Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 movie review: Ajai Rao-led courtroom drama is a mixed bag

Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 movie story: Niveditha (Archana Jois), a single mother, stands trial in the murder of a youngster accused of abusing her young daughter, two years after the horrific violence he unleashed on the child. Fed up with the legal system’s lack of will to expedite the trial in her daughter’s case, Niveditha turns judge, jury and executioner and shoots the perpetrator in the court premises, making it an open-and-shut case of murder. Rookie lawyer Bharath (Ajai Rao), though, doesn’t think so and is determined to show the court and the world at large just why. Can he convince them, after all?

Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 movie review: When Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2’s trailer came out, the level of detail that was given away, felt, truth be told, excessive. They’d pretty much given away the entire plot and it was understood that with Ajai Rao as hero, he’d have to emerge victorious, leaving only one question – how would he achieve that? Interestingly enough, that curiosity drove audiences to theatres and the film, according to the team, had a decent box office run. Shortly after the 50-day celebration, Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 has dropped on OTT and is now available on Amazon Prime Video to stream.

During the theatrical release, I’d missed a first day first show viewing of Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2, and by the time I got around to watching it, there was considerable buzz around it, with largely positive word-of-mouth. Suffice to say, I went in with a lot of expectation, heightened by having watched the Telugu courtroom drama Court only days prior. Did Ajai’s film live up to those expectations? Well, yes and no.

Also read: Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 director Pavan Bhat: We took some liberties with legal proceedings for cinematic advantage | Exclusive 

Director Pavan Bhat’s choice of a very sensitive subject is the primary positive – it’s not about the abuse of a minor child, but the long-drawn pain the family of the victim endures in the hope of a fair legal process and justice, eventually. Justice delayed is justice denied is what the film focuses on. Time is considered the biggest healer, but for these families, that’s not the case, as they relive the trauma and pain at every court appointment, worsened by the knowledge that an end may not be in sight any time soon.

As an extension, Pavan then makes it about the emotional and psychological impact on the mother of the abused child and her reaction in a moment of psychosis. Until then, it is all well, but then the narrative falters and becomes melodramatic in the establishment of this fact. With the Telugu film Court, it’s the family drama, especially actor Sivaji’s bits that were over-the-top, while the courtroom portions were realistic and spot on. Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 flips this around to allow Ajai moments of heroism in a packed courthouse. Take, for instance, that monologue seen in the trailer; it is moments like these that needed to be toned down in keeping with the dignity of the profession.

The plot of Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 hinges on the mental health of Archana Jois’ Niveditha, the full might of it being unleashed following a very graphic description of the abuse her child underwent. This being her breaking point, the sensitive approach would have been an in-camera proceeding that would have still yielded the same result, but no, the makers chose differently and let the whole world know all the gory details and the child’s name too, with ‘rape’ an oft-heard word in the courtroom sequences.

These are, supposedly, the scenes that worked for most audiences, but didn’t for me and I may seem to be nit-picking, but if Pavan and Ajai had stuck to a more realistic approach Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 would have landed a hell lot better. Having said that, it’s not all downhill for the film. It has its moments and is a decent attempt for a filmmaker’s sophomore project. Archana Jois is a good fit for the role, but one sincerely wishes for the actress to be seen in more cheerful roles. Prakash Belawadi, as the opposing lawyer, sleepwalks through a role that doesn’t ask much of him other than a lot of sneering, while TS Nagabharana chips in with a dignified portrayal as the judge presiding over the case.

Yuddhakaanda Chapter 2 movie verdict: Pavan Bhat and Ajai Rao had a promising subject, but couldn’t quite stick the landing. If you can overlook the melodrama, it makes for a decent watch.