Maa Oori Polimera 2 review: A creepy yet a nailbiting sequel with an overdose of twists, flashbacks

3.5/5

Story:

A married auto driver Komaraiah, after eloping with Kavitha, settles down in Kerala. Back in his village Jastipalli, his friends and family have no clue of his wherabouts. Komaraiah's brother Jangaiah, a constable, is nowhere to be found in the village either. A series of mysterious deaths around an abandoned temple creates tension among the locals. Ravindra Naik, a newly appointed cop, is out to find answers.

Review:

Dr Anil Vishwanath, who made the spine-chilling Maa Oori Polimera, returns with its sequel, dangerously toeing around the thin line between telling a story about superstitions, black magic and not glorifying them. Bolstered by the confidence of the predecessor's popularity, the sequel is wilder, grander and is on a mission to keep throwing the viewer off guard with its twists, flashbacks. Yet, there's enough meat in the thriller to ensure a compelling big screen experience.

The makers are clearly aware that a majority of their target audience may not be aware of its prequel's existence. In the initial half an hour, there's enough time to soak in the world of black magic, rigid religious beliefs, infidelity, an abandoned temple and its hidden treasures. Given its expansive world, there's a lot of backstories that a first-time viewer may find it hard to process. The screenplay is intentionally mysterious to create more impact with the explosive twists in the latter half.

Also read: HanuMan to Gangs Of Godavari, Polimera 2 and more: Telugu films celebrate victory of good over evil

The film starts like an investigative thriller and keeps alternating between Komaraiah's past and his wife Laxmi's present. In the subplot revolving around the cursed temple and its riches, there's enough attention to detail. What connects Komaraiah to his belief in black magic and the temple's legacy? The director is guarded with the characterisation and times his revelations masterfully, ensuring that the narrative never loses its steam.

To ensure he stays true to the world of the film and sustains its tension, the director goes slightly overboard in depicting nuances of black magic. With the dense material, complex characters and their flashbacks, the viewer is left confused at times and loses track of the narrative. The film is restlessly packed with events - most of them come with a purpose and enrich the viewing experience, but you wish the storytelling relied less on its shock value and offered more breathing space.

The fascinating aspect of Maa Oori Polimera 2 is the absence of any do-gooder or larger-than-life characters. You are not burdened to root for the protagonist and get to witness a story from multiple tangents, a rarity in Telugu cinema. Unlike its prequel, the canvas is bigger and the technical finesse contributes to its appeal. Polimera 2, on the contrary, lacks the groundedness and the simplicity of the first part.

Barring the mumbo-jumbo around the superstitions, the director is aware and in control of his craft. Unlike Virupaksha, that nearly justified pre-medieval beliefs and dogmas, you sense a genuine effort to confront problematic rituals, practices. For every Komaraiah, there's a Balija and a Laxmi who confront his ideas. The beautifully staged pre-climax sequence explains the storyteller's intent. Raising the stakes, there's a promise for a third instalment too.

Also read: Maa Oori Polimera review: A gripping rural thriller with a handful of delicious twists 

If the first part provided each of its actors adequate scope to shine, the sequel is an out-and-out Satyam Rajesh show. He's not new to grey roles but the absolute conviction and the authority with which he pulls off Komaraiah showcases a newer, untapped dimension to the actor. Kamakshi Bhaskarla surrenders to the part of a progressive rural wife and registers a terrific impact with her screen presence despite the minimal screen time.

The strong lineup comprising Getup Srinu, Rakendu Mouli, Chitram Seenu, Ravi Varma, Janardhan drive the story forward commendably. The runtime, at just over 2 hours, is perfect for the genre and the world of the film. A bulk of Maa Oori Polimera 2 may revolve around archaic beliefs but Anil Vishwanath's story is important because of how he choses to condemn them in a cinematically convincing manner.

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Verdict:

Maa Oori Polimera 2 has all the ingredients to entice a thriller-junkie with a restless, twist-a-minute screenplay (with an overdose of flashbacks) backed by commendable performances. Watch out for Satyam Rajesh, Kamakshi Bhaskarla's work. If the first part proved Anil Vishwanath's worth as a writer, the sequel asserts his arrival as a capable filmmaker too.