“Mardaani 2” Review: Rani Mukerji’s Film Is Chilling & Heart-Wrenching

Mardaani 2, as the title suggests itself, is a sequel to Yash Raj Films’ 2014 offering Mardaani. While the first part of the franchise dealt with the issue of human trafficking, Mardaani 2 delves deeper into such issues as patriarchy, rape and misogyny. The second instalment has been directed by debutant filmmaker Gopi Puthran who wrote Mardaani and was lauded for his writing abilities. If you are planning to watch Mardaani 2, here is the review of the film.

Story: Set in Kota, the educational hub of India, Mardaani 2 revolves around superintendent of police Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukerji) who is out to nab a criminal named Sunny (Vishal Jethwa). Sunny is a threat to the safety of women in the city as he rapes young girls in a fit of rage before brutally murdering them. He is always one step ahead of the police. The cat-and-mouse game that ensues to catch him is what forms the crux of the story.

Critical Analysis: Mardaani 2 is not the first film that sheds light on heinous crimes against women in our country. But what makes it special is its relevance and timing. The movie hits screens at a time when the entire nation is brimming with rage after the rape and murder of a doctor in Hyderabad and several other crimes against women that shook the entire nation in the past few weeks.

Writer-director Gopi Puthran deserves full marks for coming up with a story that matters to a majority of the members of society. He does not complicate the story by involving too many parallel narratives and that is perhaps one of the best parts about Mardaani 2. His writing is crisp, dialogues catchy and screenplay engaging.

Coming to performance, Rani Mukerji nails the character of fierce cop Shivani Shivaji Roy once again. She will always be remembered for essaying this character with such panache. In a nutshell, Rani is the backbone of the film. With Mardaani 2, Vishal Jethwa makes his silver screen debut. It is surprising to see how brilliantly he has performed the character of Sunny in the film. It is not easy to hold your grounds when you are pitted against a powerful performer like Rani Mukerji, but Jethwa delivers a highly confident performance. The supporting cast also lends its full support to the film.

Final Verdict

As cop Shivani Shivaji Roy, Rani Mukerji is at the top of her game once again. Vishal Jethwa also impresses with his devilish act. Taut screenplay, engaging narrative and power-packed performances from the main cast keep you invested throughout the movie. I am going with 3.5 stars.

Movie Credits

Banner: Yash Raj Films
Director: Gopi Puthran
Casting: Rani Mukerji, Vishal Jethwa
Runtime: 103 Minutes
STARBIZ Rating: 3.5 Stars

>>> Also read: Rani Mukerji To Return With The Third Instalment Of “Mardaani”?