Silence 2 Movie Review: A perfect murder mystery should be like peeling an onion, with each layer revealing new complexities and surprises. Aban Bharucha Deohans’ thriller Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout starts with a seemingly straightforward crime, but as the investigation progresses, the plot thickens, unveiling hidden motives, conflicting alibis, and unexpected connections.
The thing about a crime thriller is that the pace is of supreme importance, and having to compromise on that calls into question the handling of the narrative. The Commissioner of Police tasks ACP Avinash Verma (portrayed by Manoj Bajpayee) and his Special Crime Unit (SCU) with investigating a mass shooting at the Night Owl Bar in Mumbai. As they dig deeper, they uncover signs of a larger, more intricate, and sinister plot unfolding. At the center of the mass murder is a young girl, whose death leaves breadcrumbs of clues that lead both the officers and the audience down twisting paths of suspicion and intrigue. One suspect leads to another, and soon, the team, presided over by ACP Avinash, begins to unravel the mystery. But as the plot sporadically loses grip, it is Manoj Bajpayee’s effortless performance that redeems it.
Azma, a young girl, is deduced to be the main target in a shootout that kills 10 people. Not much effort is put into finding out what Azma did for a living. A quick look at her wardrobe, which has expensive bags and designer clothes hanging from it, is enough for Inspector Sanjana Bhatia (Prachi Desai) to jump to two possible conclusions – the victim either had a rich boyfriend or was an escort.
Meanwhile, calls are traced, alibis are questioned, and the prime suspect – one Arjun Chauhan – cold, ruthless, and eccentric in his behavioural patterns – is pinned. Too many things happen too quickly for the audience to catch up. In a bid to put together a complex, layered narrative, what the makers serve is a hotchpotch of a plot by merely blurring the lines between allies and suspects. As the final piece of the puzzle is put in place, you feel tired, dragged on for a good 2.2 hours, for an underwhelming moment of truth. Besides, the depiction of a rich bunch of men’s debauchery comes across as clichéd and lacking in depth, reducing the characters to mere stereotypes.
A few stray moments stand out in terms of writing and Manoj Bajpayee’s brilliance. The scene in which ACP Avinash asks his team to treat everything at a victim’s house with respect is beautifully written and executed. Another scene in which Avinash loses his cool at a pimp who forces underage girls into prostitution feels too uncomfortable to look at but too real to turn away from. Another scene leading up to the point where a crime location is being gheraoed by the cops deserves mention.
One wishes Prachi Desai had more to do in a film where she plays the character of a sub-inspector, but the script fails her. She’s mostly relegated to the background and finds most screen space when she has to break bad news to the unassuming kin of a victim. Silence 2 is a Manoj Bajpayee show through and through. Not only does he get to play the meatiest part, he also gets to mouth the catchiest dialogues dipped in wry humour. His character also exudes a certain empathy towards victims, which is absolutely effortless. Parul Gulati, as Aarti, does justice to her part. Dinker Sharma does a good job as Arjun, but the character feels caricaturish at certain points.
The second half is stretched, and the ending is underwhelming. While the buildup wasn’t all that bad, it’s the ending that dilutes the effort a bit. Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout attempts to address a plethora of social issues simultaneously. While the film’s ambition to shed light on these pressing matters deserves applause, the execution falls short, resulting in a narrative that feels overstuffed and a bit scattered. By trying to tackle too many issues at once, the film struggles to delve deeply into any one of them, leading to a lack of depth and coherence in its portrayal. As a result, the themes are treated superficially, somewhat diluting the impact of the film’s social commentary.
That being said, Silence 2 definitely deserves a watch if you like murder mysteries. And as always, Manoj Bajpayee is at his finest. It’s worth a watch despite the flaws.
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