'Mathu Vadalara 2', produced by Chiranjeevi (Cherry) and Hemalatha Pedamallu, hits the cinemas this week. In this section, we are going to review the latest BO release.
Plot:
So, after the first movie, Babu Mohan (Sri Simha) and Yesu Dasu (Satya), these two delivery guys, end up becoming special agents at the HE Team (a security unit attending to emergency cases). They resort to short-cuts while on the job to make the quick buck. But things don't go as planned, and they get dragged into a murder case while trying to solve a kidnap case. Who trapped them? Is it Michael (Sunil), their respectful colleague? Or, is there more to it than meets the eye?
Performances:
Unlike the first installment (released in 2019), the sequel requires Sri Simha Koduri to be far more comical. The young actor is yet to get a grip. Satya, in the last five years, has evolved into a nuanced comedian known for his slapstick comedy. This film makes the best use of his talents. Faria Abdullah as Nidhi, a gun-wielding colleague of the lead men, is far from satisfying.
Vennela Kishore as an irate celeb named Yuva is flawless. It is fun to watch him in the second half. Sunil is so-so with his deadpan humour; he would have looked fresh had this film been made in the pre-'Jailer' days. Rohini (as the boss at the HE Team), Jhansi (in a cameo), Ajay (in a negative role), Raja Chembolu (as Saxena), Gundu Sudarshan and others are apt.
Technical aspects:
Kaala Bhairava's background score is impressive but not innovative. Karthika Srinivas's editing is fine. Suresh Sarangam's cinematography is elevated by the colour palette. The art department understands the unique world of the HE Team. The visuals, supported by production values, hit the bull's eye for the most part.
The film comes into its own whenever each of the technical departments give their best shot. They also create a certain mood, something of value in a crime comedy.
Post-Mortem:
In 'Mathu Vadalara', Babu Mohan and Yesu were underdogs. As delivery boys, they were timid and behaved like deers caught in headlights. Their dishonesty was low-stakes. In the second installment, they are empowered as special agents. They are now bold, savvy and more confident than before. Their crimes come with high-stakes.
Director Ritesh Rana's second film, 'Happy Birthday', took the offbeat comedy to the extreme. The narrative was haphazard. With 'Mathu Vadalara 2', he does a course correction. The plot is well-rounded, the payoffs are not entirely offbeat, and the screenplay is relatively more intelligent.
Satya does the heavy-lifting, generating laughs with practiced ease. This is one of the few films in which he gets to play a full-fledged role. And he mouths contemporary lingo just like that. It is his characterization that keeps the audience from raising questions about the occasional holes in the plot. Vennela Kishore's character is not limited to bouncing off eccentricities; he has a place in the larger scheme of things.
The second half does slacken in terms of humour density. The cat-and-mouse chase is way too convenient, and the plotting is not narrated in an easy-to-understand manner.
Closing Remarks:
'Mathu Vadalara 2' offers moments of laughter thanks to Satya's performance and Vennela Kishore's comic timing. The convoluted plot does hinder the overall experience a bit. The film is a decent watch, overall.
