Vishwaroopam 2 Review: Kamal Haasan is heroic as the one man army

Fans of Kamal Haasan can finally rejoice as the actor’s film Vishwaroopam 2 has opened to theatres today. This comes as a joy as this the sequel has released five years after its first part Vishwaroopam.

Promoted as the prequel and sequel to the first part, this film navigates to and fro from both the past and the present. The film also explains the open ends which were present in the first part of the film.

The first half of the film is intriguing and action-packed. What keeps you engaged is the adept direction and story that helps you travel with Wisam Ahmad. This spy thriller serves as a steady action entertainer with innovative stunts and execution. The film also establishes the relationship between Wisam Ahmad and his wife Nirupama, who shared a dysfunctional relationship in the first part.

Making a film that’s trying to act like both the prequel and the sequel is a not an easy task, however, Kamal Haasan’s unique style of execution is one of the impressive highlights of Vishwaroopam 2. Another plus to the film are the scenes featuring Kamal Haasan’s heroics in the flashback portions. These moments show us his interaction with the US army, and how he defends himself from Omar and his gang. Not only are these scenes interesting but they remind us why Vishwaroopam was a terrific action film, with an adept story. This crucial element is what is missing in the sequel. The first part carried a consistent story. It also set a new benchmark for being a true spy thriller where characters weren’t what they seemed. Although Vishwaroopam 2 works superbly well during the first half, the second half is reduced to a masala potboiler. The film focuses on romance, mother-son sentiment and a little over-the-top exaggerated action that dilutes the theme of the film. It isn’t wrong to show the human and soft side of a spy in a film, but lack of consistency and a good backstory is where the problem sets in.

The action sequence between Omar and Wisam Ahmad was a let down here. Although the surprise element in the film was good, it wasn’t sufficient to remind us why Omar avenged Wisam Ahmad.

The sequence between Waheeda Rehman and Kamal Haasan is effortless, thanks to its terrific actors.

Veteran director Shekar Kapur delivers a nuanced performance, and his meaty role fits perfectly next to that of Kamal’s character. Rahul Bose, who was menacing as Omar in the first part, barely posses a threat here. Pooja Kumar does a subtle performance, while Andrea’s kick-the-enemy action sequence stood out well! Kamal Haasan is terrific as the RAW agent with a caring persona. He is the one man show and one man army, here. And the film rests on his shoulders.