Kazhugu-2 Review
Star Cast : Krishna, Bindhu Madhavi, Kaali Venkat, M S Baskar
Director : Sathya Shivaa
In actor Krishna’s career, films like Kazhugu and Yaamirukka Bayamey stand out as noteworthy successes. 7 years after the release of Kazhugu, the same director, hero , heroine and composer quartet are back with Kazhugu-2.
The second part is also set in the hillside, like the first part, but doesn’t have a fascinating story like the first part which dealt with people who earn their living by recovering the dead bodies of people who commit suicide in the hills.
In Kazhugu 2, Krishna is joined by Kaali Venkat as his sidekick. The two of them are petty thieves in Theni and are in the 'wanted list' of the cops. They are mistaken to be skilled hunters and are recruited by MS Bhaskar for an assignment in the hills.
The usual romance and a pretty interesting heist angle are also part of the mix. Though the romance between Krishna and Bindhu Madhavi begins on a pretty farcical note, Yuvan Shankar Raja makes their track enjoyable with his love songs and lilting re-recording. Krishna and Bindhu do make a good pair. DoP Raja Battacharjee must have relished the prospect of filming the movie amidst hills and forests.
Kaali Venkat doesn’t bring down the roof with his attempts at comedy but his presence does provide some relief. MS Bhaskar’s role gains prominence towards the end. Hareesh Peradi adds another film to his kitty, playing a character with grey shades.
Krishna acquits himself well and delivers a casual performance. In a de-glam, minimal makeup look, Bindhu Madhavi is pleasing for your eyes. She tries her best to do justice to the many emotionally heavy scenes that she gets to enact! 'Bigg Boss' fame Yashika marks her presence in a cameo for a peppy dance number, and she is surprisingly very restrained in her dressing.
That Kazhugu-2 has been made on a limited budget shows in the substandard quality of the VFX in the scenes involving wild dogs which are supposed to terrorize the people who go to work inside the forest. One wonders if the censor board would’ve raised any concerns about scenes showing trees being cut in the forest, given that deforestation is a definite issue plaguing the planet.
Kazhugu 2 works to a fair extent until it takes a detour towards tragedy in its final stretch. The sad overtones doesn't bring out the required effect among viewers.
