The expectations of Akhanda 2 movie were not only high but massive. Following the uninhibited, rough scream of the first akhanda 2 review and rating, it was anticipated that director Boyapati Srinu would intensify the action, the spiritual zeal, and the duality of Nandamuri Balakrishna.

Akhanda 2

But was the God of Masses really all that he hyped? Whether it was a Massive Disappointment or not depends on the question that now we have to ask after watching the almost three-hour runtime of Akhanda 2: Thaandavam: was this a follow-up? We do not spare a single aspect in this savagely honest Akhanda 2 reviews and rating, including the fact that the background score by Thaman S is so thumping, there are even plot gaps so large that an Aghora can drive a jeep through them.

The Unstoppable Force: the performance of Balakrishna as Akhanda

When you buy an Akhanda movie, you buy the uncontrolled, crude vigor of Nandamuri Balakrishna, and in this regard, he is an insurmountable force. Being the Aghora, he retreats into the role of the rudra with frightening intensity, and he utters every dialogue with high decibel levels with such a sense of conviction that he is the only person capable of producing it. The battles against the Aghora are the irrefutable highlight of the movie, single-handedly saving the slack moments of the movie and receiving every applause among the viewers. 

Although Balakrishna does put his all into it- and his commitment to the cause is evident- even his star power cannot entirely conceal a script that provides him with stock stuff, and he has to fall back on the stereotypical style at the expense of some real character development. Finally, he is the lifeblood of Akhanda 2, despite the lifeblood being put under stress by the other narrative.

The Collapse: How the Akhanda 2 Story and Screenplay Fail

Unluckily, he does not provide the intensity as Balakrishna does but it appears that director Boyapati Srinu has lost control of the narrative. The largest weakness of the film is the Akhanda 2 screenplay. Rather than creating a new and exciting avenue of threat, the movie depends on a cliche and completely predictable revenge story that almost borders on a repetition of the same plot structure used in the first film. More importantly, the villain does not have the threatening faith needed to challenge the Aghora, which prevents any confrontation with them as something unavoidable and consequently mundane. 

The greatest of these sins, however, is the bloated run time, excessive emotional scenes and extraneous songs which serve little purpose but to bring the already slow moving action to a crawl. It is a story that is trying hard to prove its own existence and the audience keeps on watching their watches till the next entry of Balakrishna that serves to give them the ultimate adrenaline rush. Basically the narrative becomes secondary to spectacle as it loses its sense of story in favor of cheap mass moments which end up being hollow.

Thaman S and Action: The Only Things That Still Go Mass

Of all the departments which are fully aware of what the audience would require in an Akhanda follow-up, the technical team that would cover the sound and the fury is the one to be referred to. Thaman S once again justifies the reason he is the king of the mass-masala genre, with a background score (BGM) that is the undisputed champion in the film. 

His music does not simply follow the action, but it is the feeling and strengthens even the most frail moments, making the title cards sound like a stadium.

Equally, the action choreography is stunningly violent and wonderfully staged, acting as the blood rush shot this tiresome screenplay so badly required.

Akhanda 2 Review and Rating Final Verdict

Akhanda 2 then was a colossal failure? To the reader anticipating a fast moving, solidly reasoned story, the response is, unfortunately, yes. The bloated repetitive screenplay and lack of any new compelling conflict that explains its existence bring down the film. It is more of a greatest hits compilation of Akhanda than a middle range sequel, glued together with awkward dialogue and poor supporting characters.

But, provided you accept Balakrishna as little more than a sheer, presence-based screen presence, electric action set pieces, and a background score by Thaman S that virtually could run a small metropolis, then it is at least almost a one-screen movie. It is a movie that is packed solely to the unabashed fan that wants to take two hours and forty minutes of unashamed, excessive mass Thaandavam- you must be able to give up your reasonableness and simply be able to have fun. 

Although this was a hyped movie, it has been met with many negative comments by critics and viewers, the movie lost its pace and storyline and this can be seen in the mixed Akhanda 2 rating: .

Element	Rating
Story & Screenplay	1.5 / 5
Balakrishna’s Performance	4.0 / 5
Action & BGM	4.5 / 5
Overall Rating	2.5 / 5

Also Read: Dhurandhar: Ranveer Singh’s Spy Thriller Opens Strong