Vadh 2 movie review: Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta's performance lift an ordinary film

In 2022, director Jaspal Singh Sandhu told the gripping story of Vadh, starring two actors of exceptional calibre, Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta. Three years down the line, Sandhu is back with the same leads, but with a new story of morality.

With grey tones, tension, and credible actors, Vadh 2 is like many other familiar mystery thrillers that you have watched. You know how the story will pan out eventually. Despite all the guesses you make, the movie manages to hold your attention, and that too with the right amount of eagerness. And that’s where a good job is done by the writer, who holds the base of the ordinary movie, and then the actors, who, with their mere expressions, convince the viewers.

Vadh 2: What is it about?

Set in a prison in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, the movie once again revolves around Shambhunath Mishra (Sanjay Mishra) and Manju (Neena Gupta), the two lovers who long for each other. Shambhunath is a prison guard who is again under heavy debt over the education of his son. Apart from his work in the prison, he also steals vegetables and sells them outside for some extra income to cover the loan.

Stills of Vadh 2 Photograph: (X)

Then there is Manju, who is one of the respected prisoners, locked up for life imprisonment for murdering a young couple. But her jail term is about to get over, and she is set to step outside. Amid all this, there is a young girl, Naina, who has been imprisoned on wrong allegations. As she is about to get bail, it is stopped by another strong prisoner, Keshav, who is a goon and the brother of a politician. He has wrong intentions towards Naina.

Keshav picks a bone with jail superintendent Prakash (Kumud Mishra), and he ends up getting beaten badly on a foggy night. However, the next morning, he goes missing. Where has Keshav gone? Has he run away? To find him, a young inspector, Inspector Ateet Singh, is sent to investigate the matter. As he enters the prison and solves the mystery of Keshav’s missing case, more truth comes to light. How will he solve the mystery? Where has Keshav gone, and what does Shambhunath and Manju have to do with it? This all makes up the rest of the story with a shocking twist in the finale.

Vadh 2: Hits and misses

Director Sandhu has once again told a story that aptly describes the word “Vadh”, which, as per Hindu mythology, refers to killing a person or punishing someone who has committed a grave crime, a shot of righteous destruction meant to cleanse society. Like the previous film, this movie also describes this ideology well, as it defends the crime that has been committed as an act of self-defence.

From the start, the film may not excite you, but it also does not let you lose interest. With compelling storytelling, the characters, investigation, and all elements together impress.

At times, the movie becomes a little slow, but it quickly gets back on track.

But all this doesn’t mean that the movie is out-and-out outstanding; the strongest pillar of this movie is its performances, which makes you ignore several of the other flaws. Several scenes in the movie feel forced and unnecessary.

In this film, much attention is given to Inspector Ateet, played by actor Amit Singh, and his investigation of Sanjay Mishra's character. Neena Gupta, I felt, had a limited screen time. But this trio together hold the film together with their performances.

This engrossing mystery thriller arrives a week after Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3. While both films are very different in their setting and characters, they fall under the same umbrella of crime thriller. While Madaani comes with a lot of action and drama, this film wins with the silence.

Vadh 2, throughout, gives clues about what is coming up, but it still keeps the audience hooked through its intense investigation, emotions, and strong moral stance. With limited characters, the story unfolds layer by layer, which keeps the tension alive. This film is not extraordinary or shocking, but it is thoughtful and engaging, especially for viewers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries.