For now, the cloud of the SARS Cov2 pandemic seems to have been dispersed. When I go out for walks with my mask on, I see people without masks look at me strangely. In my mind, I hear them say: "Look at this character, he still wears a mask !" The mask feels uncomfortable and it is off from my face more often than it used to be earlier, but I do keep it on in crowded settings like when I am in public transport. With cases in double digits in Bengaluru, a long weekend made me look for a good movie to watch in the theatre. On 16-Apr-2022, my wife and I went to a multiplex for the first time after two years, to watch the Kannada movie "KGF: Chapter 2". The rest of this blog post presents my view on the movie.
My summary: some movies are meant for the big screen. If you are an action buff, watch "KGF: Chapter 2" (I will call it KGF2 in this blog post from this point onward) in a multiplex/ theatre.
https://hombalefilms.com/movies/kgf-chapter-2/ is the official website of the movie. The trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQsE85cI384) and teaser (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qah9sSIXJqk&t=1s) promise action. The movie delivers on that !
KGF: Chapter 1 was about how Rocky becomes the saviour for mining labourers in KGF, rescuing them from slavery like conditions. Rocky also kills the cruel Garuda who oppresses the workers. The movie ends showing that Rocky is the ruler of KGF. It also hints that there are other antagonists, including people from the underworld and politics. KGF2 is about how Rocky builds on that - and that statement can be taken quite literally ! KGF and its people progress on the path of industrial development. Anant Nag was the narrator in KGF: Chapter 1. In KGF2, it is Prakash Raj who is the narrator, playing Anant Nag's son. This enables the director to provide the audience the context and prepares the audiences for what will be coming, just like in KGF: Chapter 1. It is also a relief from the loud scenes of fights and shooting.
One fight ensues because Sanjay Dutt playing Adheera returns to KGF. Adheera is the brother of the slain Garuda and believes that KGF is his territory. As expected, this leads to a confrontation between Rocky and Adheera that forms one of the main streams of the movie. The other stream is how the other dons who block Rocky's path are subdued, by conspiracy and unlikely alliances. Rocky converts KGF into his own kingdom, thus challenging India's Prime Minister played by Raveena Tandon. This is where politics and conspiracy are seen. The guards in KGF2 have been trained by Vanaram, played by Ayyappa P. Sharma. Vanaram is somebody who knows the KGF topography well. He is a key player for Rocky, along with his right hand man, whom he calls chacha out of respect. The Prime Minister pledges to bring Rocky down along with those who support him, aided by a CBI director played by Ramesh Rao in an important cameo. The movie ends with the armed forces of the country being brought in to take down Rocky and KGF.
One aspect of the movie that I like is the importance given to the place and its people. KGF in Chapter 1 was a place synonymous with oppression, fear and despair until Rocky emerges as a saviour. In KGF2, the place is transformed into an industrial complex fuelled by gold. The fear and despair are replaced by hope to some extent, but the workers are still forced to toil day and night excavating so much gold that Rocky becomes the master of a parallel black money economy. In KGF2, Rocky's goldlust makes his chacha exclaim : "Garuda has been replaced by Rocky. Why do you need so much gold?" The answer is that it is a promise given as a child to his mother that Rocky is fulfilling.
This looks unlikely, but KGF2 has more such unlikely events, like how Rocky and Adheera live after their first and second fights, respectively. I feel that the car chase sequence to lure Rocky out of KGF could have been done better. The chase is seen using a series of cuts, where the screen just blanks. To me the sequence looked jarring. Another detractor in my opinion is that the movie reduces Srinidhi Shetty to a token presence of Rocky's love interest. The primary role for women in KGF2 is that of Rocky's mother, played by Archana Jois. The other important woman in KGF2 is the character of a young KGF guard's mother. The guard idolises Rocky, but dies at the hands of Adheera, much like the character played by Sachin in Sholay.
On the big screen, the action scenes look slick, whether it is Adheera's entry or Rocky's first confrontation with Adheera or the final face-off between Rocky and Adheera. Using the idea of the narrator, Rocky's story is built up well from his childhood to his rise as the ruler of KGF to his eventual downfall. There is also a twist in the end as another foe is eliminated in typical Rocky style.
