Raid 2 Movie Review: A Stylized Throwback to Old-School Heroism

Raid 2 brings back Ajay Devgn as the no-nonsense IRS officer Amay Patnaik, who once again targets the corrupt elite. This time, his adversary is Dadabhai (Riteish Deshmukh), a seemingly benevolent and powerful figure hiding a dark, corrupt empire. Set in the late 1980s, the film unfolds as a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between Patnaik’s relentless pursuit of justice and Dadabhai’s deeply entrenched power.

Raid 2 Movie Review:

Director Raj Kumar Gupta ups the scale in this sequel, giving Patnaik the aura of a massy, larger-than-life hero—think Singham in a blazer. With stylized slow-mo entries and a heavy presence, Devgn plays the part with his signature brooding intensity and quiet authority. His portrayal of Patnaik continues to challenge the notion of the typical government officer, making the honesty and courage of the character both admirable and cinematically entertaining.

Riteish Deshmukh as Dadabhai is refreshingly understated. He doesn’t scream villainy—instead, he embodies the menace beneath the saintly persona with a calm, collected demeanor, making him an effective foil to Patnaik. The film thrives in the scenes where these two powerful characters play psychological chess, each trying to outwit the other.

However, Raid 2 does have its shortcomings. While it follows the structure of its predecessor almost religiously—with swarms of ambassador cars, elaborate raids, and righteous monologues—it loses some of the spontaneity and wit that made the original special. Saurabh Shukla, who lit up the prequel with his wit as Tauji, makes only a brief appearance, and his absence is deeply felt. His banter with Devgn was a key highlight in Raid (2018), and Raid 2 misses that charm.

Vaani Kapoor replaces Ileana D’Cruz as Patnaik’s wife but isn’t given much material to shine. Supriya Pathak and Amit Sial, however, make strong impressions, especially Sial’s comedic turn as Lallan Sudheer Singh.

Visually, the film is polished, and the period setting is convincingly recreated. But with a runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes, the pacing sags, especially in the first half. The film picks up steam post-interval with tighter writing and more engaging confrontations. The songs, though melodious, feel unnecessary and interrupt the flow.

Verdict:

Raid 2 stays loyal to its formula—honest officer versus corrupt power—but becomes too self-serious along the way. While it has moments of thrill, solid performances (especially Devgn and Deshmukh), and sharp one-liners, it could’ve used more levity and inventiveness. Still, for fans of the first film and old-school heroism, Raid 2 is a decent, if slightly heavy-handed, follow-up.