2.0 - Movie Review

What’s it about!

One day, in Chennai city, all mobile phones fly out. Who is snatching them and where are they disappearing to? Nobody knows. When Professor Vaseekaran (Rajinikanth) suggests to bring back the dismantled Chitti to the government, the idea is nipped at the bud. Situation comes to the place that even army fails to control the strange phenomenon. Then government agrees to reboot the Chitti, and he is ready to fight with the force that is creating disorder. The force is Pakshi Raja (Akshay Kumar). What is his story, why he is doing all these? How does Chitti stop him?

Analysis

Shankar’s 2010 ‘Robo’ was a runaway hit, it was loved by audiences for its entertainment. It was a genre that was not explored before on Indian screen. Robots creating mayhem is a unique point, the Indian audiences felt. The visual effects were also top notch by then standards. In the last eight years, Indian cinema underwent sea changes, movies with high-end graphics have become order of the day. Rajamouli’s “Baahubali” movies set the bar high for visual effects. So, when Shankar announced the sequel to his 2010 hit, many were not excited.

The sequel ‘2.0’, after many delays, is here. What Shankar has attempted here is vigilantism in sci-fi genre. Shankar’s favourite theme has been vigilantism. In ‘2.0’, he has mixed a relevant and timely topic with sci-fi genre. The subject is: the shrinking of sparrows (picchukalu) due to radiation caused by high-frequency cell towers. This is a topic that should be addressed now and Shankar has taken the right subject to deal. He effectively drives this point with his narration.

Shankar has also done away with the regular aspects of a big star movie - hero introduction song or fight, songs (there are no songs in the film at all except a background song ‘Guvva’), or punch dialogues. A Rajinikanth’s film that has no romantic thread or punch dialogues! Sounds strange but Shankar has pulled it off without them. There is Amy Jackson, she feels for Chitti (both are robots) but they don’t go for a song or indulge in romantic moments.

The story begins where the original film ended – dismantling of Chitti robot. The Chitti robot is used to save the mankind from Pakshi Raja, Chitti is do-gooder and hero here, unlike the original. Shankar narrates the film in straight forward way by establishing the main point in first 10 minutes itself. Mobile phones are flying out as a fifth force wants to sends the message that cell towers are bad. The universe is not only for the humans but for birds as well. The first half of the movie moves like Shankar’s old movie ‘Aparachitudu’. Who is doing all mayhem and why? In ‘Aparachitudu’, it is Prakash Raj who goes for investigation to find the vigilante (played by Vikram). Here, Rajinikanth the professor does this job only to find the Pakshi Raja (Akshay Kumar). Though the sequences are familiar they hold the interest and entire first half is quite engaging. It draws us into the story and makes us eagerly look for the second half.

In a typical fashion, Shankar reveals the backstory of Akshay Kumar in emotional way but then loses the grip on the screenplay. The later portions become dull and predictable. If you have watched Hollywood films like “Transformers”, you will know what the climax portion is all about. This critic felt bored with this lengthy climax fight. But Shankar’s intention probably is to prove that Indian filmmakers are also capable of pulling VFX-loaded action stunts that are on par with Hollywood movies.

While the film’s subject and message is relevant and the first half is superior, the second half doesn’t give much high.

Since it is story-driven movie to the most part, the film doesn’t have given Rajinikanth to showcase his acting skills. The real Rajinikanth (professor Vaseekaran) seems passive to the most part. The other Rajinikanth, which is partly enhanced by visual effects and make-ups, is good and charming. The real fun comes when Chitti gets reloaded again.

Akshay Kumar doesn’t appear in the first half but occupies entire runtime in the second half and he is perfect antagonist to Chitti. He has pulled off the role with ease. Amy Jackson as female robot is perfect. Adil as a Minister is neat. Sudhansh Pandey’s character looks quite silly.

The film completely belongs to technicians – the VFX company, the cameraman, and the production designer. All of them have given best output. They are the real heroes of the movie.

Shankar as writer and director has once again proved that he has a grand vision. He makes sci-fi film that is worth watch with some many entertaining moments and narrates it in riveting manner to the most part.

Bottom-line: ‘2.0’ talks about relevant topic of shrinking of sparrows and the consequences of radiation of cell towers. The topic is neatly presented in commercial format with enough entertaining moments. The film works to the most part despite middling later portions.