Film: Vadh 2
Cast: Sanjay Mishra, Amitt K Singh, Neena Gupta
Directed by: Jaspal Singh Sandhu
Duration: 2 hours 11 minutes
Rating: * *
Vadh (2022) came without much fanfare, yet the narrative of a couple battling their circumstances gradually gained recognition as a thriller. Vadh 2 serves as a spiritual sequel to the original film, featuring the same characters, although the storyline is entirely independent of its predecessor. With a runtime of just over two hours, the film’s length is reasonable; but even that becomes an uphill task because of the bland screenplay that relies heavily on the final ‘twist’. Here’s a film that believes more in the destination and less in the journey. The screenplay assumes that the audience needs to be spoon fed every single detail – and if necessary, show the same scene twice, just in case the audience has forgotten it even before the film is over.
The film begins with a young woman named Manju being sentenced to prison – she maintains her innocence, but the judge, delivering a line reminiscent of the 70s, proclaims, “Gawahon aur sabooton ko nazar mein rakht hue yeh adalat.” (Taking into account the witnesses and the evidence, this court).
After several sunsets, Manju (Neena Gupta) continues to serve her 28-year sentence, and she finds an ally in the prison. Shambhunath (Sanjay Mishra), a prison guard, develops a friendship with her, offering kindness and assistance in any way possible. Shabhu occasionally pilfers vegetables from the prison to repay a loan he took out for his son, while Manju acts as a maternal figure to other inmates within the facility. In the first film, they were portrayed as a married couple; however, in this sequel, they are not. They do share meaningful moments together, even if it is from opposite sides of the prison wall, where they manage to converse secretly.
The new prison superintendent, Prakash (Kumud Mishra), embodies a deeply casteist attitude. He not only demands to know a person’s name but also insists on learning their surname to ascertain their caste. As if that were not enough, he further inquires about the hierarchy within the caste. Regrettably, this reflects a harsh reality that persists even today, making his character the most believable one in the film. Furthermore, his character is not simply black or white; the various shades of grey contribute to his intrigue. Despite his casteist tendencies, he does not tolerate indiscipline within the prison and takes action against offenders who wield power and influence.
The antagonist, Keshav (Akshay Dogra), is a prisoner characterised by a singular note – he kills puppies, perpetually wears a smug expression, and treats women unfairly, all due to his connection as the brother of a local MLA. When Keshav goes missing from prison, a police officer named Ateet (Amitt K Singh) is assigned to investigate the situation.
What should have unfolded as a gripping cat-and-mouse chase ultimately becomes a mixed bag, largely due to the lacklustre nature of the investigating officer’s character and methods, which regrettably consumes a significant amount of screen time. There are a few supporting characters, such as Nadeem (Nadeem Khan), the corrupt prison guard, and Rajni (Shilpa Shukla), the lady warden who knows more than a thing or two about what transpires behind the walls.
A moral narrative exists regarding the implications of taking the law into one’s own hands and discerning between justice and injustice –more so because it comes from common people who are fighting many other battles day in and day out – and then are burdened with more.
It helps to have seasoned actors like Sanjay Mishra, Neena Gupta, and Kumud Mishra on board who lend credibility to their characters. Vadh 2 maybe intended as a slow burn all right but it could have benefitted from a crisper storytelling.
Justice on trial
