“We are different. We are very different,” Bhaskaran (Mime Gopi) tells his friend and ally of over 30 years, Deepan (Azhagam Perumal), as they sit across each other in Normandy, France. Bhaskaran, the once-upon-a-time feared and revered leader of the Tamil Rebels, has forgotten what he was fighting for but hasn’t given up the fight. Deepan, his partner in the movement, and always the more diplomatic one, has found a way to further it even without a fight. “You are a politician, I am a soldier,” Bhaskaran concludes. And that right there is what it all boils down to.
Manoj Bajpayee’s Srikant Tiwari, the family man spy, has quit his job at the TASK force and settled for a 9-to-5 corporate job at an IT firm. He tries to fit in but fails, suffers from FOMO but continues to live in denial that he is happy. After all, he did it for his family. His family, much like the first season of this Amazon Prime hit, still remains disappointed, even after all his efforts. While this yet again provides some comic relief, the plot thickens in Chennai, where JK Talpade (Sharib Hashmi) is stuck in a hostage situation. The man they are trying to nab is Bhaskaran’s brother. The Sri Lankan government wants him, our Indian Prime Minister – Basu, a vaguely Mamata Banerjee resembling woman whose Bengali-infused Hindi lasts just the first episode – has agreed. Even at the risk of backlash in Tamil Nadu. Between politicians and soldiers, national security is at stake.
Enter Raji AKA Rajalaxmi, a ruthless fighter of the rebel force, capable of smashing the head of her molester with her bare hands. She lives undercover, a sleeper cell, waiting for orders. And orders have come. What’s the plan? Well, no spoilers here.
The Family Man has moved ahead from Season 1, yet not much has changed schematically. The plot makes Sameer (Darshan Kumar) and Pakistan our primary enemy once again. Interestingly, Dhriti (Ashlesha Thakur), Srikant’s daughter finds a prominent role in this season, all part of the thick, thick plot, and she does a good job. Priyamani still remains extremely underused. If there’s anyone who steals Manoj Bajpayee’s show, it is Samantha Akkineni and her Raji.
Samantha is sharp as a whip as Raji, both mentally and physically. Her fight scenes, and there are many, seem all so real. You feel it when she’s planting that punch. She brings out a sort of darkness through her eyes, it is ominous, and it grips you. There are moments when her gaze seems a little too intense and unnecessary, but we are willing to ignore that.
Manoj, once again is flawless. He carries Srikant’s humour on his sleeves along with his insecurities and helplessness. Hashmi, right beside him, complements him perfectly throughout.
In the writing department, Raj and DK keep it tight. While there’s not much guessing required, you know what’s happening, they still manage to keep it thrilling. Of course, they have great actors to shoulder et al.
The ending is predictable. Given how long the audience had to wait for The Family Man 2, it is a tab bit disappointing.
