‘Mardaani 2’: Rani’s back as the cop

Mardaani 2 takes its grim subject of juvenile delinquency at its worst seriously, much like its impressive prequel Mardaani (2014) that dealt with human trafficking. Starring Rani Mukerji, who is reprising her role of the gutsy police officer Shivani Shivaji Roy, the Gopi Puthran-helmed film also features Vishal Jethwa, Shruti Bapna, Rajesh Sharma and Deepika Amin in key roles.

The modestly budgeted film, in other words, has no major stars except Rani. That’s along expected lines, and wouldn’t surprise any viewer who has seen the prequel.

Just in case you didn't see the first part, however, Mardaani directed by Pradeep Sarkar is about a policewoman, whose interest in a kidnapped girl leads her towards the secrets of trafficking. An intense drama, it has what it takes to engage the viewer of good cinema.

The upcoming film is set in Kota, the destination of thousands of students who seek to fulfil their academic goals. The trailer doesn’t reveal the villain, but one sees his victims who have been tortured, raped and killed. The graphic visuals are an indication that the film won't be an easy watch.

Shivani is a cop on a mission like earlier. This time, she must track down the killer, which she believes she can within two days. Speaking at a press conference, she thunders,” Iss rakshas ko main collar se ghaseet te huye court le aungi.”

The young and dangerous criminal is confident enough to challenge Shivani to find him before he commits his next crime. Of course, how the cop responds to the challenge and whether or not the young villain manages to outsmart her is not revealed in the trailer.

Mardaani 2 acquires its texture of authenticity from the fact that it has been inspired by true events. The trailer shares a horrifying detail at the outset. Sharing NCRB statistics, it tells the viewer that more than 2000 rape cases are committed by boys under 18 every year. These are, it reminds us, only the registered cases. Another realistic film, in other words, is what we ought to expect. How well it has been written and directed is another story though.

Five years after the first part was released, the sequel will hit the marquee. Rani, in the role of the protagonist, comes across as a more mature and battle-scarred veteran of the police force in the trailer. Judging from her glimpses in different situations, one can safely say that she is likely to be just as good as earlier. Much will depend on Vishal Jethwa, who plays the psychotic villain. The makers have not revealed his face, leaving suspense in the air.

Now, the big question. Will Mardaani 2 be better than its predecessor? To know that, we must wait until next month.