VIP 2 (Velaiilla Pattadhari 2) movie review: A predictable drama entertains with whistle-worthy moments

Soundarya Rajinikanth is returning with VIP 2 (Velaiilla Pattadhari 2) after her debut movie Kochadaiiyaan, which turned out to be a dud at the box office. The Dhanush and Amala Paul-starrer has Ritu Varma, Saranya Ponvannan, Vivek, Hrishikesh, Samuthirakani and others in the cast.

Movie Stills of VIP 2 | Rajini-Kamal at DMK Event | Oviya's New Hairdo

The movie is a sequel to hit film Velaiilla Pattadhari. Retaining the core theme and key characters, the makers are coming out with the story of Raghuvaran, the character played by Dhanush, after his marriage. Amala Paul plays his wife, while Samuthirakani and Saranya Ponvannan are his parents in the Tamil flick.

The first part of VIP was written and directed by Velraj and Soundarya Rajinikanth has helmed the sequel that is written by Dhanush, who has produced the movie under his home banner WunderBar Films. Notably, Anirudh Ravichander, whose music had won a lot of appreciation, has been replaced by Sean Roldan.

The replacement has not turned out to be a bad decision as three songs like Life of Raghuvaran - Nada Da Raja, Angel of Raghuvaran - Iraivanai Thandha Iraiviye and Vasundhara - The Empress Arrives have turned out to be hits.

VIP 2 has Sameer Thair's cinematography and Prasanna GK's editing.

Story:
In the first instalment, Raghuvaran had struggled to find his dream job and faced a lot of humiliation for being jobless, while his software engineer brother led a respectable life. His life took a twist once he fell in love. The challenges that he faced once he gets his dream job was the crux of the story. The sequel is about the life after his marriage. 

We are told that Raghuvaran (Dhanush) is married to Shalini (Amala Paul) and they are staying together with her father (Samuthirakani) and brother (Hrishikesh). On the professional front, he has a great career as he always dreamt of working in a construction company.

The hero wins the Best Engineer Award in the year in which Vasundhara Constructions owned by Vasundhara (Kajol) walk away with top honours. Impressed by his skills, she makes an offer to work in her company, but he turns down it as he is happy to be with his present boss, who gave opportunity to work when he was unemployed.

At this crucial juncture, a big deal to construct a multi-speciality hospital is bagged by the company where Dhanush works and this irks Vasundhara, who using her power snatches away the project from him. The story does not end here as she targets his company for rejecting her offer. To avoid more troubles for his boss, he quits the job and he is unemployed again. What follows next should be seen on-screen.

Average Ratings Given by Audience: 2.5

Reviews:
The movie has garnered mixed reviews. A section of audience have hailed the movie and declared that it can be watched once. There are many whistle-worthy moments in the movie and Soundarya has made a decent film. But another set of audience say that it is a rehash of first instalment and predictable drama that has nothing much to offer.

Highlights

Dhanush's performance
Vivek's comedy at parts

Negatives:

Anirudh's music is missing
Kajol's characterisation

Here, we bring to you the audience's response to the Tamil movie:

Ramesh Bala: #VIP2 [2.75/5]: For her 1st live action movie, Dir @soundaryaarajni has done a good job.. She has effectively used @dhanushkraja 's story
#VIP2 [2.75/5]: The main drawback of the movie is BGM.. @anirudhofficial is sorely missed despite the occasional #VIP theme music
#VIP2 [2.75/5]: @KajolAtUN has a good outing as the Big construction magnet.. @Amala_ams has done well as the wife..
#VIP2 [2.75/5]: A good entertainer.. @dhanushkraja rocks as VIP.. His confrontation scenes with @KajolAtUN r a delight to watch..
#VIP2 1st Half : @anirudhofficial gets due credit in titles for #VIP Signature theme music.. #BiggBossTamil #Raisa is an added attraction..
#VIP2 1st Half : Scenes between @dhanushkraja and @KajolAtUN will be pure Mass for fans.. Especially the interval block..

SOHAIL KHAN‏: #VIP2 INTERVAL!! And it's just Brilliant till now! The first half has its best moments with comedy, soft romance and terrific punch lines..
#VIP2 One Word Review..!!.. Entertainment, Entertainment and just Entertainment! @dhanushkraja rocked as Raghuvaran. B-L-O-C-K-B-U-S-T-E-R.

Christopher Kanagaraj‏: #VIP2 - 1st hlf | Its About Raghuvaran's challenge on how to deal his wife & Clash with Vasundra. Missing Ani's music badly. So far its Okay
#VIP2 | 2nd hlf falls flat with an abrupt ending. Vivek's humour works. Kajol's characterization is not impressive. Dhanush effortless perf.

Rathnavelu‏: #VIP2 Dhanush sleepwalks in a highly indulgent RK level avatar. Mostly greatest hits from Part 1 repackaged with not much resolution.
#VIP2 Kajol makes the best of it, but ends up being overshadowed by D (duh.) Pluses are the pacing though I really missed Velraj's touch.
#VIP2 Most of Dhanush's gratious English evoked in his comic sequences went overboard at times. It's like telling the same joke repeatedly.
#VIP2 I hope there isn't part 3. Unless the same team from Part 1 is back, though Sean Roldans score was good despite Nada Da Raja loops.
Skippable overall. D is basically RK indulged to the core (Soundarya effect maybe.) The Velraj touch from Part 1 was missing big time.
Basically Soundarya rewrote VIP 1 evoked lots of her dads touch in D's role while retaining the greatest hits that youth liked.
Almost like asking second chance from her dad after K's debacle.

Haricharan Pudipeddi: Halfway through #VIP2 and it's heading in the path I feared from the beginning. Needs a miracle in the second half.
I loved #VIP but its sequel (#VIP2) is no match. A mostly silly, boring rehash of first part despite #Dhanush turning in a great performance

Bharathnt‏: At #Vip2 intreval, this theatre showing State govt docu on sand mining (Maatru Manal) for construction. For a sec thought movie started !!

Kaushik LM: High time, our filmmakers stop portraying marriage as a torture & the wife as a demon (even if it's just for comedy). Overdone trick! #VIP2
#VIP2 - Watchable product thanks to @dhanushkraja & his energetic presence - #OneManShow! Follows the #VIP template but with lesser punch.
To make a 2nd part which betters Part1 is such a tough ask (that too when the core musician is missing). Avoid comparisons & just see #VIP2!

Rajasekar‏: #VIP2 - predictable from the word go, ends up only as a grandly shot Hindi TV serial with minimal mass moments. Anirudh's absence is a big ➖
#VIP2 - predictable from the word go, ends up only as a grandly shot Hindi TV serial with minimal mass moments. Anirudh's absence is a big ➖

Sathish Kumar: #VIP2 Dhanush rocks as an Actor. Kajol characterization & 2nd half could have been better. Anirudh BGM would have helped
#VIP2 - #Raiza receives applause as much as #Kajol from the crowd. #BiggBossTamil
#VIP2 1st half - Waiting for an interesting clash between #Dhanush & #Kajol in the second half