An adventurous ride you need
Karthikeya 2 Review: Of late, there has been a wave of interest and pride in the Indian culture, history and belief system. The fantasy drama explores the same and takes the audience on an adventurous ride instead of making the narrative didactic and heavy. Karthik (Nikhil Siddharth) is a doctor with a curious mind and a passion for demystifying things, and he places truth over blind faith (in fact, even faith in general). An incident leads to his suspension from the hospital for two weeks, and he ends up in Dwaraka, Gujarat, for a religious trip with his mother. A wild adventure ensues when an archaeologist entrusts him with locating Krishna’s anklet, which the head of a secret society, Shantanu (Adithya Menon), is also after. Rao’s granddaughter Mugdha (Anupama Parameswaran), Karthik’s uncle and a truck driver, Suleman (Harsha Chemudu), join him in his pursuit.
Chapter two of Karthikeya (2014) is an upscaled standalone story with nothing to do with part one. Karthikeya 2 is a visually-striking and well-researched film that’s a thrilling treasure hunt with deadly Abhiras who won’t let anyone lay their hands on Krishna’s belongings and a villain Shantanu (Adithya Menon) who is after an ornament for vested interest. The thriller takes its time to build up and, while mildly entertaining, is monotonous in the first half as it establishes the base.
Karthik Gattamneni’s cinematography deserves a special mention, whether taking you through locations ranging from Greece to the quaint lanes of Dwaraka, the green Govardhan Giri in Mathura or the snowy mountains in Himachal Pradesh. Mondeti and the director of photography handle all the aspects, whether mythological depiction, the sojourn through panoramic landscapes, or chase or fight sequences with finesse. Watch out for a beautifully-shot starry night on Chandrashila mountain and the top angle of a ginormous waterfall. The film also has a fair amount of animation, which is on point when it begins but looks slightly sloppy in many parts.
Nikhil Siddharth as Karthik is impressive. The charm of his character lies in the fact that he’s not a typically bulked-up and heroic guy. Anupama Parameswaran as Mugdha and Anupam Kher in a cameo as a scholar, Dhanwantri, perform well.
Situations go over the top and are too convenient in many parts, but one can overlook those as the narrative and treatment are engaging and entertaining. It’s an adventurous ride that’s a grander and more exciting version of the first part. Karthikeya 2.0, for sure.
