Prior to the release of Baaghi 2, director Ahmed Khan said that audience today finds franchises better than standalone films. Maybe that is why he retained some of the key markers of the prequel, Baaghi (2016)—a loose story, cliché-ridden romance and a lead pair who can’t act (though Tiger Shroff tries hard).
To give credit where it is due, most of the stunts are phenomenal. Some, like the one where Shroff is seen jumping into a helicopter from the top of a cliff, are highly dangerous. The wirework involved in some other scenes (mostly when Shroff’s kicks send bad guys flying) are very complex and executed well. Apart from the stunts, the best thing about Baaghi 2 is perhaps the promotional song ‘Get Ready to Fight Again’. The problem is that it is not in the film.
The movie begins with an attack on Neha, played by Disha Patani. It seems like a run-of-the-mill carjacking till you are told it was kidnap—her daughter was in the car. With all the regular options failing her, Neha turns to her ex-boyfriend Captain Ranveer Pratap Singh aka Ronnie; the man had become a special forces commando in the four years since she unceremoniously dumped him. He goes to her aid, because, as we are irritatingly reminded on multiple occasions, he had once promised to always be there for her.
Shroff’s big intro is pretty lame. It establishes his nationalism, as he ties a Kashmiri militant to the front of his jeep as a human shield to foil stone-pelters. Very original! Ronnie’s commanding officer, played by Grandmaster Shifuji Shaurya Bharadwaj (if you don’t know him yet, he is definitely worth a Google search) saves him from the human rights brigade and Ronnie sets off to help the damsel in distress.
During his journey, we are shown the lead pair’s college romance. Shroff and Patani are rumoured to be together. But there was no sign of “the chemistry between them” that was a massive selling point for the film. The love story is juvenile, cringeworthy and almost unbearable. As the film moves along, better actors like Deepak Dobriyal, Manoj Bajpayee and Randeep Hooda are introduced, helping keep the audience from losing interest.
The big twist in the plot happens just before the interval, and is presented well. Though, if you have seen the original Telugu movie on which the film is based—Kshanam (2016)—or its Tamil remake Sathya (2017), it would be difficult to judge the scene’s merit as you already know the big revelation. In the second half, the film changes gears as Ronnie goes on a rampage and there is no more mushy romance (thank god for that).
The big action sequence at the end is a tribute to Rambo, but does not do enough to get you interested in watching Shroff as the Indian version of the iconic American tough guy. Hardcore Rambo fans would find it difficult to adjust to Shroff’s more technique-based fighting style, compared to Sylvester Stallone’s feral rage. The action is sometimes too stylised. At one point in the middle of the carnage, Shroff moves like a ballerina on Prozac.
The performances range from bad to mediocre. Bajpayee and Dobriyal are okay. Prateik Babbar is decent. Hooda’s supporting role is interesting at first, but his wit and presence fade quickly. His brief one-on-one fight with Shroff is a joke. Shifuji Shaurya Bharadwaj, one of India’s foremost martial artists, is wasted. He was better utilised in Baaghi as ‘Guruswamy’. Patani looks pretty, but completely fails to inject any life into her role. She was much better in her short role in M.S. Dhoni… (2016). Shroff is improving, compared to his previous work, and the new look suits him. But his tremendous martial arts capability needs to be backed by good acting. He still has miles to go in that regard.
The music is fine. The rehashed songs, ‘Mundiyaan to Bachke’ and ‘Ek Do Teen’ are colourful. While the former is passable thanks to Shroff’s fluid moves and Patani’s stunning looks, the latter pales in comparison to Madhuri Dixit’s iconic number. Though Jacqueline Fernandez has tried hard and done a fair job in her own way, the choreography is below par. Director Ahmed Khan has slightly improved the Baaghi franchise, but needs to do much more in Baaghi 3.
Movie: Baaghi 2
Director: Ahmed Khan
Cast: Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani
Rating: 2.5/5