So, remember Ajay Devgn’s ‘Son of Sardaar’ from way back in 2012? Fast forward 13 years, and guess what? We have a sequel! ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ has hit the screens, but here’s the kicker: it has nothing at all to do with the first film. When I walked into the theater, I actually left my reviewer brain at home. I just wanted to be an audience member, ready to enjoy a movie. But honestly, even that became a challenge.
The first 15 minutes? Crickets. Seriously, no comedy whatsoever. Then, little bits of humor started trickling in. Some moments landed well, while others felt a bit clumsy. I tried my best to keep that audience hat on, ignoring the issues. But eventually, my inner reviewer just had to surface. And once it did, a lot became clear.
It’s tough to watch a movie that feels like it’s missing a solid script. It was even harder seeing talented actors like Deepak Dobriyal and Sanjay Mishra get wasted. Their abilities were not used well at all. If there’s one person who made this film worth seeing, it’s Ravi Kishan. Believe it or not, this man is the heart and soul of ‘Son of Sardaar 2’. He fills the shoes of the absent Sanjay Dutt so well, you find yourself wanting to see and hear more from him than Ajay Devgn. It’s great to see his talent finally getting its due in the industry. Tony and Titu, played by Mukul Dev and Vindu Dara Singh, were also a delight. It was especially nice to see the late Mukul Dev. He brought a sweet innocence to his part.
A Look at the Team Behind the Laughter
The Plot Points
The story centers on Jassi, played by Ajay Devgn, a man from Punjab. His wife, Dimple (Neeru Bajwa), moved to London for work after they got married. Jassi stays in Punjab with his mother, waiting for his own visa. Once it comes through, he heads to London. But as soon as he arrives, Dimple hits him with a demand for divorce and a share of their property. Meanwhile, in London, there’s Rabia (Mrunal Thakur) and her crew: Danish (Chunky Panday), Gul (Deepak Dobriyal), Mehvash (Kubbra Sait), and Saba (Roshni Walia). How Jassi bumps into them all, and how everyone eventually gets mixed up with Raja’s (Ravi Kishan) family, well, you’ll have to watch the film to find that out!
Who Shines and Who Falters
Ajay Devgn pretty much does what he always does throughout the film. Nothing new or surprising from him. Mrunal Thakur’s entrance is quite something; she’s spewing Punjabi insults left and right. She eventually dials it back and delivers a decent performance.
Chunky Panday, who’s Ahaan Panday’s uncle from ‘Saiyyanara’, and Kubbra Sait are definitely the weak links here. They are truly difficult to watch. If you feel bad for anyone in this movie, it’s Deepak Dobriyal. He was unfortunately stuck alongside Chunky, Kubbra, and Roshni. Still, he managed to deliver an amazing performance and looked incredibly stylish the whole time. Neeru Bajwa, Sharat Saxena, and Dolly Ahluwalia did fine work in their roles.
Calling the Shots: The Direction
The film is directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, a respected name in the Punjabi film world. He directed ‘Harjeeta’ in 2018, which even won a National Award. He has also worked as a cinematographer on several major Hindi films, and this is his first time directing a Hindi feature.
There’s only one really good comical scene in the whole movie. In that moment, the director clearly understood what audiences enjoy, earning cheers and whistles by poking fun at Pakistan. However, he tried to cash in on the India-Pakistan angle many times. It seems he trusted this angle more than the actual story.
Vijay had a huge cast for this film, and some characters felt shoved in just because. They could have been cut, and it wouldn’t have changed a thing. It would have been better if Vijay had spent more time refining the story instead. He seemed confused about what he wanted to show. In the climax, it’s unclear if he just wanted senseless comedy or if there was a deeper message. If there was a message, what was it? By trying to highlight every character’s extra-marital affair, he got so lost that he forgot the point entirely.
The Music Mess
The songs in ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ actually halt any comedy that might be happening. They aren’t great to listen to, and visually, they’re just a mess. The song ‘Pehla Tu.. Dooja Tu..’, shot with about 200 foreign background artists, is so bad it’s almost funny. Neither Ajay nor the background dancers seem to be doing much in it. The only slightly bearable song is the title track, which is a carryover from the original film.
Should You Watch It?
If you have the unique skill of leaving your brain at home when you go to the movies, then ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ is definitely for you. You’ll likely have a blast and even cheer or whistle at a few scenes. As for watching it with your family, you’ll need to decide based on how “modern” your parents and kids are.
Also, it’s always wise to set low expectations for films that are shot, edited, and released within a single year. Oh, and here’s a little tip: there’s a surprise cameo right at the end, before the credits roll. So, don’t rush out of the theater too quickly!