Review: Sardar 2
Film: Sardar 2
Director: P S Mithran
Cast: Karthi, SJ Suryah, Malavika Mohanan, Ashika Ranganath, Yogi Babu, Rajisha Vijayan and others
Music – Sam CS
DOP – George C Williams
Editor – Vijay Velukutty
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: A deadly biological weapon developed by the Japanese called Doku is neutralised by a team of RAW Agents, one of whom happens to be Sardar (Karthi). However, instead of destroying the weapon, two of the three agents who worked on neutralising it, choose to preserve it secretly. Now, decades later, Black Dagger (S J Suryah), the head of an international gang, is trying to get his hands on the biological weapon to unleash mayhem. Looking to thwart him are Sardar, his son Vijay Prakash (Karthi) and Faiza(Ashika Ranganath). Will the RAW agents succeed in their mission?
Sardar 2 is a mixed bag that gets several things right while also stumbling in areas that significantly affect the overall experience. The biggest strengths of the film are undoubtedly the performances, particularly Karthi and S. J. Suryah, who bring plenty of conviction and energy to their respective roles.
Karthi once again proves why he is such a dependable performer. He brings sincerity, intensity and emotional depth to his character, while S. J. Suryah adds his own distinct flavour to the proceedings.
S J Suryah appears to have relished playing the character of Black Dagger. The flair with which he portrays the character, lends it a kind of charm that catches your attention.
Both Karthi and S J Suryah’s performances keep the film engaging even when the writing and narration don’t always work in its favour.
One of the most appreciable aspects of Sardar 2 is its underlying message. Like most P. S. Mithran films, this one too leaves the audience with something meaningful to take away. The film’s take on the misuse and overuse of antibiotics is relevant and thought-provoking, making its social message one of its strongest elements.
On the technical front, Sam C. S.’s background score is another major positive. The music effectively elevates several sequences and adds weight to the film’s dramatic and action-oriented moments.
However, Sardar 2 is held back by its excessive runtime. The film feels too long, and the pacing could have benefited considerably from tighter editing. The narration is another problematic aspect. The frequent shifts between the present and the past, sometimes without enough clarity or smooth transitions, makes the story difficult to follow. Instead of adding intrigue, these constant shifts occasionally make the narrative feel confusing and disrupt the flow.
P S Mithran also seems to have forcefully added elements, which unfortunately seem to work against the film’s interest. For instance, the story of the film, which is meant to be grim and intense, makes space for comedy, primarily provided by Nizhalgal Ravi and Yogi Babu. Both actors stick out like a sore thumb and seem completely out of place in a spy thriller.
In short, Sardar 2 has solid performances, an important message and a strong background score working in its favour, but its lengthy runtime and confusing narration prevent it from becoming a consistently engaging experience. It is a film with worthwhile ideas and good performances, but one that could have been significantly better with a more streamlined screenplay and tighter storytelling.
