After a spectacular music launch in Chennai, Kamal Haasan arrived in Mumbai for the Hindi version launch of his film ‘Indian 2’, titled ‘Hindustani 2’. Present at the event were Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, S. Shankar, and Atlee, the director of the film ‘Jawan’. Despite actor Piyush Mishra being present, he was not invited to the stage. During the event, he asked Kamal Haasan about how he adapted ‘The Godfather’ so well in his film ‘Thevar Magan’. Siddharth tried hard to emphasize that this film is in Hindi and even spoke in Hindi. However, Kamal Haasan only mentioned that he knew no Hindi when he entered the Hindi cinema with the film ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’ and rarely spoke in Hindi afterward.
Indian Cinema at a Standstill with Indian 2
Hindi cinema audiences are known for their vast knowledge of films. They love their native language cinema, have embraced Telugu cinema, and have developed a new love for Malayalam cinema. Kannada cinema has impressed them with its dynamism, thanks to Yash. Hollywood is a daily diet for these audiences. However, they struggle with Tamil cinema. Despite understanding and discussing it, they haven’t been captivated by the likes of Vijay Sethupathi, Vijay, and Kamal Haasan.
Kamal Haasan’s Branding Issues
Kamal Haasan’s films like ‘Mumbai Express’, ‘Dasavatharam’, and ‘Vishwaroopam’ have tarnished his brand in Hindi-speaking regions. The success of his last film ‘Vikram’ accelerated the making of ‘Indian 2’. Director Shankar, or S. Shankar, has lost his charm since ‘2.0’. Atlee’s presence on the Hindi cinema stage indicates Shankar’s need for support. ‘Indian 2’ bears the influence of Atlee’s ‘Jawan’, although it’s the opposite. During the Mumbai event, Atlee admitted that Shankar shared the story of ‘Indian 2’ with him when he was Shankar’s assistant. It’s unclear if Kamal Haasan watched ‘Jawan’, as it might have deterred him and Shankar from proceeding with ‘Indian 2’.
Nostalgic Indian Song
Those in their 50s might remember dancing to the song ‘Telephone Dhun Mein Hansi Wali, Melbourne Machli Machalne Wali’. It was a golden era for A. R. Rahman. Manisha Koirala was as beautiful as ever, and people adored Kamal Haasan. This song is a must-watch, especially if you’ve seen ‘Indian 2’. It’s been three decades since the original film, and neither the country nor the trend in Indian cinema has changed. In ‘Indian’, Senapati killed many corrupt individuals, and audiences enjoyed the unique war skills of Indian warriors. But the sequel requires a lot of patience to sit through.
Struggles of Indian 2
It’s rare for viewers to find only a few things to praise in a film. In ‘Indian 2’, there are a few action scenes, Gulshan Grover’s Vijay Mallya-like getup, Siddharth’s social media influencer avatar, and occasional glimpses of Rakul Preet Singh. The story is tedious, the direction lacks spirit, and the screenplay is dizzyingly circular. The makeup, especially Kamal Haasan’s prosthetic makeup, is deplorable. Anirudh Shankar’s music is the film’s weakest link.
