Movie Name : Yatra 2
Release Date : February 08, 2024
Director: Mahi V Raghav
Starring: Mammootty, Jiiva, Ketaki Narayan, Suzanne Bernert, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ashrita Vemuganti Nanduri
Producer: Shiva Meka
Music Director: Santhosh Narayanan
Cinematographer: Madhie
Editor: Shravan Katikaneni
Yatra 2, the much-anticipated sequel to the biographical political drama Yatra, has finally graced the big screens today, exactly five years after the release of its predecessor. The film arrives with decent expectations, and in this review, we’ll delve into how it fares in comparison to its predecessor.
Story:
The narrative of Yatra 2 begins with the 2009 Andhra Pradesh election campaign, set against the backdrop of the passing of the then Chief Minister, Rajashekara Reddy, portrayed by Mammootty. The film intricately explores the subsequent events in the life of Jagan Mohan Reddy, played by Jiiva, encompassing his political journey and personal experiences. Yatra 2 unfolds the dynamic story of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s life in the aftermath of Chief Minister Rajashekara Reddy’s demise, weaving together the complexities of his political career and personal struggles.
Positive Aspects:
Mahi V Raghav skillfully narrates the story with precision, demonstrating an impressive handling of both the narrative and screenplay.
Jiiva’s portrayal is commendable, capturing the essence of the real-life Jagan with appreciable mannerisms. Within the confines of his role, he delivers a satisfactory performance.
Mammootty stands out with a stellar performance, particularly in emotionally charged dialogues during interactions with the public, eliciting goosebumps.
Santhosh Narayanan contributes significantly to the film’s vitality with his magnificent score and songs. His efforts deserve appreciation for maintaining a consistently engaging atmosphere without any dull moments.
Negative Aspects :
The narrative is crafted with clever intricacies by Mahi V Raghav. However, the director’s choice to not delve deeply into some crucial events in YS Jagan’s life, both political and personal, is notable. There was an opportunity to explore these matters more thoroughly in the movie.
While Jiiva succeeds in portraying Jagan on screen, there are moments where his emotional expression falls short. Mahi V Raghav could have paid more attention to fine-tuning Jiiva’s portrayal of Jagan.
The film could have benefited from additional emotional scenes depicting Jagan’s interactions with his family and the public. Such moments would undoubtedly have added depth and interest to Yatra 2.
Technical Elements :
Mahi V Raghav, as both the writer and director, effectively communicates his intended portrayal in the film. However, the inclusion of more emotional aspects could have added significant value to the overall narrative.
The casting director deserves commendation for selecting the perfect actors to bring the characters to life. Santhosh Narayanan’s music stands out with its top-notch quality. The film’s editing by Shravan Katikaneni and cinematography by Madhie are also praiseworthy. The concise runtime is a definite positive, although the second half feels somewhat sluggish due to the screenplay.
Conclusion :
In its entirety, Yatra 2 emerges as a sincere endeavor to portray the personal and political developments in the life of YS Jagan following the demise of his father, Rajashekara Reddy. Mammootty and Jiiva deliver standout performances, while the musical composition by Santhosh Narayanan elevates the film to a higher echelon. However, the film has its drawbacks, including a lack of emotional resonance in certain intense scenes, a somewhat slow-paced second half, and the omission of certain significant events in YS Jagan’s life. For ardent followers of the leader, Yatra 2 may be considered the epitome of biographical political cinema. However, for the general audience, it might be perceived as a decent film without creating a profound impact.
Reviewed by Piktalk Team