I noticed two tributes to Hollywood in KGF2: the way in which Rocky takes out his enemies based out of Mumbai and becomes the kingpin of the west coast is reminiscent of the Godfather movies. The credits in the end are inspired from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I liked both these touches !
Of course, the action in KGF2 is what makes it stand out. My wife commented one day after we watched the movie that she still heard the gunfire and the sound ! On the big screen, the experience is dazzling. To me, there are two other points why I like KGF2: first, the way in which the anthemic song "Dheera Dheera" is used. There are some songs that become a signature for a movie. "Dheera Dheera" is one such anthemic song. The background music is nicely used. Much like the call of the coyote inspired the theme of "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly", the sound of the eagles screaming in the background music for KGF2 lends an air of anticipation. The second point about KGF2 which I like is what I saw in the theatre: there are some catchy one-liners delivered with humour in the movie. Even in the multiplex where I watched KGF2, these lines brought forth whistles and applause. I can imagine how much the reaction must be in other threatres !
The performances are good. Raveena Tandon plays the role of the Prime Minister well, Archana Jois plays the role of an indulgent mother well, Sanjay Dutt looks imposing as the menacing Adheera but this is Yash's show. As the ruler of KGF, he brings the character of Rocky alive. What continues from KGF: Chapter 1 is the way in which he brings out a touch of humour, particularly in his dialogue delivery. His presence is one reason for the success of KGF2, I believe. The narration of KGF2's story is one of its highlight, a credit to the director Prashant Neel. KGF2 will eventually be available to stream. My recommendation is to watch KGF2 in the theatre or multiplex, if you are a fan of action movies.
My summary: some movies are meant for the big screen. If you are an action buff, watch "KGF: Chapter 2" (I will call it KGF2 in this blog post from this point onward) in a multiplex/ theatre.
https://hombalefilms.com/movies/kgf-chapter-2/ is the official website of the movie. The trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQsE85cI384) and teaser (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qah9sSIXJqk&t=1s) promise action. The movie delivers on that !
KGF: Chapter 1 was about how Rocky becomes the saviour for mining labourers in KGF, rescuing them from slavery like conditions. Rocky also kills the cruel Garuda who oppresses the workers. The movie ends showing that Rocky is the ruler of KGF. It also hints that there are other antagonists, including people from the underworld and politics. KGF2 is about how Rocky builds on that - and that statement can be taken quite literally ! KGF and its people progress on the path of industrial development. Anant Nag was the narrator in KGF: Chapter 1. In KGF2, it is Prakash Raj who is the narrator, playing Anant Nag's son. This enables the director to provide the audience the context and prepares the audiences for what will be coming, just like in KGF: Chapter 1. It is also a relief from the loud scenes of fights and shooting.
One fight ensues because Sanjay Dutt playing Adheera returns to KGF. Adheera is the brother of the slain Garuda and believes that KGF is his territory. As expected, this leads to a confrontation between Rocky and Adheera that forms one of the main streams of the movie. The other stream is how the other dons who block Rocky's path are subdued, by conspiracy and unlikely alliances. Rocky converts KGF into his own kingdom, thus challenging India's Prime Minister played by Raveena Tandon. This is where politics and conspiracy are seen. The guards in KGF2 have been trained by Vanaram, played by Ayyappa P. Sharma. Vanaram is somebody who knows the KGF topography well. He is a key player for Rocky, along with his right hand man, whom he calls chacha out of respect. The Prime Minister pledges to bring Rocky down along with those who support him, aided by a CBI director played by Ramesh Rao in an important cameo. The movie ends with the armed forces of the country being brought in to take down Rocky and KGF.
One aspect of the movie that I like is the importance given to the place and its people. KGF in Chapter 1 was a place synonymous with oppression, fear and despair until Rocky emerges as a saviour. In KGF2, the place is transformed into an industrial complex fuelled by gold. The fear and despair are replaced by hope to some extent, but the workers are still forced to toil day and night excavating so much gold that Rocky becomes the master of a parallel black money economy. In KGF2, Rocky's goldlust makes his chacha exclaim : "Garuda has been replaced by Rocky. Why do you need so much gold?" The answer is that it is a promise given as a child to his mother that Rocky is fulfilling.
