With Raid 2, Raj Kumar Gupta returns with a follow-up to his Raid (2018). The film is a relatively effective and tense high-stakes battle in which an honest David takes on a political Goliath in full public view, armed only with the law and a strong moral compass.
Upright Income Tax Officer Amay Patnaik (Ajay Devgn) storms a Rajasthani fort, a courageous act that earns him his 74th transfer, and as always, he takes it in stride. This time, he lands in the fictional town of Bhoj in Uttar Pradesh, a place under the affectionate thumb of Dada Manohar Bhai (Riteish Deshmukh), popularly known as Dada Bhai. The masses adore him, and he worships his mother (Supriya Pathak) like a deity, and walks the talk of a benevolent leader. But Amay isn’t easily taken in. The more he learns about Dada Bhai’s so-called humanitarian deeds, the more something smells off. When he begins to dig deeper, the rot starts to show…
One of the most glaring weaknesses of Raid 2 is its rather sluggish first half-hour, which dawdles far too long in setting up its central conflict. The pacing feels indulgent, while the character arcs of the two leads – Amay Patnaik and Dada Bhai – remain frustratingly underdeveloped, depriving their eventual confrontation of the dramatic weight it so clearly aspires to. Two songs arrive within the first forty minutes, and both feel clumsily inserted, acting as interruptions to the narrative flow rather than giving it some emotional extensions.
What’s missing is a sense of evolution. Instead, we get glimpses, but no textures, complexities or layerings. And while the film attempts to channel the spirit of the original, it leans a little too heavily on familiar beats: villagers rising in protest against the income tax officers, the now-obligatory slow-motion stride of Ajay Devgn’s stoic officer, an army of henchmen armed with weapons, convoys of government vehicles slicing through dusty terrain—it’s all there, but with diminishing returns. With no fewer than five credited writers – Aditya Belnekar, Raj Kumar Gupta, Ritesh Shah, Karan Vyas, and Jaideep Yadav – one might have expected a more cohesive narrative. Instead, Raid 2 relies on heavy-handed dialogues and conveniently timed discoveries, leaving the film feeling like a sequel afraid to step out of the shadow of its predecessor.
But despite these shortcomings, Raid 2 manages to claw back quite some ground in its latter half, particularly during the twist-laden interval and the final forty minutes, where the drama finds itself. The sharp turns and the escalating tension inject a renewed energy into the film, enough, perhaps, to distract from the structural flaws that precede them. A crucial emotional exchange between Dada Bhai and his mother could easily have tipped into sordid melodrama. Still, to the film’s credit, it holds its ground, allowing the moment to land effectively with dignity. The introduction of Lallan Sudheer (Amit Sial), a fellow income tax officer with an acerbic wit and sharp instincts, midway brings a welcome jolt of humour and adds vitality to the story. Similarly, Vinay Bakaya (Brijendra Kala) and Devinder Gehlot (Yashpal Sharma) make favourable additions to the ensemble, heightening the dramatic proceedings. Tauji (Saurabh Shukla), a returning character from the original, serves as a narrative bridge, suggesting the persistent cycle of power, corruption, and resistance within the system, while also foreshadowing key developments.
Ajay Devgn brings his trademark gravitas to the role of Amay Patnaik, projecting strength, poise, and understated charisma. Yet, there are times when one can’t help but notice a familiar set of expressions that soon begin to feel somewhat repetitive across scenes. On the other hand, Riteish Deshmukh gives a quietly compelling turn as Dada Bhai, a benevolent public servant with sinister undertones, his performance, thankfully, avoiding caricature. Amit Sial is a joy to watch. His dry humour, razor-sharp timing, and body language bring a welcome looseness to the film’s otherwise stiff tone. Supriya Pathak, though underused, imbues her character with a quiet grace that pays off in the film’s climactic emotional moments. Among the supporting cast, Saurabh Shukla, Shruti Pandey, Yashpal Sharma, and Brijendra Kala each bring texture and credibility to their roles. Vaani Kapoor as Malini, Amay’s wife, unfortunately, fares less well. Her character feels like an afterthought, inserted to lend emotional stakes.
The cinematography by Sudhir K Chaudhary lends the film a polished and clean visual design. Rita Ghosh’s production design deserves a quiet nod; the contrast between the austere government offices and the opulent residences of the corrupt is well drawn. Sandeep Francis’ editing keeps the tempo reasonably taut, particularly in the latter half, where the procedural mechanics of the raid finally kick in. Amit Trivedi’s background score does its job in raising the tempo. However, none of the songs feel organically embedded into the story. The item number, Nasha, featuring Tamannaah Bhatia, feels particularly jarring. Of course, with T-Series among the producers, such insertions are now par for the course.
Raid 2 is a film that entertains in bursts but rarely surprises. And as the end credits roll, one could say that despite its flaws, it manages to deliver a reasonably engaging and satisfying experience.
Hindi, Drama, Action, Color