Raid 2 Review, When Raid hit the screens back in 2018, it offered something fresh—a taxman as the hero, going after the corrupt with files instead of fists. Fast forward to Raid 2, and Ajay Devgn is back as IRS officer Amay Patnaik, trying to recreate that magic. But here’s the thing: it’s hard to create fire with damp wood.
Devgn, known for his stoic, no-nonsense screen presence, dials up the seriousness once again. But instead of feeling intense or commanding, his portrayal just feels… tired. And not in a gritty, overworked-hero way. Just bored. It’s like he’s sleepwalking through the role, and unfortunately, the audience ends up yawning right along with him.
Plot? Or Just Another Paper Trail?
Raid 2 kicks off with an eyebrow-raising twist—Amay is caught asking for a bribe. Wait, what? The man who’s basically allergic to corruption suddenly switches gears? Of course, it’s all part of an elaborate setup, but the twist falls flat. Even his own colleague is barely able to keep a straight face when the “bribe scene” unfolds.
Soon enough, Amay is shipped off to a new posting in Bhoj, a town under the shadow of the suspiciously squeaky-clean Dada Bhai, played by Riteish Deshmukh. This local MLA and home minister has the whole town singing his praises, but Amay smells something fishy. So begins raid number seventy-five. Yes, seventy-five.
Dada Bhai vs. Amay: The Battle of the Bored
Raid 2 Review, If the first Raid gave us a villain who was loud, crude, and memorable (thanks to Saurabh Shukla’s Tau), Raid 2 offers the exact opposite. Dada Bhai is polished, polite, and painfully dull. Deshmukh tries his best to layer the character, but he comes off like the teacher’s pet who’s trying a little too hard to appear innocent.
Their cat-and-mouse game—if you can even call it that—is dry, repetitive, and lacking any tension. Picture two bureaucrats politely trash-talking each other over landline calls. That’s the vibe. There’s no real fire, no clever dialogue, and definitely no thrilling showdown.
Supporting Cast Tries to Save the Day
Now, let’s talk about the handful of performances that actually breathe some life into this otherwise sleepy drama. Yashpal Sharma shows up as a shady lawyer, and boy, does he steal his scenes. There’s a moment where Amay mutters “Beimaan” (dishonest), and the next frame cuts to Sharma cruising in on a scooter. It’s hilarious—and probably the film’s best gag.
Then comes Amit Sial as Lallan Sudheer, the ultimate chameleon. If you remember him from the first film, you’ll know he’s morally elastic. Here, he sucks up to Dada Bhai so shamelessly that you almost admire his guts. These characters are broad, a bit cartoonish even, but at least they jolt the film awake when they appear.
The Devgn Problem: Hero Without Heat
Raid 2 Review, Here’s the real issue with Raid 2: its hero is just too damn dull. Devgn’s Amay is a brick wall—stoic, expressionless, and emotionally distant. Even when his master plan comes together in the final act, his face doesn’t crack. No smug satisfaction, no relief, no spark. It’s as if the win itself is a burden.
And while some might argue that Devgn plays the “strong silent type” well, there’s a thin line between stoic and lifeless. Unfortunately, Raid 2 falls on the wrong side of that line.
Nostalgia for Simpler Scams
There’s something oddly comforting about the world of Raid 2. It’s stuck in a time where corruption means cash stuffed in walls, gold bricks hidden in ceilings, and fake NGOs used to launder black money. No crypto scams. No offshore accounts. No digital footprints.
This old-school idea of graft may feel a bit out-of-date in 2025, but perhaps that’s the point. It’s nostalgic, simple, and easy for the audience to understand. Still, wouldn’t it be more exciting to see Amay tackle today’s high-tech corruption? Corporate frauds, political data leaks, maybe even whistleblowers? The franchise is begging for evolution.
Direction and Tone: A Film on Auto-Pilot
Raid 2 Review, Raj Kumar Gupta, who helmed the original, returns to direct the sequel. And while the first film had some spark—even a touch of flair—Raid 2 plays like it’s checking off a to-do list. Raid? Check. Slow-motion entry? Check. Moral monologue? Check. It’s formulaic, and worse, it’s passionless.
The tone is flat. The pace drags. The stakes never feel real. The characters, apart from a select few, blend into the background. Even the raid itself—which should be the film’s big payoff—feels routine.
Riteish Deshmukh: Miscast or Muzzled?
Let’s give Deshmukh some credit—he’s not bad. He tries. He really does. But something about the role just doesn’t fit him. Dada Bhai is supposed to be a sly, menacing wolf in sheep’s clothing. Instead, he comes off like a mischievous school prefect.
Maybe the script didn’t give him enough to chew on. Or maybe he was directed to keep it too subtle. Either way, his performance lacks the bite we needed from the film’s antagonist.
Comedy Cameos: The Unsung Heroes
Raid 2 Review, Ironically, it’s the side characters that leave the most lasting impressions. Whether it’s Sharma’s crooked lawyer or Sial’s shameless yes-man, these roles inject much-needed humor and energy. Their antics feel like a completely different movie—a funnier, livelier one.
Imagine if Raid 2 leaned into that tone more. It might’ve become a smarter black comedy rather than a self-serious drama with nothing new to say.
Is There Hope for a ‘Raid 3’?
Here’s the million-rupee question: should there be another Raid movie? Maybe… but only if the franchise gets a serious reboot. Drop the sleepy tone. Give Devgn a challenge worthy of his character. Update the story for the modern world. And most importantly, make it fun again.
Imagine Amay up against a flashy tech billionaire, or a shady social media influencer with offshore shell companies. Now that would be a raid worth watching.
All Bark, No Bite
Raid 2 had all the ingredients for a gripping sequel—corruption, a cunning villain, and a no-nonsense hero. But somewhere between the script and the screen, the spice got lost. What we’re left with is a bland, forgettable affair that’s more courtroom snooze than edge-of-your-seat thriller.
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Conclusion
Raid 2 Review, In a nutshell, Raid 2 is a shadow of its predecessor. While a few supporting characters bring flashes of humor and life, the core duo of Devgn and Deshmukh drags the film into monotony. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of slow-burn procedural dramas—or just need background noise—this one’s probably worth skipping.
After the Conclusion
If the Raid franchise wants to survive, it needs to evolve. We’re living in a world where crime has gone digital, scams are smarter, and audiences expect more than just a hero with a moral compass. The next raid should not only uncover black money—but also rediscover its soul.