Soodhu Kavvum 2 (2024), rewatch the original

Most classics should never be followed by a sequel, and Soodhu Kavvum 2 is a case in point. Earlier this year, we witnessed Indian 2 faltering as a sequel, and just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Soodhu Kavvum 2 proves otherwise. With a nearly empty theatre for the first-day morning show and half the audience walking out during the break, it’s clear that this sequel missed the mark. Mangoidiots rates it Rotten.

The film begins with a spark of promise. Director SJ Arjun crafts an acceptable prequel block to replace Vijay Sethupathi with RJ Shiva, even introducing Vagai Chandrasekar with an intriguing backstory. But the excitement fizzles out after the first ten minutes. What follows is a tired retread of ideas from the original Soodhu Kavvum (2013), including the imaginary girlfriend and the van. Novelty was scarce, save for a fleeting concept of using gaming apps to pay voters.

The plot suffers from an overload of antagonists, leading to confusion about who is plotting against whom. The chase sequences were pointless, and the scenes felt unnecessarily stretched. RJ Shiva’s humour, which works in moderation, was overused here to diminishing returns. Karunakaran reprises his role with the same finesse, but the deja vu is undeniable.

The climax, which could have salvaged the film, felt hurried and uninspired—perhaps mirroring the crew’s own weariness. Ultimately, the sequel fails to capture the charm and creativity of the original.

Mangoidiots recommends revisiting Soodhu Kavvum (2013) instead and enjoying the holiday season.