Seven years after the sleeper success of Raid, Ajay Devgn returns as IRS officer Amay Patnaik in Raid 2, directed once again by Raj Kumar Gupta. What was once a taut thriller about an unsung government hero now feels like a formulaic attempt at reviving nationalist fervor, repackaged with high-decibel drama and political symbolism. While the film tries to be a commentary on corruption and social justice, it ends up being more of a cinematic sermon than a compelling sequel.
The Plot
Set in the fictitious town of Bhoj during the V.P. Singh era, Raid 2 follows Amay Patnaik’s transfer to yet another state, where he opens a file against a seemingly spotless politician, Dada Manohar Bhai (played by Riteish Deshmukh). What appears to be a clean image hides decades of deceit, and Patnaik—now slightly more flexible with rules—takes it upon himself to expose the truth.
The villain, symbolic of a backward community rising from modest beginnings, is positioned against the upright Patnaik, whose surname and role evoke old-guard bureaucracy. The political commentary is thinly veiled, pointing at the perceived flaws in coalition-era governance and social justice politics.
Execution and Tone
Raid 2 opens with a stylized slow-motion entry and Govind Namdev taunting timid taxmen—setting a tone more suited to a Singham sequel. Unlike its predecessor, which blended realism with drama, this installment leans heavily into bombast, with a pounding background score and a predictable narrative arc.
Where the original film focused on methodical income tax raids, this sequel simplifies complex financial corruption into over-the-top sequences that cater more to mass sentiment than legal intrigue.
Performances
Ajay Devgn reprises his role with intensity, but his stoic expressions and slow-burn delivery now feel rehearsed.
Riteish Deshmukh, cast against type, struggles to bring authenticity to his role as a cow-belt politician. He lacks both menace and depth, coming across as a caricature more than a calculated antagonist.
Vaani Kapoor has little to do except show up for three scenes and a song—her role is purely ornamental.
Amit Sial and Yashpal Sharma inject much-needed energy and get some of the film’s most impactful lines. Sadly, their limited screen time hampers their potential.
The brief presence of Saurabh Shukla, a standout in the original, only reminds us of how much better the predecessor was.
Writing and Direction
Raj Kumar Gupta, known for films with strong social messages (No One Killed Jessica, Raid), appears to lose his voice in this installment. While attempting to critique both corruption and populism, the film ultimately oversimplifies its message.
Characters lack nuance—female roles are underwritten, and the public is portrayed as easily swayed by charisma. The writing team (led by Ritesh Shah) tries to deliver political allegory but ends up turning the film into a hollow spectacle lacking emotional or intellectual punch.
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Symbolism and Political Undertones
From surnames to community references, Raid 2 teases caste and class commentary but avoids meaningful engagement. The honest bureaucrat vs. manipulative populist narrative echoes real-life political discourse, yet fails to offer insights. By the end, it almost feels like a cinematic campaign for direct benefit transfer schemes—making the “raid” more about political messaging than narrative tension.
Conclusion
Raid 2 is a classic case of diminishing returns. Instead of elevating the franchise, it dilutes what made the first film a standout. It replaces substance with spectacle, realism with rhetoric, and strong writing with stereotypes. Ajay Devgn remains steady, but even he can’t salvage a sequel that lacks the sharpness, suspense, and soul of its predecessor.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Recommended only for hardcore Ajay Devgn fans or those seeking politically tinted masala drama.