What’s it about?
Ranganayaki’s (Radhika Sarathkumar) family faces numerous challenges. A guru suggests that she and her family go to their ancestral temple in Vetayyapalem village and perform Pooja to ward them off. This family is also followed by Madan (Raghava Lawerence), and they all rent a palace near the temple.
As they begin to renovate the temple, the family encounters new challenges. The ghost of Chandramukhi (Kangana Ranaut), who left the palace 17 years before, returns. Ranganayaki’s wheelchair-bound daughter Divya (Lakshmi Menon) is in her possession.
Why did Chandramukhi come back? Because she wishes to burn alive the soul of Sengottayya aka Vetaayya, who possessed Madan.
Analysis
Is “Chandramukhi 2” a sequel or a remake of the 2005 blockbuster “Chandramukhi”? This is because the new film follows the same template as the 2005 film. As in the original, we see an introduction fight, a song, the family entering a palace, Vadivelu attempting to warn people not to enter the palace on the south side, comedy between the hero and Vadivelu, and so on. You get the impression that you are rewatching “Chandramukhi” with only the exception of different actors playing those roles.
The original, starring Rajinikanth and Jyothika, had many fantastic moments. Rajinikanth’s discovery that Ganga was possessed by Chandramukhi was riveting. The entire theatre erupted with joy when Rajinikanth uttered “Laka Laka Laka” in a royal court scene. Jyothika’s dance and appearance as Chandramukhi, along with the songs, were a joy to watch.
Even the first film was entirely psychological. However, we see more superstitions and god’s element here. Furthermore, the first half of the film makes tedious watch.
Even Vadivelu’s antics fail to make people laugh, and they appear stale. Raghava Lawrence, with his strange hairstyle and clueless expressions, adds to the misery in the first half.
Although the second half begins with Kangana Ranaut’s arrival, the excitement quickly fades as the routine proceedings begin. By end of the film you wonder what this exercise of sequel really mean?
Despite being talented actors in their own right, Raghava Lawrence and Kangana Ranaut fail to capture the magic of Superstar Rajinikanth and Jyothika. Radhika and others fill in the blanks with stock expressions and dialogue. Another miscast is Lakshmi Menon. Mahima Nambiar, the heroine, has nothing much to do.
The music of MM Keeravani is unremarkable. Though he follows in Vidyasagar’s footsteps, his songs lack the haunting quality of the original.
Bottom line: P Vasu’s latest sequel of “Chandramukhi” makes a tedious watch. It is predictable and boring.
Rating: 1.75/5
By: Jalapathy Gudelli
Film: Chandramukhi 2
Cast: Raghava Lawrence, Kangana Ranaut, Vadivelu, Radhika Sarathkumar, Lakshmi Menon, Mahima Nambiar, Rao Ramesh, and others
Music: M M Keeravaani
DOP: R D Rajasekar
Editor: Anthony
Art: Thota Tharrani
Producer: Subaskaran
Written and Directed by: P Vasu
Release Date: Sep 28, 2023
