Kangana and Lawrence in ‘Chandramukhi 2’ Review: An Unwanted Sequel

‘Chandramukhi 2’ Review

The sequel to the first installment of “Chandramukhi,” which starred Rajinikanth and Jyotika, is called “Chandramukhi 2,” and it was directed by P Vasu. Our assessment reveals that this film, which stars Kangana Ranaut and Raghava Lawrence, may not be the most interesting to watch.

There are timeless classics in the world of cinema that have a special place in the hearts of viewers, and altering them can be very personal to many. One such timeless movie that has lasted the test of time is “Chandramukhi,” starring Rajinikanth, Jyotika, and Nayanthara. The original film’s director, P Vasu, started work on its sequel after more than ten years had passed. Has “Chandramukhi 2” been able to hold its audience’s attention? Let’s investigate it.

The plot of “Chandramukhi 2” is based on that of its predecessor, which was a remake of Mohanlal and Shobana’s “Manichithrathazhu.” The protagonist of the novel is Radhika Sarathkumar’s daughter, who elopes with her husband and causes family strife because of their intercaste union. Tragically, the daughter and son-in-law perish in a tragic accident, leaving behind two children in Pandian’s (Raghava Lawrence) care.

A spiritual teacher counsels Radhika’s family to go see their ancestor’s deity and carry out a ritual after a string of unfortunate events affect them. The ritual must also include their grandchildren for it to be meaningful. This takes the family to the notorious Vettaiyapuram castle, which has a troubled past and is where Ganga (Jyotika) struggled with split personalities and adopted the identity of dancer Chandramukhi. The ghosts of Chandramukhi and Pandian are reputed to linger in Vadivelu’s palace. The main plot of the movie revolves around the developments involving Radhika and her family.

Thanks to Rajinikanth and Jyotika’s outstanding performances, “Chandramukhi” is still fresh in people’s minds. The movie became one of Tamil cinema’s highest-grossing films in 2005 and inspired remakes in a number of different languages. In 2023, the decision to make a sequel prompts concerns about changing a classic, a concern shared by many in the movie business.

In addition to revisiting the classic, P Vasu also fails to inject any new inventiveness into a 2005 plot. Seeing Raghava Lawrence and Vadivelu try to recreate the same slapstick fun from the original in 2023 seems old. Vadivelu occasionally succeeds in making the audience laugh, although the humor is mostly unfunny.

The conversations are shallow and do not give the characters much life. With his repeated rhyming introductions, Lawrence’s portrayal of Pandian sets the stage for a formulaic story. “Chandramukhi 2” tries to cram itself into a plot that is already evocative of other horror comedies by adhering to the predictable “5 songs, 3 fights” format. The film’s inability to create a distinct identity—it doesn’t completely embrace either the comedy or the horror genres—causes problems.

Despite P Vasu’s repeated efforts, “Chandramukhi” comes across as a poorly produced television soap opera. Fundamentally, the sequel is “Chandramukhi” with different actors, poor visual effects, performers that overact, and unimpressive soundtrack.

Raghava Lawrence’s performance leans considerably toward excessive theatrics in the early half, which can be overpowering. Nevertheless, Lakshmi Menon excels in her significant role and gives a respectable performance. In a lengthy appearance, Kangana Ranaut is criticized for her Bharatanatyam performance; this opinion holds true even after seeing the film. In general, the cast falls short of making a remarkable or long-lasting impression.

“Chandramukhi 2” is the epitome of mediocrity. We are exposed to a love song with the chorus “Podhum Podhum” (which translates to “Enough” in English) in the second half. The crowd may respond with a hearty “Podhum!”

2.5 out of 5 stars for ‘Chandramukhi 2’.

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