Kaagaz 2 Review: Tale of a Helpless Father Who Seeks Justice for His Deceased Daughter

How often would we find ourselves fighting against the people in power? The answer to this question is only when someone close to us is either hurt or killed. This is the sole message that Satish Kaushik's movie Kaagaz 2 intends to deliver to the masses. A clerk in the water supply department, Sushil Rastogi (played by Satish Kaushik), gives his all to seek justice for his daughter, who lost her life due to the negligence of the police, administration, and a leading politician.

Needless to say, being a common man, it is indeed a tough task to take a stand against the official authorities and bureaucrats. However, where there is hope, there is a way, and to prove this right, lawyer Raj Narayan Singh (played by Anupam Kher) comes into the picture. The courtroom drama brings different set of emotions to the table, be it a father's relentless battle against the system for justice and reform, or how a father-son duo mend things right between them after a long period of time. If you are confused about the second emotional angle, then scroll down to understand better.

Kaagaz 2 Starts With a Confusing Plot

Kaagaz 2 commences with Darshan Kumar portraying Uday Raj Singh, a cadet at the Indian Military Academy. Singh's unwavering commitment to confronting injustice leads him into trouble when he intervenes to protect a woman from harassment. Consequently, Uday Raj Singh finds himself required to repeat a level at the academy.

Later, in the movie, Neena Gupta makes her appearance. Gupta, who plays the character of Radhika, Uday's mother, tries her best to give everything to her son despite being a single mom. However, when it comes to Radhika's husband and Uday's father (played by Anupam), it seems that neither the mother nor the son has a very close relationship as they don't live together from a long while.

Spoiler Alert!

Now, the story takes a different road when Uday's ailing father, Raj Narayan Singh, calls him and asks him to meet. Since the father-son duo hasn't met for a long period of time, the anger of separation from the son's side is evident on the screen. However, while spending time with his father he meets Sushil Rastogi, a helpless father mourning his brilliant daughter's death. Rastogi, with the help of Raj Narayan Singh, takes up a fight against people in power to seek justice for her daughter.

Next, we see that the entire matter ends up in court. Anupam Kher puts his all to prove the inefficiency of the administration. Kher also excels in maintaining the storyline. His portrayal, encompassing mannerisms, dialogue delivery, and body language within the courtroom, along with his expressions during confrontational moments with Darshan, validate his veteran status. Lastly, with the efforts put into the justice-seeking part, Sushil Rastogi and his deceased daughter were able to get what they were looking for.

What Works and What Doesn't

The film effectively captures the emotional journey and determination of Satish Kaushik's character, alongside the poignant interplay between Anupam Kher as a lawyer and Darshan Kumar as his son. Kher, Kiran, and Kumar deliver commendable performances. However, the film falls short of conveying the social message about the implementation and execution of laws, as the storyline feels scattered.

How Story Line Could Have Been Enhanced

Additionally, a stronger impact could have been achieved if the narrative primarily centered on Sushil Rastogi and his tragic loss rather than focusing extensively on the relationship between Anupam Kher and his son, Darshan.

About Kaagaz 2

Kaagaz 2 is helmed by VK Prakash and features Satish Kaushik, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Neena Gupta, and Smriti Kalra in key roles. The movie has been released on March 01, 2024. Further, the movie is a blend of emotional depth and societal commentary.