After clearing financial hurdles and legal delays, Akhanda 2: Thaandavam finally arrives as the final major release of 2025. The hype surrounding the sequel has been massive since its announcement, but the film struggles to carry the weight of expectations placed on it.
Story
The narrative picks up in the aftermath of the Galwan clash. A Chinese general (Sangay Tsheltrim), enraged by his son’s death, teams up with a strategist (Saswata Chatterjee) to weaken India from within. Their dangerous plan involves poisoning the Ganga during the Kumbh Mela, triggering national panic and a crisis of faith.
At the same time, Janani (Harshaali Malhotra), a gifted DRDO scientist, develops a life-saving vaccine. While she is transported to Ladakh for mass production, the Chinese forces target her mission. With danger looming over the nation, Akhanda (Nandamuri Balakrishna) returns in an older, more intense avatar to protect Janani and reestablish Sanatana Dharma.
Performances
Balakrishna appears in three shades — Balamurali Krishna, a young Aghora, and an aged Aghora. Despite his signature ferocity in select action and dialogue scenes, the overall performance doesn’t match the impact of the first film. The freshness and mystique of the original Aghora characterization are noticeably missing.
Aadhi Pinishetty and Sangay Tsheltrim make little impression because of poorly developed antagonist roles. Samyuktha’s character feels redundant, and her romantic track with Balakrishna is awkwardly conceived. The pleasant surprise is Harshaali Malhotra, who delivers a confident Telugu debut.
Technical Aspects
Thaman’s work disappoints on both the musical and background score fronts. None of the songs stand out, including the “Jajikaya” track, and the BGM feels noisy rather than impactful.
Visually, the film scores high with rich frames and large-scale cinematography. However, the subpar VFX and uneven editing dilute several key moments. Dialogues follow the familiar Boyapati–Balayya formula, with Sanatana Dharma lines being the highlight.
Strengths
- Well-executed pre-interval sequence
- One strong Sanatana Dharma dialogue block
Weaknesses
- Weak first half with minimal momentum
- Flat storyline and predictable screenplay
- Forced mix of patriotism and devotion
- Underwhelming villains
- Uninspiring music
Analysis
Boyapati and Balakrishna’s earlier collaborations worked because their formula — powerful villains, emotional flashbacks, dual roles, and high-voltage action — struck the right balance. Akhanda 2 tries to amplify this formula by weaving in Chinese aggression, bioterrorism, Hindu mythology, divine interventions, and emotional subplots. But instead of creating an epic canvas, it ends up feeling cluttered and directionless.
The film also borrows heavily from recent devotional blockbusters like Hanu-Man and Mahavatar Narasimha, featuring animated deities, mythological battles, and divine cameos. These moments feel forced rather than organic.
Balakrishna’s limited presence in the first half weakens the build-up. In an attempt to recreate the mass euphoria of Akhanda, Boyapati inserts the original “Jai Balayya” song and even adds a shirt-drop moment, but these feel like patchwork rather than purposeful choices.
The second half is filled with action blocks, yet logic is thrown out entirely — from a trishool blocking bullets to the Chinese army trying to blow up Kailasa Parvata. Emotional beats lack depth, and the villains never pose a real threat. Even the divine interventions fail to evoke awe due to exaggerated staging.
Thankfully, the film ends without teasing another sequel.
Bottom Line
Akhanda 2 is an ambitious but uneven sequel weighed down by weak writing, loud execution, and a lack of emotional core. Despite its scale and a few good moments, it ultimately lands as a disappointing follow-up.
