Akhanda 2 Review: Balakrishna elevates a predictable mass entertainer that caters only to fans

Akhanda 2 Story

At the end of Part 1, Akhanda (Balakrishna), an Aghora, saves his family and goes back into exile. In the second part, the country is in danger as external forces from Tibet plan a massive attack and release a virus into the water during the holy Kumbh Mela. People start dying, and a scientist (Harshali Malhotra) from Akhanda's family has the antidote. The terrorists go after her, and how Akhanda returns from exile and saves his family once again forms the basic story of the film.

Akhanda 2 Review

Akhanda 2 brings back the blockbuster combo of Boyapati Sreenu and Balakrishna for the fourth time. This time, things are even bigger as the budgets are higher, the star cast is more popular, and the enemy is international. 

Story-wise, there is nothing new on offer, and it is madness mixed with solid action blocks. The best part, however, is that Balakrishna plays his age and does not go overboard in terms of romance or performance.

The film strongly aims to propagate Sanatana Dharma, and this is in full flow, especially in the second half. Balakrishna schools the villains as if there is no tomorrow, and this preachiness becomes loud and over the top for no reason. This was missing from part 1, but for no reason, Boyapti tries to impress the pan-India audience and a select few that he adds to much of it.

There is no denying the fact that Balakrishna’s films, especially those with Boyapati Sreenu, have no logic and are filled with mass action. The same happens in Akhanda 2, as the action episodes are designed to cater to the mass audience and Balayya fans.

Even when Balakrishna tries to stop a helicopter by holding its wings, the scene looks real because it is executed with a lot of aplomb. The first half of Akhanda 2 is designed quite well, and the interval episode and the Kumbh Mela scenes are handled effectively. But the real drawback of the film is its missing emotional core.

Balakrishna is too powerful as the hero, making the villains look dull in front of him. The Tibetan backdrop, Kabir Singh, and other antagonists do not pose much of a threat. Aadi Pinisetty plays the main villain, but his character is designed weakly. He comes and goes without purpose, and his track adds very little to the film.

Still, it is Balakrishna who storms the screen and dominates the proceedings with his powerful presence. His getup, dialogue, and overall design are top-notch, and his fans will surely enjoy every moment. Boyapati Sreenu uses Balakrishna’s star power to the fullest and showcases him like never before.

Samyuktha Menon gets a brief role and performs well. Harshali Malhotra is a misfit and fails to evoke strong emotions. A proper Telugu actress would have made more sense, as she struggles with the dialogue and cannot bring out the required pain in her character.

Balakrishna plays a dual role, and the twin who plays the MLA does not stand out much. Aadi Pinisetty is good, but his loud character makes you ignore his acting potential. The rest of the cast is weak and fails to add depth. The production values are top-notch, and every penny spent is visible on screen.

The camerawork, especially during the Kumbh Mela scenes, is excellent. Balakrishna’s films are known for powerful dialogues, but here, things become preachy and over the top. The fight sequences are superb, though a few are cringeworthy. The climax sequence is handled well, and the moments where Balakrishna does the Shva Tandavam and is possessed by lord Hanuman are handled superbly.

Akhanda 2 is clearly made to take Balakrishna’s craze to the next level and heavily propagate Sanatana Dharma, at times a bit too much. From a fan’s angle, the film gives all the expected highs in true Boyapati style, but one must ignore the rest.

Verdict:

On the whole, Akhanda 2 is high on Balakrishna’s star power and Boyapati Sreenu’s mad, logic-defying action world. Fans and masses will surely have a blast, but for the regular audience, the film ends up as a routine action drama that defies logic.

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