuine scares, are missing.
- The film leans more toward drama, which might disappoint fans looking for a scarier horror experience. The first half feels disjointed, with random scenes that don’t contribute much to the story.
- Vadivelu’s character relies on clichés and outdated, over-the-top comedy that can be irritating. The poorly developed love track in the film also doesn’t work well. Keeping the original ‘Vaarai’ track might have been a better choice.
- Apart from some changes in the backstory, the screenplay closely follows the format of the original film. While the first movie built tension effectively, this sequel lacks urgency and can feel flat at times. Trimming some parts in the first half could have improved the pacing.
Verdict:
On the whole, ‘Chandramukhi 2’ offers a mixed experience, with the second half being stronger than the first. The altered backstory brings a fresh perspective, and Kangana Ranaut’s remarkable performance steals the show.
Raghava Lawrence also makes an impact as the lead. However, the film falls short of delivering the expected scares in a horror flick. The excessive and sometimes nonsensical comedy, coupled with a disjointed first half, are notable drawbacks. Chandramukhi 2 is not a bad movie, but it lacks the memorable moments of its predecessor, making it a watchable but not outstanding film.
