Sardar 2 review: Karthi's spy actioner dazzles early, stumbles after interval

Sardar 2, the latest collaboration between actor Karthi and writer-director PS Mithran, functions as both a prequel and a sequel to their 2022 spy actioner Sardar. The film opens mid-mission, with secret agent Walrus (Achyuth Kumar) warning fellow agent Zara (Malavika Mohanan) that a past threat now endangers the entire nation. Before she can react, the head of a mercenary group called Black Dagger arrives, kills Zara, and warns Walrus that he is next.

The story then follows cop Vijayaprakash, known as Viji (Karthi), who now works in RAW's DAS unit while his father, the titular agent branded a terrorist, is believed to have been executed in Northern China. Seeking to prove himself, Viji intercepts a mission in Mysore to capture Walrus before Black Dagger can reach him. A dying Walrus hands Viji a uniquely fashioned knife, mistaking him for his long-lost colleague Sardar, and urges him to stop the Black Dagger chief (SJ Suryah) from unleashing a deadly weapon.

The first half moves briskly, with editor Vijay Velukutty earning praise for seamless pacing. The stretch leading to the flashback is described as particularly satisfying, and the flashback itself stands out as a major highlight. Set in the 1980s, it shows Bose, then just a trainee, and Zara tasked with retrieving a crucial package from a Japanese plane. This mission is where Bose becomes Sardar, learning what a moment of kindness can cost and what it takes to be an agent.

After the intermission, however, the film loses momentum, particularly during an underwhelming sequence at a fort. The repeated use of ticking-clock suspense wears thin, and the early revelation of the antagonist's identity blunts the impact of its eventual disclosure to Sardar. Suryah's villain is revealed as a sociopath who fights for a social cause in a twisted, immoral way, and a scene featuring Suryah, Yogi Babu and Nizhalgal Ravi blends humour with a social message. Yet the backstory leans on a routine revenge arc, making the turn feel contrived.

Despite its flaws, the film has strengths. Cinematographer George C Williams and production designer Rajeevan deliver striking visuals, and the intricate design of the deadly weapon at the plot's centre merits mention. Codes, symbols and complex machines should please spy-film fans. Karthi continues to champion author-backed roles, and the film ends on an underwhelming note but remains worth a watch. Sardar 2 is currently running in theatres.