Film Review: Ab Tak Chhappan 2

A decade after Nana Patekar played Sadhu Agashe in the Shimit Amin helmed Ab Tak Chhappan, he reprises the role of the encounter specialist cop. Sadhu has been leading a reclusive rural life with his son, having hung up his holster and awaiting trial on a number of cases pending against him.

With crime on the rise in Mumbai and the authorities at a loss, they decide to recall Sadhu to clean up the city and contain runaway crime. A reluctant Sadhu, persuaded by his son, straps on his gun once more and leads a select team to gun down these deviant elements. Ten years later nothing much has changed—informers and goons still hang out at the same hovels and bad guys are still caricatures.

But Sadhu’s mission and idealism are no match for the corrupt system and ambitious politicians.NextMAds

Director Aejaz Gulab’s sequel fails to recreate the drama or thrills of the 2004 original. His characters are often pensive and posturing, staring into space as they speak. In fact, there is a great deal of talking and not enough police work. The body count associated with the mythology surrounding an encounter cop becomes a passing plot point.

This pointless sequel does not even showcase Patekar’s potent talent as he drones on in a bored monotone. Gul Panag appears as a righteous crime reporter in another shallow characterization. Vikram Gokhale as the home minister, Ashutosh Rana as the slighted junior policeman, Raj Zutshi as a comic-book-style bad guy, Govind Namdeo as the corrupt policeman add support in a formulaic script that offers no surprises.

Almost as if trying to compensate for a somnolent script and flat imagery, there are dizzying shots with odd camera angles, reminiscent of Ab Tak Chhappan producer Ram Gopal Varma’s quirks.fourthMAds

This sequel stands as a case for why every part 2 is not always a good idea.

Ab Tak Chhappan 2 released in theatres on Friday.
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