Kamal Haasan and his Senapathy evolve with time – Beyond Bollywood

Senapathy’s disdain for corruption hasn’t diminished a bit, but director S. Shankar adopts a more pragmatic approach to dealing with the chronic problem.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 / 5)

By Mayur Lookhar

Five fingers can create magic. Three fingers generally cause destruction. Without guns, the three fingers can have an equally lethal effect. Martial arts experts will testify to it. But can such strikes cause a man to speak in an effeminate tone? Can they make victims behave and move like a horse? Come on, what horse shit is this?

From the time the trailer of Hindustani 2 [2024] dropped, the pan-India Tamil film faced a pan-India question. Though not specified in the first film, Senapathy (Kamal Haasan) must have been around 60–70 then. Now that the sequel is coming after 28 years, will he be playing his age?

At 41, Kamal Haasan portrayed a character aged 60-70. Now at 69, he is playing an octogenarian or nonagenarian. Is it even possible for someone his age to walk without support? When the age-related question arose during the Hindustani 2 trailer launch, Haasan credited Senapathy’s fitness to martial arts, mentioning a Chinese man who practiced well into his 100s. If martial arts originated in India with Kalaripayattu, what’s the fuss about Senapathy following it to stay fit and healthy?

Director Shankar raises a logical question in his film. Chitra Aravindhan (Siddharth), who runs a YouTube channel called Barking Dogs, is frustrated by the rising corruption and believes society needs a hunting dog, not just barking. When his female colleagues think it’s impossible to find one, Chitra reminds them there once was—Senapathy/Hindustani. However, the YouTuber quickly adds that if he’s still alive, he’s probably too old to do anything. But where is our corruption crusader?

After leaving India, Senapathy or Hindustani is in Taipei, teaching martial arts. Why Taipei? Well, it’s the place where Senapathy’s mentor Subhash Chandra Bose died. But what art can transform its victims into something effeminate or even animalistic? That’s the power of Varma Kala—nothing to do with vodka-loving Ram Gopal Varma. Through this art, Senapathy knows all the points in the human body that, when struck, can cause neurological disorders. Before each strike, Senapathy describes the move in Sanskrit, which his victims and most audiences cannot understand. Varma Kala is indeed an ancient form of martial arts, but Shankar has exaggerated certain impact.

It’s not just age; Shankar and his Senapathy have also slightly shifted their approach to dealing with corruption. Although a cult film, we never endorsed the rabble-rousing in Indian (1996). The former soldier from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s army has a deep disdain for corruption, believing the only way to eradicate it is by killing the corrupt— not even sparing the life of his son Chandru (also played by Haasan). Senapathy seemed paranoid about corruption. He went on a stabbing spree, even killing someone on live television. That was a different era, where such tropes drew cheers on and off the screen. While we cheered in the ’90s, we’ve since gained some wisdom and no longer support reckless killings under the guise of vigilantism.

Senapathy pulls out the knife to kill fugitive businessman Amit Agarwal (Gulshan Grover), but not before applying a Varma Kala to make Agarwal speak in a woman’s tone. He keeps the bloody knife steady, and then it’s a masterclass in Varma Kala from Senapathy.

A Hindustani can eliminate a few dozen, but he certainly can’t be called upon to take out every corrupt individual in the country. So, what happened to that ‘zero tolerance for corruption’ commitment?

Corruption is like a cockroach; not even a nuclear bomb can eradicate it. The only hope is to sanitize society, where Senapathy needs the support of the youth. He has no hopes from people over 40, but with a vast number of India’s population under 30, Senapathy aims to start a conversation with them. Shankar and Senapathy redefine their zero tolerance for corruption. Hindustani makes it clear that they don’t need to wield the knife like him, but for this country to be corruption-free, every youth must clean the dirt from within. He urges the youth to keep vigilance in their homes and neighborhoods. If they find a loved one involved in corrupt practices, they should call them out, discourage such behavior, and if necessary, take action against their own kin without fear.

Siddharth

As a channel that covers civil news, particularly corruption cases, Chitra and his team need no second invitation to keep a watch on their own families first. Let’s be practical: what are the odds of someone risking family relationships to report a family member for corruption? In Shankar’s world, that’s what zero tolerance looks like. Though improbable, achieving a corruption-free society is like ushering in Satyug.

It’s almost as if the baton has been passed, with the youth embracing Senapathy’s wise words. From being a vigilante in the first film, Senapathy transforms into an inspiring leader for the youth. While a Bose ideologue, he advocates for peaceful and constitutional measures to tackle corruption. However, Hindustani shows no mercy toward two corrupt business tycoons in Gujarat and Punjab.

As people aren’t afraid to call out their loved ones, the screenplay risks becoming a jingoistic crusade. One might be reminded of Atlee’s Jawan (2023), but it was Indian (1996) that initiated the anti-corruption drive.

