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Mardaani 2 Review: Rani Mukerji provides an outlet for collective anger in rape drama 'Mardaani 2'

By Lekha Menon on December 13, 2019

The final spritzer

Film: Mardaani 2

Cast: Rani Mukerji, Vishal Jethwa

Director: Gopi Puthran

Rating: 4 Moons

Set in the sleepy town of Kota, Rajasthan, Mardaani 2, directed by Gopi Puthran, the sequel to the 2014 hit Mardaani, brings back Rani Mukerji as the fierce Shivani Shivaji Roy, the no-nonsense cop who takes on psychotic criminals. While it was a child trafficker in the first part, in this one, she's dealing with a vicious rapist-killer.

Now, Rani is an accomplished actress and she is sparkling as the tough SP who has to not just battle a vile murderer on the loose but also fight patriarchal attitudes of her colleagues. Rani brings just the right amount of angst without being melodramatic and it's a treat to watch her on screen after 2018's Hichki. 

However, the same cannot be said about the film that begins nicely but soon becomes a revenge drama that lets the audience feel a collective sense of catharsis seeing a rapist get his just desserts. Coming as it does on the heels of the Priyanka Reddy case and a string of other crimes reported recently, Mardaani 2 is undoubtedly, very timely. 

Mardaani 2 Review: Rani Mukerji provides an outlet for collective anger in rape drama 'Mardaani 2'

RECOMMENDED READ: As the nation burns with shame and fury over abuse of women, Rani Mukerji delivers a 'Mardaani' poem

The movie begins with the young villain (played menacingly by Vishal Jethwa) strangely breaking the fourth wall, revealing his intentions and why he rapes unsuspecting women. His first crime is reminiscent of the rape scene in Mom (top angle shot of car moving in the dark) though it's not as chilling. Soon some other murders set the tone for a cat and mouse chase between the killer and SP Shivani Roy that entails contract killings, political interference, subterfuge and some smart investigating skills. 

Mardaani 2 is interesting though some it lacks in nuance or layers. At times, the horror of rape and medieval mindsets take a back seat as the director tries to make it a procedural with the focus on the techniques employed by Shivani to nab him. 

Mardaani 2 Review: Rani Mukerji provides an outlet for collective anger in rape drama 'Mardaani 2'

Unlike Pink which never lost its underlying central theme of consent despite being a courtroom drama, here the goalposts shifts from a hard hitting crime drama to a hard-hitting statement of empowerment. But perhaps that's a good thing as Shivani is shown to actually making efforts to crack the case and prove the crime and not just bump off the alleged criminal. The climax gives into the popular sentiment of violently punishing rapists. 

Not that it takes away from the merits of the film which hinges entirely on Rani's bravura performance. Her monologue in a TV studio is powerful and is designed to get those whistles. She gets enough moments to shine through one wishes they didn't have those clichéd slow-mo shots of her walking, sporting aviators. Also, absent are strong supporting characters. 

Mardaani 2 Review: Rani Mukerji provides an outlet for collective anger in rape drama 'Mardaani 2'

For a striking protagonist, an equally interesting antagonist is required and Jethwa comes off as nearly good. His menace lies in his ordinariness though he has been given every bad quality you can think of. But as mentioned above, his conversations with the audience does not work at all, especially since he stops doing that after an hour or so. Also, his back story (probably the director wanted to expose the deepset misogyny and patriarchy among rapists) comes across as superficial and hurried. 

Nevertheless, Mardaani 2 is an important statement on horrific violence against women and in an era where sexual assaults have become increasingly commonplace, a fictional Shivani Shivaji Roy gives an outlet for our collective anger. Go watch it.

Mardaani 2 gets 4 Moons.

(Source: Masala) 

Review of Bollywood film Mardaani 2

The film may seem contrived with pop-feminism, there’s enough suspense to keep us engaged

21:17 December 12, 2019

Mukerji plays Superintendent of Police Shivani Shivaji Roy in 'Mardaani 2'Image Credit: Yash Raj Films

Manjusha Radhakrishnan Chief Reporter

Film: Mardaani 2
Director: Gopi Puthran
Cast: Rani Mukerji and Vishal Jethwa
Stars: 3 out of 5

The plot:

A procedural thriller about a savage juvenile rapist — whose impunity in court is obvious due to him being underage — can touch a raw nerve.

Director Gopi Puthran’s cop drama Mardaani 2, which marks the return of actor Rani Mukerji as a feisty cop Shivani Shivaji Roy, pulls at that thread effectively. There’s a serial killer, who loves to show off his kills and is narcissistic to the core, on the loose in Kota in Rajasthan and it is up to Roy to hunt him down before he unleashes more terror in that student capital. Young spunky women are his targets and bestiality is his modus operandi.

