Nandamuri Balakrishna plays Akhanda again in Akhanda 2: Thaandavam, which is the direct sequel to Boyapati Sreenu's hit movie Akhanda from 2021.
The movie finally came out in theaters in many languages and in both 2D and 3D formats after being pushed back at the last minute on December 5 because of money problems. With high hopes, here's how the sequel does at the movies.
The Story
The story starts with the Tibetan army launching a biowarfare attack on India, with the crowded Maha Kumbh Mela as the main target. The Prime Minister tells the DRDO to make an antidote that will save lives as panic grows. Janani (Harshaali Malhotra), a scientist, is able to make it, which makes her the next target of the enemy.
Akhanda (Balakrishna) comes back just when things are getting dangerous. He had promised to protect Janani whenever she needed it. This fast-paced spiritual story is all about how he protects her, fights the biological threat, and brings things back into balance.
What Works
The best thing about the movie is still Balakrishna's performance. His strong energy, authoritative way of speaking, and spiritual presence continue to carry the franchise with ease. He rules every scene he is in as Akhanda.
Harshaali Malhotra does a great job in a key role, and Samyuktha tries something a little different, even though she doesn't have much room to do so. The movie's action scenes, which were made to appeal to a wide audience, give the adrenaline rush that its main audience expects. Logic takes a back seat, but the entertainment value stays the same.
The second half has a powerful emotional and spiritual impact thanks to a scene in which Lord Shiva appears. Thaman's pulsating background music is worth mentioning because it makes even the most boring parts of the movie more exciting and adds a lot to the emotional and action-packed high points.
Akhanda 2 has a lot going on and the story remains weak. Boyapati Sreenu puts Balakrishna's heroic rise ahead of the story's depth, which leads to arcs that aren't fully developed and chances that are missed.
Balakrishna's Bala Murali Krishna character doesn't get much attention or depth that the audience can connect to. Infact a few supporting characters show up without adding anything important to the story. Aadhi Pinisetty does a great job in his short role, but Samyuktha's character sometimes seems to make no sense.
Harshaali Malhotra's character has a lot of untapped potential, and her voice acting isn't very good. The emotional connection between Akhanda and Janani could have been more developed, but it wasn't. Also, the main plot is very similar to the first movie, which makes the writing seem weaker.
Important Technical Details
Boyapati Sreenu sticks to his usual style of high-energy scenes, religious undertones, and larger-than-life heroism. The movie keeps moving, even though it isn't always smooth.
Cinematographers C. Ramprasad and Santosh Detake give us some great visuals, especially during action scenes. Tammiraju's sharp editing and Thaman's top-notch background music make the movie much more powerful. The production values are still high and the visuals are still grand.
The Verdict
Akhanda 2 is exactly what it says it is: a devotional action movie with a lot of people in it, and Balakrishna's strong performance makes it all work. The story is easy to guess, and the emotional depth isn't always there, but the exciting action scenes, spiritual elements, and exciting background music make the movie worth watching. The sequel isn't as exciting as the first part, but it still entertains its target audience and has a few moments that Balakrishna's fans will love.
Starring : Nandamuri Balakrishna, Samyuktha, Aadhi Pinisetty, Harshaali Malhotra, Saswata Chatterjee and Others
Director : Boyapati Sreenu
Producers : Raam Achanta, Gopi Achanta
Rating: 2.5/5
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