Khuda Haafiz Chapter 2 - Agni Pariksha review: Vidyut Jammwal goes beyond action, nails almost every other emotion

3.5/5

Story:

Nargis (Shivaleeka Oberoi) is still traumatized by what happened to her. Sameer (Vidyut Jammwal) does everything in his power to bring her back to normal. Will he ever succeed?

Review:

Khuda Haafiz Chapter 2 is all about the 'Agni Pariksha.' Sameer (Vidyut Jammwal) and Nargis (Shivaleeka Oberoi) know that they need to move on in life but are stuck. In this pretty real and relatable story, you get to see how the lovely couple is forced to move on, despite all they face in life.

Khuda Haafiz 2 continues with Nargis's nightmare. Vidyut nails it as the loving husband Sameer from the first frame.

Shivaleeka brings every emotion alive and so does Vidyut. It is disappointing to see her on low self-confidence but that is given, considering the situation she has been put in, thanks to the society.

The minute baby Nandini enters their life, things get too real. Vidyut proves that he knows comedy too, soon after meeting her.

Rukhsana is quite the delight to watch in this film. Even though she appears in a cameo, it is beautiful.

Khuda Haafiz excels in being realer than you would think. The movie has almost no scene added for commercial purpose, which is what makes the film beautiful. Of course, director Faruk Kabir has taken the liberty to change the surrounding according to the scene but that is all there is to it.

Nargis shows the true strength of a mother - the natural instinct to protect who you think is your own daughter, even when you are hurting. The scene showing that is pretty beautiful in all ways. It is even shot well. Seeing Shivaleeka in action for the first time in a long time is well-worth the wait.

Even though the music in the film tends to get overdramatic, it works well with the scenes nonetheless. Sometimes, in fact, it adds depth to the scene. This happens in the case of showing Sheeba as the antagonist.

Like you would have already guessed, the songs make up for the scenes pretty well. This is a pretty big deal because otherwise, usually, songs serve as a distraction from the story.

The first half of Khuda Haafiz 2 is all about Shivaleeka over Vidyut. From cute to daring, she nails every emotion with finesse. Vidyut is not hidden but Shivaleeka shines in the first half, while he steals the show in the second half of the movie.

The way every emotion and scene develops in the film is surreal. The movie works in a flow that doesn't break. This makes Khuda Haafiz 2 a good watch.

The movie also tackles exactly how government servants work - tackling procedure over somebody's life. How a common man suffers because of that, is shown perfectly through the film.

Sheeba Chaddha's entry in the film is almost like Supriya Pathak's in Ram Leela, even scarier thanks to the background music in Khuda Haafiz 2. She is evil and that character is developed well too. This character is real, for that is exactly how the villains in real life behave.

Another big twist is here in this film. Every moment thereafter will make you uneasy. There is the constant thrill about what will happen next after the big revelation that is really uncomfortable to watch.

Dibyendu Bhattacharya's entry as Asif completely defines what his role is going to offer ahead. The actor kills it with his looks itself.

If there was one missing thing, it was the film being visually appealing. Even that is covered just a few minutes before the interval.

Vidyut has improved a lot as an actor and this film proves that. While there are a few scenes where you wonder if his expressions match the scene, he is convincing for the most bit.

The second half of Khuda Haafiz 2 sees Vidyut's wrath and promises to be action-filled, which it is. In fact, there is so much action that it calls for trouble.

The fight could and does get dirty, literally. If our protagonist is a hero in all the sense, the antagonists are deadly too. One is no less than an animal, who bites the skin off people. Yeah, it goes that rough and real.

The frustration that develops seeing Sameer and Nargis' condition in the film is so real that you will tend to lose control too. The sad situation that India sees because of loose ends in the system, is very much alive and the film brings that forth.

The only thing that can pull you down is the length of the film. A new location (Egypt) is introduced and you tend to wonder when will the movie end because after the fast pace, the movie slows down again, developing scenes all over again.

Like the last time (Khuda Haafiz 1), the car chase scene is there is this installment too and it is just as awesome. While being visually appealing, the action takes the cake in Khuda Haafiz 2.

The makers have hinted at a third installment of the film in an expected yet beautiful way. The family also sees a 360 degree turn by the end of the film, which you probably wouldn't have imagined at the beginning.

Verdict:

If you are a fan of Vidyut Jammwal, this one is a must watch. He has trained for Khuda Haafiz 2 and you get to see his efforts come alive. Not only has he improved in stunts but also as an actor.

The story in this movie could change pace but rarely ever is the flow broken. From giving Shivaleeka Oberoi her space to dealing with every real issue existing in India today, Agni Pariksha is one movie that you would not want to miss out on. It is a commercial entertainer with all real elements that make you uncomfortable but need to be spoken about.