Dhadak 2 review: Dhadak 2 attempts to retell a powerful story about caste, identity, and forbidden love in a city in a North Indian setting. Inspired by the Tamil original Pariyerum Perumal, the film dives into the harsh realities of caste discrimination through the lens of a romance between two college students. While the subject matter is bold and relevant, the film struggles to emotionally engage its audience. With polished visuals and a serious tone, Dhadak 2 feels more like a well-meaning statement than a moving cinematic experience.
Plot
Dhadak 2 is set in a law college in a North Indian city, where the story of Neelesh (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Vidhi (Tripti Dimri) unfolds. They are classmates but come from very different worlds. Neelesh hides his surname, ’Ahirwar’, because he’s from a lower caste. Vidhi, on the other hand, belongs to an upper-caste Brahmin family and never has to think twice about her identity.
The movie shows us glimpses of Neelesh’s harsh world—his neighbourhood, where people work as sweepers and gutter cleaners. But these people are shown only from a distance, like blurry background characters. The focus remains mostly on the lead pair, carefully styled to look ‘natural’. At times, it even feels like the movie is trying too hard to make Neelesh look “dark enough” for the part.
Analysis: A serious issue, but lacking soul
Strong subject, weak connection
The film takes on a powerful and uncomfortable subject—caste and love across social barriers. It begins as a love story but gradually opens up to show the many layers of class and caste discrimination, from the neighbourhoods people live in to how they’re treated in college. That makes the film socially important. But emotionally, it doesn’t hit as hard as it should. The characters go through a lot—they cry, argue, and suffer—but the audience never fully feels their pain. The emotional storytelling just doesn’t connect deeply enough.
Creative storytelling vs heavy-handed filmmaking
There’s a sense that the film is made more out of obligation than inspiration. It feels like the filmmakers were carrying a heavy social responsibility and forgot that cinema is also about feeling, imagination, and connection. The storytelling could have been more layered, more heartfelt. They missed the potential of exploring the Birju sequence emotionally. It could have been deeply emotional and symbolic, but it wasn’t explored enough. A more sensitive, creative take could have made that moment unforgettable.
More style than substance
Compared to the Tamil original (Pariyerum Perumal), this version seems less brave. The original lingered on real people and their pain. Dhadak 2 keeps things visually pretty, focusing more on the good-looking leads than the hard realities. At times, it feels more like a documentary—serious and informative—but less like a story that touches your heart.
A step in the right direction, but not quite there
It’s encouraging to see Hindi films trying to tackle real-life issues like caste discrimination. Stories like this—modern Romeo-Juliet tales rooted in caste divisions—are worth telling. But how they’re told matters just as much. Dhadak 2 takes on a strong subject but misses the emotional and cinematic impact it could have had. It’s a good movie with its heart in the right place, but it needed more soul.
Rating: 1.75/5
Dhadak 2 review: Reviewed by Kausalya Rachavelpula
