Kaagaz 2 Review: Satish Kaushik, Anupam Kher deliver class act in this average drama

Late actor Satish Kaushik's swansong Kaagaz 2 is a poignant story of a common man's years-long struggle with power and judiciary.

After the first part was released in 2021, actor has returned to the screen with a successor that questionsthe Indian system and judiciary.

Not compared to the first part of the movie, Kaagaz 2 is equal parts emotional and equal parts distressing. To know what goes well and what does not, scroll and read the review.

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What's the plot?

The two-hour-long drama starts at a military academy, where a young man Uday (Darshan Kumaar) is undergoing training.

He is living a life of distress, constantly regretting and questioning the reason for his father Rajnarayan Singh's(Anupam Kher) disappearance from his and his mother's life years ago. With no interest in serving the nation in the military uniform, Uday ultimately decides to leave the army and return home.

After spending some time with his mother, Uday decides to meet his estranged father, who is a reputed advocate currently fighting the case of Mr Rastogi (Satish Kaushik). For context, Mr Rastogi is fighting a case after losing his daughter. His daughter had met with an accident, and he could not attend to her as he was stuck in traffic due to a political rally.

The story has been told through the eyes of Uday, who has been living a life that is miles away from the struggles of the common man. Despite this, he is disheartened by the injustices that exist in the world, particularly in the life of Mr Rastogi. The story followsUday, who helps Mr Rastogi getjustice.

What works?

This story depicts the struggles of a middle-class society, where people face different challenges, whether it be fighting for their freedom or going against the system.

This genre has always been relatable to people. The movie indirectly narrates the story of hundreds of people who suffer daily to government apathy.

At the end, the poignant theme of the movie will surely make you think hard. The dialogues in the movie arewell-written and delivered.

What doesn't work?

While the script may seem impactful on paper, ultimately it is the execution that really matters.

At times, it feels like the creators lacked a clear direction or story to tell.

The first 30 minutes of the movie will leave you wondering about the plot; is it about a boy with a troubled childhood who reunites with his father, or is it about a man learning about the struggles of the common man?

Just when you think it's a court drama, the story takes a complete 180-degree turn and we see the father and son back in the spotlight.

The narrative is poorly written and leaves you questioning what the creators were trying to convey. The writing is incoherent and so many unnecessary additions have kind of stretched the plot.

More than Anupam Kher and Darshan Kumaar's characters, I wish they had focused on telling the story of Satish Kaushik and his family.

Like the first part, the movie raises questions about how things are executed and followed on Kaagaz (papers) only, instead of real life. It is well-intended and the film delves into an important theme and message butit falls short in execution.

In short,Kaagaz 2 could have been much better than this.

Cast performance

The plot of the movie is exaggerated, but the fantastic cast of the movie is what keeps you glued to it.

Late actor Satish Kaushik has left a legacy that will be cherished forever, and this movie is an addition to his fantastic body of work.

And, his serious and emotional act in this drama deserves all the applause. Veteran actor Anupam Kher has also done an impressive job.

Talking about Darshan's work, his character has received more screen time than deserved.

As for his acting, he has delivered a good performance.

Final verdict

The powerhouse of this drab drama is its actors who make you sympathise with the story with their best work. There is no over-dramatisation in the plot, enhancing the realism of the plot.