Review: Chandramukhi 2

Film: Chandramukhi 2
Director: P Vasu
Cast: Raghava Lawrence, Kangana Ranaut, Mahima Nambiar, Lakshmi Menon, Vadivelu,Srushti Dange, Subiksha, Radhika Sarathkumar and others.
Producer: Allirajah Subaskaran
Music Director:M M Keeravani
Cinematographer: R D Rajasekhar
Rating: 3.5 stars

Director P Vasu, with his Chandramukhi 2, proves once more that he is a master at making wholesome family entertainers.

Vasu comes up with a highly enjoyable sequel to the immensely popular Chandramukhi. The fact that Vasu has managed to make a sequel that is as impressive as the first part with a different set of stars speaks volumes of his directorial abilities.

As in several of P Vasu’s earlier films, the story is what makes the film click.The veteran director seems to have retained the soul of the franchise but has changed everything else about it.

Therefore, Chandramukhi 2 comes across as a film that has a bit of the old film and at the same time, has some additional new and refreshing elements to offer.

The Plot…
When a fire accident breaks out at wealthy businesswoman Ranganayaki’s (Radhika Sarathkumar) mill and destroys it, she is perturbed. Her spiritual guru advices her to visit her family’s ancestral temple along with her family as a remedy to such mishaps.

As advised, the lady and her family members plan a trip to their ancestral temple, where they intend to perform a pooja and light a lamp.

They arrive at the place the temple is located and stay at a huge palace that is situated closeby. It is here that Ranganayaki meets her grandchildren, a boy and a girl.

The children, born to one of Ranganayaki’s daughters, are treated like outcastes by other members of the family as their mother had got married to her father much against the wishes of the family.

Now, with both their parents dead, the children only have Pandian(Raghava Lawrence), the son of their parents’ auditor, to take care of them.

Except for Murugesan (Vadivelu), who owns the palace, nobody else knows that the place is haunted by the spirit of Chandramukhi.

The temple, where the poojas are to be performed, is plunged in darkness and surrounded by weeds. To perform the pooja, the temple will first have to be cleaned and a lamp lit.

However, sages in the vicinity warn the family that Chandramukhi’s spirit will not allow light to enter the temple as it will empower her nemisis Vettaiyan.

Paying no heed to the warning, the family decides to begin the cleaning process. They employ people from outside to clean the place. However, two of those who were in the process of cleaning the temple end up dead…

P Vasu, who was under immense pressure to deliver a sequel worthy of the first part, which went on to emerge a blockbuster, seems to have passed with flying colours.

He delivers a wholesome entertainer that is interesting.

One reason why the film works big time is because of the cast doing a neat job.

Raghava Lawrence delivers a highly convincing perfomance as the bold and ruthless Vettaiyan. The story about how army chief Sengottaiyan turns into Vettaiyan is an interesting bit that adds immense value to the film. Raghava Lawrence plays the wicked but courageous captain with flair and breathes life into the film.

Lakshmi Menon who plays Divya is just fantastic throughout the film. P Vasu smartly seems to have divided the task of portraying Chandramukhi between Lakshmi Menon and Kangana Ranaut. Kangana delivers a commanding performance and is completely at ease in the film.

Mahima Nambiar, who plays the female lead role of Lakshmi, is a powerhouse of talent. The pretty actress slips into the lead role without any fear and with absolute confidence.

Vadivelu tries to tickle your funny bone like how he did in the first part. However, he only succeeds partially.

Chandramukhi 2 has some melodious numbers by MM Keeravani and some eye-catching visuals shot by R D Rajasekhar.

Simply put, Chandramukhi 2 is a neat engaging entertainer that one can enjoy with the whole family.