New Blockbuster Sequel ‘Indian 3’ Falls Short of Expectations

The much-anticipated sequel to the iconic Indian franchise, ‘Indian 3’, starring Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, Rakul Preet, and Priyabhavani Shankar, failed to live up to the hype and expectations of the audience. Directed by Shankar, the film, which was released on July 12, 2024, did not resonate with fans as much as its predecessor.

The story revolves around Aravind (played by Siddharth), a YouTuber running a channel called ‘Barking Dogs’, whose main goal is to expose corruption and injustice. His journey takes him to Taiwan, where the character Indian (played by Kamal Haasan) is hiding after leaving India in 1996.

Indian is a retired military officer who returns to India to deliver a message after his encounter with a woman who committed suicide after being denied lunch money. The narrative introduces new characters and plotlines but lacks the organic flow that made the original film a success.

Kamal Haasan’s entry into the film sets high expectations, but his character quickly loses depth and impact, delivering poetic dialogues intermittently. The dubbing into the Telugu language also falls short in capturing the essence of the original performance.

The action sequences are excessively exaggerated, bordering on the absurd, and the background music fails to meet the standards expected. Shankar’s direction lacks the finesse seen in his previous films, struggling to engage viewers with an incoherent narrative and weak subplots.

Rakul Preet Singh’s character lacks depth and dynamism, often delivering lines with artificiality and disconnect from the storyline. Siddharth shines in the lead role, portraying a young man seeking social change with emotional intensity and perseverance to overcome obstacles.

Priyabhavani Shankar’s role adds length and dynamics to the narrative. Her character’s chemistry with the storyline enhances her portrayal of a chemist facing a dilemma.

Bobby Simha makes an earnest attempt to bring depth to his character, but the disorganized script fails to utilize his potential effectively. The film’s attempt to address political and societal issues lacks coherence, leaving viewers unimpressed.

As the film nears its climax with the iconic line ‘Go back Indian,’ the emotional impact falls flat, failing to rally audiences behind the protagonist. The lack of a compelling narrative and impactful conflict resolution leaves the audience questioning the relevance of ‘Indian 3’ in today’s context.