“Soodhu Kavvum 2”, the sequel to the 2013 Vijay Sethupathi-starrer Soodhu Kavvum, brings back its quirky black comedy charm.
The story revolves around a small-time gangster leader, Gurunath (played by Shiva), who thrives on minor crimes instead of serious ones like murder or robbery. Gurunath, along with his two loyal sidekicks, leads a content life by orchestrating petty kidnappings and collecting modest ransoms. They use the earnings to enjoy their days with simple pleasures like food and drinks. Things take a wild turn when circumstances force them to kidnap a minister named Karunakaran. What follows is chaos—on one side, the police are after them, and on the other, the victims’ families are in hot pursuit. Gurunath’s gang struggles to escape from one sticky situation after another. Meanwhile, the kidnapping leads to a political crisis, adding more layers of confusion. The film unfolds in a signature black comedy style, answering questions like whether Gurunath and his gang manage to escape and if the political turmoil is resolved.
In this film, Mirchi Shiva, who has always been known for his laid-back and comedic roles, gets a makeover as a gangster. While his appearance adds a fresh dimension, his acting and humorous timing remain consistent with his usual style. One standout scene involves Shiva’s character kidnapping a girl, extorting a lakh (100,000) rupees from her father, and sharing a portion of the ransom with the girl herself—establishing him as a hilariously “ethical” kidnapper.
In Soodhu Kavvum 2, a high-energy car chase involving Gurunath's gang attempting to save Minister Karunakaran takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride. Chaos ensues when Gurunath, while driving, hallucinates snakes on the road and momentarily lets go of the steering wheel, turning the chase into a hilarious yet nerve-wracking spectacle.
Karunakaran's unexpected rise to power as a minister and then being offered the Chief Minister's position might seem a bit far-fetched, but it's all part of the film’s cinematic liberties. As viewers, we're left to shrug it off with a “Well, it’s just a movie.” Vaagai Chandrasekhar makes a comeback as a politician, while M.S. Bhaskar plays his friend. A laugh-out-loud moment unfolds when M.S. Bhaskar, assuming his son has been kidnapped, arrives at a public rally, only to have his dignity hilariously shattered by his wife.
Vaagai Chandrasekhar’s rare appearance on screen is a delight, though his impactful dialogues walk a fine line, avoiding any major backlash. Meanwhile, the film features brief, nostalgic flashbacks of Vijay Sethupathi’s performance from the original Soodhu Kavvum, offering some solace to fans of the first part. Director Arjun S.J. leans heavily into black comedy, experimenting with various ways to evoke laughter, some landing well and others less so. Though marketed with the claim that the script took three years to write, lead actor Shiva humorously downplayed it in promotional events, quipping that the film is neither Avatar nor Titanic. Watching the film, one realizes the truth in his jest. Producers C.V. Kumar and Thangaraj have supported the project, while Karthik’s cinematography captures the essence of black comedy with its distinct color tones. However, the music could have been stronger—considering the gangster theme, a more rhythmic and repeatable score would have added impact. As the film wraps up, a clear lead-in for Soodhu Kavvum 3 is planted in the climax, leaving fans wondering if the creators plan to let them off the hook anytime soon.
