Raid 2 Movie Review
Rating of Raid 2 Movie Reiew: 3.0/5
In Raid 2, director Raj Kumar Gupta reunites with Ajay Devgn to bring back the incorruptible and relentless IRS officer Amay Patnaik—this time, facing a more sinister and deeply entrenched adversary. Following the success of its predecessor, the sequel raises the stakes with a larger canvas, a formidable nemesis, and a thematic focus on the cost of integrity in a system designed to fail it.
Ajay Devgn returns as Patnaik, the emblem of uprightness and grit. Dressed in sharply pressed formals, wielding his signature stoicism and a pair of intimidating sunglasses, Patnaik is less of a man and more of a myth in the making. His presence commands respect and fear in equal measure—especially for those who have long basked in the comfort of unchecked power.
Enter Dadabhai, played with cold precision by Riteish Deshmukh, a politician cloaked in sainthood. A revered public figure and apparent philanthropist, Dadabhai is too squeaky clean for his own good, and Patnaik can smell the rot underneath. What unfolds is a slow-burning game of cat and mouse, where each man tries to outmaneuver the other in a dance of deceit, leverage, and legal traps.
Riteish Deshmukh’s performance is subtle yet sinister. He plays Dadabhai with the calm menace of a man who believes he’s untouchable—until Patnaik’s dogged pursuit begins to rattle his well-built fortress. Deshmukh doesn’t overplay his hand, making Dadabhai’s composed evil all the more unsettling.
While the original Raid thrived on its simplicity and tight storytelling, Raid 2 Movie feels grander but also heavier. Set in the late 1980s, it mirrors its prequel’s formula a bit too faithfully. The pacing, especially in the first half, is sluggish, bogged down by exposition and distracting musical numbers. It is only in the second half that the narrative tightens and the thrill returns. A recurring visual motif—fleets of Ambassador cars heading out for yet another explosive raid—adds a nostalgic touch but also hints at repetition.
Ajay Devgn is in top form. His portrayal of the upright officer carries the gravitas and charisma of an old-school Bollywood hero, minus the melodrama. His comic timing, evident in flashes, deserved more screen time. The film also delivers occasional sharp one-liners, jabbing at sycophancy and systemic rot with satirical finesse.
The supporting cast brings additional color. Vaani Kapoor steps in as Malini, Patnaik’s wife, replacing Ileana D’Cruz. While she gets little to do, her presence offers emotional grounding. Amit Sial is a standout as the comically corrupt Lallan Sudheer Singh, nicknamed “Charan Chumbak”—a character that adds much-needed levity. Supriya Pathak as Dadabhai’s steely mother is a strong addition, but Saurabh Shukla’s reduced role is a sore miss. His chemistry with Devgn was a highlight in the first film, and Raid 2 feels slightly less spirited in his absence.
Ultimately, Raid 2 Movie remains faithful to its theme of righteous rebellion against the corrupt elite, but it leans a little too heavily into reverence for its own legacy. It’s a film that wants to be both a whistleblower’s fantasy and a heroic saga—and while it doesn’t quite strike the perfect balance, it delivers a gripping enough face-off to keep you engaged.
