Super stylish auteurism meets unabashed hero worship in Prashanth Neel’s K.G.F: Chapter 2, the sequel to the director’s 2018 Kannada-language blockbuster crime epic. In K.G.F: Chapter 1, we were introduced to the character of Rocky, played by Yash – or as he’s credited onscreen, Rocking Star Yash – as he journeys from a mob-associated preteen shoeshiner to the messianic savior of a clandestine mining compound in the Seventies. “K.G.F.” stands for “Kolar Gold Fields,” a real mining town in the Indian state of Karnataka that closed up shop in the 1950s. Neel reimagines this location as a dusty rural fiefdom lorded over by gangsters who treat the peasant workers like slaves.
That first film was quite confusing, with innumerable plot twists, perhaps a few too many stylistic flourishes, and about half a dozen central characters who are difficult to distinguish from one another due to their identical burly builds and giant, but impeccably manicured, beards. Thankfully Chapter 2 launches with a recap that reminds the audience of the important moments and characters before jumping right into the action.
We now find Rocky’s apparent heroism to the people of K.G.F. slipping. He seems to be getting greedy, pushing the workers beyond their limits, but there’s something more going on that we don’t find out until much later. Like its prequel, Chapter 2 is packed with self-aggrandizing monologues, blisteringly edited and executed action sequences, and a whole lot of slow-motion ogling of Rocky’s unimpeachably slick Seventies attire and flowing mane. This film is all about glorifying its star, and it is unashamed.
K.G.F: Chapter 2 is an odd mix of a director with a million ideas trying to cram them all in, and a star whose audience relishes in the opportunity to cheer on their hero as often and as loudly as possible. This type of masala/mass worship film is not a genre we have in America, and while there is certainly a lot to love, the frequent digressions from the plot in order to gaze upon Yash’s awesomeness might feel awkward for unfamiliar audiences. There are a number of rousing songs in the film, but only one of them is accompanied by dancing of any kind; the rest are set to footage of Rocky either walking into or out of kicking some poor sap’s butt. It happens so much that it’d almost be funny if the film weren’t so intentionally devoid of humor.
Stylistically, K.G.F: Chapter 2 is overflowing with bravura choices from Neel in every department. The action sequences, which range from burning bridges to a kickass car chase to a number of insanely loud gun battles, are all well worth the time you’ll invest. Neel and his editor, 19-year-old Ujwal Kulkarni, work wonders with a convoluted plot and action sequences that require very precise timing. The grand scale of the film, the biggest ever made in the Kannada language, could be used as a crutch, but Neel never sacrifices his vision for a vista, and though we may not always know exactly what’s going on, we’re left with little opportunity to be bored.
Though not quite the guaranteed universal crowd-pleaser that RRR was, K.G.F: Chapter 2 should bring some new fans to regional Indian mainstream film. With a big, domineering performance from Yash front and center; a love of bonkers action and unrelenting brutal violence; stunning camerawork from Bhuvan Gowda; and a director with flair to spare, crime and action lovers would do well to give it a chance.
This article appears in April 22 • 2022.