Movie Name: Bhamakalapam 2
Release Date: February 16, 2024.
Bhamakalapam 2 Rating: 3.75/5
Cast: Priyamani, Sharanya Pradeep, Seerat Kapoor, Chaitu Jonnalagadda, Sundip Ved, Anish Gurwara, and Raghu Mukharjee.
Director: Abhimanyu Tadimeti.
Producers: Bhogavalli Bapineedu and Sudheer Edara.
Music Director: Prashanth R Vihari
Cinematographer: Deepak Yaragera.
Editor: Viplav Nyshadam.
Related Links: Trailer.
Bhamakalapam 2, the sequel to the web film ‘Bhamakalapam’, which was released in 2022, premiered today on the OTT platform Aha. Read our review to find out how the heist thriller is.
Story:
Because of her troubled past, Anupama (Priyamani) vows to keep to herself. She owns a restaurant with her maid Shilpa and competes in the Cooking Idol 2023 competition, hosted by tycoon Antony Lobo (Anuj Gurwara), who has sinister intentions. When things get dark, Anupama is forced by corrupt NCB officer Sadanand (Raghu Mukharjee) to steal the competition trophy. Why does Anupama need to help Sadanand? Why is Sadanand threatening her over the trophy? Antony, what are your plans? What does Anupama do at the end? The film contains all the answers.
Plus Points:
The story begins with a few glimpses of the ending of Bhama Kalapam, but this time the genre has been changed from crime comedy to heist thriller, which has piqued audiences’ interest.
One of the most notable aspects is Priyamani’s outstanding performance in both installments. In this latest installment, she plays a more confident and less innocent character, which shows in her acting.
Sharanya Pradeep also gives a satisfactory performance and contributes to the humour. Raghu Mukherjee’s portrayal of the antagonist is also noteworthy, and the remaining cast members successfully justify their roles.
Minus points:
While the decision to continue the franchise with a heist drama is admirable, the script could have been executed better. Some scenes feel overly dramatic, and certain plot developments are predictable, reducing the overall impact. Adding more twists and turns could have improved the gripping story.
Sharanya Pradeep’s character could have been expanded to add more humour to this serious heist thriller. Seerat Kapoor’s inclusion appears to be primarily for glamour, with little opportunity for performance.
The film’s pacing takes time to establish momentum, and the climax is less convincing. It appears that the makers made a strategic decision to extend the franchise.
Technical aspects:
Abhimanyu Tadimeti’s direction is competent, but more attention to detail would have increased audience engagement, especially in the first half. Prasanth R Vihari’s background score lacks impact and fails to build suspense. However, Deepak Yaragera’s cinematography nicely captures the richness of the visuals, and the production values are commendable. Editing in the first hour could have been tighter.
Verdict:
Overall, Bhamakalapam 2 provides entertainment in parts. Priyamani’s admirable performance and Sharanya Pradeep’s contributions are the film’s highlights. However, the film has predictability and pacing issues. If you enjoyed Bhama Kalapam, the sequel may pique your interest, but keep your expectations realistic.
