Raid 2

Coming Back after 7 years, Ajay Devgn as Amay Pattnaik fights against a new corrupt politician played by Riteish Deshmukh in his 75th Raid.

Let's start by saying that there's nothing inventive about the sequel, as it uses same formulaic dialogues and narrative from it's predecessor. What made the original a great film was the sense of urgency, the intensity of the story and the characters which I felt was lacking in the sequel, where it felt too much of a battle between good and bad, rather than focusing more on the concept of tax evasion.

But even with some flaws, Raid 2 is a pacy affair that is driven by performance of both Ajay and Riteish. Riteish Deshmukh as Dada bhai was a compelling character supported by good act from the supporting characters. While the final act was good to watch, it felt more dramatic than impactful. Nonetheless, the sequel does a very fine job, even if it doesn't reach the hieghts of the original.

My Rating : 3.5/5.

When you walk out of a theatre after watching a film that feels just okay-not bad, but not very good-that's how you'd describe Raid 2. It follows the exact same template as Raid 1, with some extra subplots. Though it's not as entertaining as its predecessor, it does manage to keep you engaged throughout. The screenplay, however, could have been crisper and twistier. The unnecessary songs could have been removed.

Ajay Devgn feels a little off in this one, showing signs of fatigue. Riteish Deshmukh, however, steals the show with his portrayal of Dada Bhai, although his character could have been more menacing. Amit Sial was a delight, bringing the perfect comic balance with his dialogues. Vaani had little to offer. Supriya Pathak and Shruti Pandey provided good support. The rest of the cast was just okay. Overall, the film is just okay. You can watch it, but it doesn't offer anything particularly exciting. A one-time watch.

OVERALL 7/10.

PLOT SUMMARY:

IRS officer Amay Patnaik is being transferred to the land of Dada Manohar Bhai who is an affluential minister. Amay gets a tip of Manohar Bhai's black money information but he but his mission backfires, leading to his suspension. But whether his quench to bring down Manohar evaporates, that is what Raid 2 talks about.

MOVIE ANALYSIS It is a big task for any filmmaker, writer & the production to bring out the best for a movie sequel which had a good will of its prequel & RAID 2 sets out another example that if the script is well made then it adds more goodwill to its prequel.

As it is the second instalment of RAID, this time the world of corruption is large & Amay Patnaik this time needs to sweat out a lot to bring Dada Manohar & behind the bars. Writers Ritesh Shah, Raj Kumar Gupta, Jaideep Yadav, Karan Vyas had brought the best & we could see the best at the 2nd half of this movie. While some narrative turns are predictable, the film's brisk pace and sharp tension keep viewers invested in Amay's crusade against power and privilege.

Performance wise, Ajay Devgn once again delivers a solid and restrained performance as Amay Patnaik, bringing quiet intensity to the role. However, it is Ritesh Deshmukh who steals the spotlight as the formidable antagonist-his performance is both menacing and charismatic, adding significant depth to the film's conflict. Amit Sial reprises his role as Lallan Sudheer with charm and grit, while Saurabh Shukla provides brief but memorable comic relief in a cameo appearance. Unfortunately, the chemistry between Ajay Devgn and Vaani Kapoor feels underwhelming and lacks emotional impact.

Conclusion Raid 2 is a well-executed follow-up that offers enough thrills, strong performances, and a tight narrative to satisfy fans of the original.

Raid 2 (2025) : Movie Review -

"Raid 2" is a true sequel in cinematic terms but veers off track with several unnecessary detours. A film centered around an income tax officer and black money didn't need to delve into topics like sexual abuse, which ultimately distracts from its core narrative. Fans of Amay Patnaik, myself included, may be disappointed by this diversion-but wait, there's more. Yes, Amay Patnaik is back! And he's back with flair. This is where "Raid 2" finally redeems itself. The film regains its essence once Patnaik lands punches like a pro, although the buildup is marred by too many dull moments. You'll have to endure a jumble of theatrics that, rather dramatically, fall into place to enjoy this ride, and the franchise value insists on it.

The film opens with Amay (Ajay Devgn) demanding a bribe of Rs. 3 crore-it doesn't take a genius to realize he's bluffing. Yet the script spends 30 minutes clarifying that, squandering time with two uninspired songs. Amay proceeds to gather intel and raid Dada Bhai's (Riteish Deshmukh) property, predictably finding nothing. The cat-and-mouse game begins, leading to Amay's suspension. Despite this setback, he continues his mission, landing powerful blows before the climactic finale. The final confrontation is worth witnessing on the big screen.

The screenplay suffers primarily due to the song placements. Cut out the three songs (including the item number), and the film would be much tighter. Ajay and Riteish's initial face-off holds promise, but the antagonist weakens in the second half. The subplot involving Riteish's character in a sexual abuse case feels misplaced, and the land scam angle is underexplored. Some thematic beats feel repetitive, but they retain entertainment value due to their familiar tone. Ajay's character never convincingly appears corrupt-we all know he's too righteous, and even his wife says, "I just saw my husband's eyes." These missteps detract from the experience, though the remaining plot retains enough punch to keep you entertained.

Ajay Devgn delivers a compelling performance despite aging seven years since "Raid." A flashback sequence reveals how much younger he looked then-here, he resembles his avatars in "Singham Again" and "Rudra." Still, his eyes, voice, and command of the character hold the film together. Riteish Deshmukh does a decent job but lacks the menacing presence Saurabh Shukla brought to the original. Shukla himself appears in an extended cameo, making you wonder why he wasn't brought back as the primary villain. Vaani Kapoor has two songs and barely any screen time otherwise-her role only gains relevance during the final twist. Brijendra Kala, Yashpal Sharma, Amit Sial, Rajat Kapoor, and others provide solid support, while Supriya Pathak's accent oddly reminds one of Hansa Parekh from Khichdi.

On the musical front, "Raid 2" falls flat. Honestly, a song-less version would've been more fitting, especially in an era where audiences lean toward OTT and Hollywood content. Cinematography is passable, sound design is competent, and the "Black... Black" theme stands out as a musical high point. Raj Kumar Gupta has crafted an earnest sequel for fans of "Raid" and Amay Patnaik, though a few elements fail to click. That said, the film offers engaging moments that keep you hooked for two hours. While not as impactful or tightly woven as the original, "Raid 2" maintains enough momentum and franchise appeal to be a hit. It's just the weight of the predecessor and the time gap that make the difference.

RATING - 5/10*

The movie relies heavily on sound effects, with barely any dialogue-you could watch it completely muted and still understand everything.

This points to a serious lack of effort from the writers in developing a meaningful script or engaging characters.

The direction is mediocre at best, giving the impression that an Instagram content creator has pieced together random scenes to stretch it into a feature-length film.

There's no sense of cohesion, depth, or artistic vision, making the entire experience feel superficial, lazy, and uninspired.

Even visually, the film fails to leave an impact, relying on flashy transitions rather than solid storytelling or emotional weight.

Waste of time!!