Abhishek Bachchan is back, and this might well be the film that re-establishes him in the top echelon of Bollywood heroes.

And even if it does not do that, it certainly brings Ram Gopal Varma back in contention after the disaster of his last, self-named, venture, on Sholay.

The energy and excitement of Sarkar is present in its sequel, as is the Govinda chant that haunted watchers.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's much-awaited appearance as the CEO of the power plant is slick and convincing. She has done few better roles, and she has been paired opposite few better men than her husband.

Forget the talk about their lack of chemistry: Ramu makes them sizzle.Her scene with the Bachchans to lay out the Sheppard Power project is a classic and will be you-tubed by the end of today. Though Big B is unconvinced about the project initially, he agrees after Abhishek lends it his backing, and then Junior goes off into rural Maharashtra to get the people to fall behind it. This was unrealistic: in India no politician ever goes out publicly in favour of a project, and certainly does not mobilise openly for it. And for good reason: and that is what Shankar (Abhishek) finds out in the course of the movie as the project turns into a battleground.

Overall, the film looks very nice (as Sarkar also did) and different from RGV Ki Aag (which looked atrocious), and the cinematography is first-rate.

The casting is just as good as it was in the first movie (though you miss KK's raw energy) and the support actors are top notch, especially Sayaji Shindi and Dilip Prabhawalkar.

Of course, any movie with the Big B in it will ultimately be about the Big B. He is explosive at the end and will earn a few brownie points from the fans of the political leader whom he emulates.

What's good: Ram Gopal Varma's energy, replicating mood of the first part

What's great: Big B, Ash-Abhi chemistry

Watch out for: the shock suspense ending

- Girish Gupta

Click here to Rate & Post your reviews of this movie