What we liked about it:

The acting is collectively splendid. Mukerji as a tough police woman is a treat to watch. But it’s the cold-blooded villain that held more intrigue. TV actor Vishal Jethwa is lethal as the serial rapist with a violent, troubled past. Watching him spar and challenge the cops at every turn makes it an engaging watch. It’s clinical and procedural for most parts and there are no songs to fracture the disturbing narrative. The treatment is grave and you know that Shivani Roy will obliterate this underage sexual offender in no time, but it’s wicked to see her indulge in a cat-and-mouse game.

Mukerji is a firebrand on the big screen and she never lets us forget it. She’s confident, cocky and convincing in her turn as Shivani Roy.

What we did not like:

How does an underage criminal be so crafty that he can penetrate a police station and go unnoticed? How can he get away with multiple murders right under the nose of a school of good cops? These are questions that you may not find answers to in Mardaani 2. If Shivani Roy is a super cop, who won’t rest until she snuffs out the villains, her detractors are super villains here. Jethwa as the cold-blooded serial killer is given a lot of agency in this film.

There’s also a propensity by the director to go down the women empowerment route. Scenes of Mukerji launching a monologue on women’s rights can seem a bore, especially when there’s a serial killer preying on a young girl out there. Although there are no songs, there’s a tendency to glorify every move of Mukerji. She isn’t harried or overwhelmed, despite the serial killer dominating the game from the word go.

The verdict:

While Mardaani, the original that introduced us to Shivani Roya’s quest to flush out a child trafficking kingpin, was real, searing and raw. While Mardaani 2 may seem contrived with Roy drumming up pop-feminism at every turn, there’s enough suspense to keep us engaged. If a movie is as good as its villain, the world should sit up and take notice of Jethwa. His unhindered killings may raise a brow, but he chills our spine with his unhinged, barbaric act. Mardaani 2 is suitably sobering, but you cannot take your eyes away from it.

Mardaani 2 Movie Review: Rani is the force behind this gritty drama

Ronak Kotecha, TNN, Dec 12, 2019, 11.57 PM IST

Critic's Rating: 3.5

STORY: In this sequel to the 2014 original, top cop Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukerji) is up against a ruthless young serial killer, who also rapes young women before savagely murdering them. Will Shivani be able to nab him before he strikes again?

REVIEW: In the very first scene, writer-director Gopi Puthran sets the tone of his film as a brutally chilling saga of a psycho killer on the loose. Throughout the film, the body count continues to mount in Rajasthan’s education hub Kota as the remorseless young killer Sunny (Vishal Jethwa) challenges Shivani to stop him if she can.


Rani Mukerji once again steals the show with her measured and restrained act. She doesn’t go over-the-top with theatrics but captures the nuances required to play a gritty top cop, dealing with heinous crimes, rape victims and a violent murderer. She does a fine balancing act between being powerful and vulnerable at the same time.

The film’s antagonist Vishal Jethwa is a revelation and holds his own confidently against a powerhouse performer like Rani. He looks innocent, but delivers quite a chilling performance for a debutant. He gets the rustic Rajasthani accent right, just enough to add more menace.


The film’s pace is relentless and adds to the thrill even as we see the villain constantly (and quite unbelievably) outsmarting the cops. The first and the second half are equally engaging, with no songs to interrupt the proceedings. Thankfully, the background score is subtle too.

The film’s writing repeatedly hammers the point of gender inequality and bias. The director gives us glimpses into Sunny’s troubled past, but also gives his character way too many smarts, making some of it seem unrealistic. The film also tends to stereotype its male characters, portraying almost all of them as misogynistic and insensitive towards the plight of women.

However, it’s the conviction in the performances and a gripping narrative that ensure there’s never a dull moment in Mardaani 2. Yes, it is a brutal story that’s sometimes hard to stomach, but it needs to be told. And none better than Rani in a khakee to lead the show.

In-depth Analysis

Our overall critic’s rating is not an average of the sub scores below.

Direction:
3.5/5

Dialogues:
3.0/5

Screenplay:
3.0/5

Visual appeal:
3.0/5

Good Luck to the team.👍🏻

Will watch it tomorrow. 

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'Mardaani 2' review: Rani Mukerji packs a punch

Ambica Sachin

Last updated on December 12, 2019 at 8.39 pm

Did you know that over 2,000 rapes are committed every year by boys under the age of 18 in India? And those are just the registered cases. This hard hitting statistic from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is the shocking leitmotif in Rani Mukerji's 'Mardaani 2'.

Reprising her role as the gritty, no-nonsense cop Shivani Shivaji Roy from 2014's 'Mardaani', the Gopi Puthran directed sequel showcases Rani as a woman on a mission. As the superintendent of police stationed in Kota, Rajasthan, when faced with a serial killer/psychopath on the loose, Shivani is a blinkers-on officer who will not rest until the culprit is brought to justice.