Honesty is the best policy, but it can come at a high price, as Chitra discovers with the loss of a family member. The Barking Dogs founder breaks down, blaming Hindustani for the tragedy. This was the man who started the #ComebackIndian trend, and now he posts #GoBackIndian. One incident can drastically shift public opinion, and the very youth that hailed him as a hero now sees Senapathy as a nuisance.

Shankar’s pragmatic approach to exploring the facets of integrity brings a sense of realism to Hindustani 2 that was lacking in the first film. There is a stark contrast between the climaxes of the two films. Although it’s a sequel, Shankar, Kamal Haasan, and their world of Hindustani have clearly evolved.

Kamal Haasan

Prosthetics and Kamal Haasan go hand in hand, getting better with the times. Just a few weeks ago, we saw a completely different Haasan in Kalki 2898 AD. While the physicality is often emphasized, Haasan consistently backs it with the right intensity. He raises the stakes in the sequel, inspiring with his words and fearlessly facing both physical and verbal challenges. He speaks Gujarati while taking down the corrupt businessman Darshan Bhai (brilliantly portrayed by Zakir Hussain), and then mutters Punjabi while confronting Kishan Singh (Piyush Mishra) in a bizarre zero-gravity setting.

Darshan bhai’s acting, running like a horse after taking a Varma kala blow, might seem outlandish, but isn’t there a saying about ‘iska mooh kala karke, issey gadhe pe bithakar, purey desh mein ghumana chahiye?’ Shankar spared the donkey the blushes and simply turned Darshan bhai into a horse.

Most actors would have declined the chance to reprise the Senapathy character after 28 years, but Haasan has always been braving in making bold choices. He anticipated the critical aspects early on, using logic to justify Senapathy’s strength at an old age, and delivered an impressive performance. Yes, the action is too good to be true at times, but how many 69-year-olds can even dare to dream about action?

One scene, however, felt embarrassing to watch. A group of top bodybuilders from Tamil Nadu flaunt their six-packs while body shaming the old man when he goes topless. At first, you see an old man’s body, but with Varma Kala, Senapathy’s belly fat transforms into abs, and his muscles pop out from his arms. Now what Varma Kala is this? Barring a few unimpressive action scenes, Kamal Haasan still convinces you with his Hindustani 2.0 portrayal.

As someone who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, Siddharth is an apt choice for the YouTuber Chitra Aravindhan. Straight talk doesn’t attract many viewers, so Chitra produces satirical content. He has created a Tamil common man cartoon to enact real-life corrupt tales and isn’t afraid to take on bigwigs. In a way, Chitra feels like the Dhruv Rathee of this fictional world. While there are moments when Siddharth hams it up, he still does a fair job.

Shankar is so focused on the zero-tolerance narrative that there isn’t much space for the film’s chief antagonist, Sakalakala Vallavan Sarguna Pandian. Who better to embody this character than the brilliant S.J. Suryah? He is a powerful figure, currently just observing Senapathy. In this film, he is the only other expert in Varma Kala. Brace yourself for an epic Varma Kala battle in Hindustani 2.

Rakul Preet Singh plays Chitra’s girlfriend, Disha. Given her abilities, Shankar allocates the right amount of screen time for her. It’s ludicrous how Disha exposes her brother, a doctor who is clueless about surgeries and even googles information during the operation.

Priya Bhavani Shankar is quite competent as Aarthi, a member of Barking Dogs. We’re introduced to Samuthirakani, who plays Chitra’s father, Varadharajan. Once hailed as a righteous vigilance officer, he turns out to be corrupt as well. Samuthirakani is a joy to watch.

After the early melodrama, Hindustani 2 gains momentum once Senapathy appears on screen. The screenplay becomes largely engaging, but the ‘clean your house first’ narrative feels a bit stretched.

The film is visually striking, with Ravi Varman bringing Shankar’s vision to life. The Comeback Indian anthem is both gripping and visually appealing.

The crowd, all dressed in the same clothes featuring Hindustani’s imprint, is beautifully captured in an aerial shot. Additionally, the large image of Senapathy painted on terraces embodies the #ComebackIndian spirit. The anthem is fun to hear and the choreography is electrifying. Jeez, this Come Back Indian feels like a festival.

Chennai may not have many skyscrapers, but it has plenty of chawls and bungalows. When viewed from above, the city’s colorful roofs, with little distance between houses and structures, create another vibrant spectacle.  

Many of the combat scenes may seem average, but the quality of the BGM by Anirudh Ravichander is simply world-class.

It would be unfair to call Hindustani 2 a film just for the masses. It tackles a chronic problem, and the widespread common grief creates an emotional connection with Hindustani. A Senapathy gives voice to such people. While it’s not perfect, Shankar’s Hindustani 2 has the ingredients to cater to a pan-India audience.

Watch the video review below.