This looks unlikely, but KGF2 has more such unlikely events, like how Rocky and Adheera live after their first and second fights, respectively. I feel that the car chase sequence to lure Rocky out of KGF could have been done better. The chase is seen using a series of cuts, where the screen just blanks. To me the sequence looked jarring. Another detractor in my opinion is that the movie reduces Srinidhi Shetty to a token presence of Rocky's love interest. The primary role for women in KGF2 is that of Rocky's mother, played by Archana Jois. The other important woman in KGF2 is the character of a young KGF guard's mother. The guard idolises Rocky, but dies at the hands of Adheera, much like the character played by Sachin in Sholay.
On the big screen, the action scenes look slick, whether it is Adheera's entry or Rocky's first confrontation with Adheera or the final face-off between Rocky and Adheera. Using the idea of the narrator, Rocky's story is built up well from his childhood to his rise as the ruler of KGF to his eventual downfall. There is also a twist in the end as another foe is eliminated in typical Rocky style.
I noticed two tributes to Hollywood in KGF2: the way in which Rocky takes out his enemies based out of Mumbai and becomes the kingpin of the west coast is reminiscent of the Godfather movies. The credits in the end are inspired from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I liked both these touches !
Of course, the action in KGF2 is what makes it stand out. My wife commented one day after we watched the movie that she still heard the gunfire and the sound ! On the big screen, the experience is dazzling. To me, there are two other points why I like KGF2: first, the way in which the anthemic song "Dheera Dheera" is used. There are some songs that become a signature for a movie. "Dheera Dheera" is one such anthemic song. The background music is nicely used. Much like the call of the coyote inspired the theme of "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly", the sound of the eagles screaming in the background music for KGF2 lends an air of anticipation. The second point about KGF2 which I like is what I saw in the theatre: there are some catchy one-liners delivered with humour in the movie. Even in the multiplex where I watched KGF2, these lines brought forth whistles and applause. I can imagine how much the reaction must be in other threatres !
The performances are good. Raveena Tandon plays the role of the Prime Minister well, Archana Jois plays the role of an indulgent mother well, Sanjay Dutt looks imposing as the menacing Adheera but this is Yash's show. As the ruler of KGF, he brings the character of Rocky alive. What continues from KGF: Chapter 1 is the way in which he brings out a touch of humour, particularly in his dialogue delivery. His presence is one reason for the success of KGF2, I believe. The narration of KGF2's story is one of its highlight, a credit to the director Prashant Neel. KGF2 will eventually be available to stream. My recommendation is to watch KGF2 in the theatre or multiplex, if you are a fan of action movies.
Hi Kiran, it's been a while since I read one of your blogs, always interesting to read your take!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the mask wearing and similar reactions to us here. Most Indians have discarded theirs too and there's a semblance of normalcy, though not if you have an underlying condition and are at risk or simply the fear of contracting a deadly strain inspite of being vaccinated.
KGF2 seems like a complicated action movie, and I find myself questioning why the PM is even involved or was it a twist to introduce Raveena as the PM and hook viewers.
There are few if any movies that do not exaggerate, but if not I guess there's no masala to digest, is there?
Ab
In the Bengaluru metro, during the third wave in January 2022, I saw at least 3 people (all men incidentally !) being fined Rs. 250/- by the lady marshals patrolling inside the metro! That ensured that people wore masks and are still vigilant about it in the metros at least !
DeleteAbout the movie, there are strands that make me wonder why they are there, like the involvement of the PM and also Rocky's love story itself. Perhaps, the role of the PM is the beginning of the next story?
Good review Kiran you have covered topics pretty well.liked the narration too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sanjay, I am glad you liked the blog post. https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-kgf-chapter-2-box-office-collection-day-10-yash-film-crosses-rs-800-crore-mark-2948064 reports that the movie could earn close to Rs. 950 crores ! It is setting records !
ReplyDelete