There is much to cheer in this post #MeToo era when a woman is shown wielding power and seeking retribution for crimes against the perceived 'weaker sex'. The last action sequence which shows Shivani repeatedly beating up the rapist with his own belt is extremely unnerving, even as one part of you wants to cheer her on. The unfettered violence can be pretty in-your-face.

Seen in the current context of the violence against women in society in general and India in particular, a movie like 'Mardaani 2' could not have come at a better time. While it can seem to glorify violence in some ways, perhaps the need of the hour is for a hard hitting movie like this which not only raises awareness of issues like safety of women and the gender inequality that exists in society, but inspires women to look within to channel their own courageous spirit.

With no frills attached, not even a token song sequence, 'Mardaani 2' might come across as dark, gory and excessively violent. But when you are dealing with a subject matter like brutal sexual violence against women, perhaps this is the only way to shock viewers into awareness.

Television actor Vishal Jethwa is chilling as the psychopath Sunny who develops an unhealthy obsession with Shivani. To the credit of the makers, all the male characters have been given enough gravitas to make them stand out. But Shivani is undoubtedly the leader of the pack.

'Mardaani 2' is a must watch for those who feel helpless upon reading reports of crime against women. It might be a bit over the top at times, but the narrative technique works well for this particular genre.

With a run time of just under 2 hours, 'Mardaani 2' will keep you hooked from the first scene till the last. We'd highly recommend you watch it - whether you are a feminist or not.

Movie: Mardaani 2
Director: Gopi Puthran
Cast: Rani Mukerji, Vishal Jethwa
Rating: 4

Mardaani 2 Movie Review: Rani Mukerji's Powerful Performance Stands Out In this Crime ThrillerMardaani 2 Movie Review: The sequel to Mardaani makes a strong statement on crimes against women

BY LEKHA MENON

12 Dec 2019

Rani Mukerji in Mardaani 2

Set in the sleepy town of Kota, Rajasthan, Mardaani 2, directed by Gopi Puthran, the sequel to the 2014 hit Mardaani, brings back Rani Mukerji as the fierce Shivani Shivaji Roy, the no-nonsense cop who takes on psychotic criminals. While it was a child trafficker in the first part, in this one, she's dealing with a vicious rapist-killer. Now, Rani is an accomplished actress and she is sparkling as the tough SP who has to not just battle a vile murderer on the loose but also fight patriarchal attitudes of her colleagues. Rani brings just the right amount of angst without being melodramatic and it's a treat to watch her on-screen after 2018's Hichki.

However, the same cannot be said about the film that begins nicely but soon becomes a revenge drama that lets the audience feel a collective sense of catharsis seeing a rapist get his just desserts. Coming as it does on the heels of the Priyanka Reddy case and a string of other crimes reported recently, Mardaani 2 is undoubtedly, very timely. The movie begins with the young villain (played menacingly by Vishal Jethwa) strangely breaking the fourth wall, revealing his intentions and why he rapes unsuspecting women. His first crime is reminiscent of the rape scene in Mom (top angle shot of car moving in the dark) though it's not as chilling. Soon some other murders set the tone for a cat and mouse chase between the killer and SP Shivani Roy that entails contract killings, political interference, subterfuge and some smart investigating skills.

Rani Mukerji in Mardaani 2

Mardaani 2 is interesting though some it lacks in nuance or layers. At times, the horror of rape and a medieval mindsets take a back seat as the director tries to make it a procedural with the focus on the techniques employed by Shivani to nab him. Unlike Pink which never lost its underlying central theme of consent despite being a courtroom drama, here the goalposts shifts from a hard-hitting crime drama to a hard-hitting statement of empowerment. But perhaps that's a good thing as Shivani is shown to actually making efforts to crack the case and prove the crime and not just bump off the alleged criminal. The climax gives into the popular sentiment of violently punishing rapists.

Not that it takes away from the merits of the film which hinges entirely on Rani's bravura performance. Her monologue in a TV studio is powerful and is designed to get those whistles. She gets enough moments to shine through, though one wishes they didn't have those clichéd slow-mo shots of her walking, sporting aviators. Also, absent are strong supporting characters. For a striking protagonist, an equally interesting antagonist is required and Jethwa comes off as nearly good.

Rani Mukerji in Mardaani 2

His menace lies in his ordinariness though he has been given every bad quality you can think of. But as mentioned above, his conversations with the audience does not work at all, especially since he stops doing that after an hour or so. Also, his back story (probably the director wanted to expose the deep-set misogyny and patriarchy among rapists) comes across as superficial and hurried. Nevertheless, Mardaani 2 is an important statement on horrific violence against women and in an era where sexual assaults have become increasingly commonplace, a fictional Shivani Shivaji Roy gives an outlet for our collective anger. Go watch it.

All I care about is Rani's performance which I know she has given perfectly and also about the message which Gopi Putheran as the Director has given. Let's see how the story and the cinematic experience unfolds. 🤗😎 All The Very Best Rani and Team for Mardaani2.

I am looking forward to this

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