Finally, Natasimha Balakrishna's Akhanda 2-Thaandavam is releasing on 12 December 2025 overcoming all the hurdles it faced on 5 December 2025. The film directed by Boyapati Sreenu is releasing amidst huge expectations as it is the sequel to the hit film Akhanda. Fans are waiting eagerly as the film is also releasing in many other languages and also in 3D, 4DX, D-Box, PVR ICE and EPIQ formats. With Balakrishna and Boyapati Sreenu scoring blockbusters like Simha, Legend and Akhanda, interest levels are high on Akhanda 2. Akhanda 2 Thaandavam OTT rights have been acquired for a fancy sum by Neflix and streaming will be done after the completion of its theatrical run. Let us see what impact Nandamuri Natasimham Balakrishna makes on viewers with his film Akhanda 2 Thaandavam.
Akhanda 2 Thaandavam story revolves around how an Aghora who relinquishes wordly pleasures and leads a detached life, reacts when the sanatana dharma is in danger. Indian government is at its wits end when people get affected by deadly virus at the Maha Kumbh Mela and their lives are endangered. They get the shock of their lives when the lab were they found the anti dote to the virus was attacked and research head Archana (Samyukta) gets killed while young scientist Janani (Harshali Malhotra) manages to escape with the vaccine.
However her life is in danger when she faces attacks from all corners until she comes across Aghora (Balakrishnna). How the Aghora is connnected to these developments, what role he plays, how Nethra (Aadi Pinisetty), her father Anantapur MLA Balamurali Krishna (Balakrishna) reacts, what it got to do with the neighbouring nations China and Pakistan form the interesting part of the narration.
Balakrishna as usual gave in all he has in both the roles. He is stunnning and sensational in the role of the Aghora. He showed variations in his feelings and delivered dialogues in a powerful and impactful manner. He showed good mannerisms and bodylanguage in the role of the Aghora. He enacted good stunts and made his presence felt on the screen.
His role as Murali Krishna is very limited and did what was required of him. He delivered few dialogues and got a foottapping song with Samyukta. Samyukta is good in her role and she got limited scope to perform. She enacted couple of action sequences.
Harshali Malhotra in the role of Balakrishna's daughter performed well in emotional sequences. She delivered dialogues according to the situation. Aadhi Pinisetty looked ferocious in the role of the villian. He transformed his physique for the role. Tarun Khanna made his presence felt in the all important scene as Lord Shiva. Others like Sarvadaman Bannerjee, Kabir Duhan Singh, Sharat Lohitaswa, Anish Kuruvilla played according to their roles.
Akhanda2 Thaandavam story is penned by Boyapati Sreenu. He continued from where he left in the first part. The narration starts smoothly with viewers taken from the end of Akhanda into Akhanda2. With the Aghora shown at the start, interest levels increases as the story takes viewers into the upcoming clear and present danger.
However, right after that narration dips with the introduction of various characters and violent scenes appearing frequently with various elements plotting the downfall of the nation. The stage is set for the high octane second half with the breathtaking and stunning interval bang.
From then on, into the second half, it is the fight between the good represented by Aghora and the various evil forces and enemy nation. Boyapati Sreenu, this time concentrated on elevating the character of Aghora to the next level. He emerged successful indoing so as he included many mass elements and action sequences to drive everyone out of the world.
But in the process, the story went for a toss. The story turned out to be weak and many scenes looked cringe and Boyapati depended on touching the sentiments of the people across the country by including dialogues pertaining to Sanatana Dharma, Rich Indian culture and traditions, current political atmosphere, touching the patriotic fervor by portraying China as the enemy and even referring to operation Sindoor. At the end of the movie, a hint was given that there will be an Akhanda 3 named as Jai Akhanda.
The action sequences are high octane and out of the world and with Balakrishna and Boyapati it is expected. However, this time they went overboard and crossed the thin redline. Boyapati can justify it with Balakrishna as Aghora having supernatural powers and he can fly in the air and also make enemies fly high with his trident. There are many illogical scenes which look silly like Balakrishna taking everyone singlehandedly entering into the enemy nation. The screenplay is decent and direction is good.
Thaman came up with one mass beat song. He with his background music drove all crazy. He gave thumping background score to elevate the scenes to the next level. He gave goosebumps with his background music. However, at times the background score turned out to be loud.
C. Ramprasad, Santosh Detake's cinematography is good. They captured the locations in a beautiful and natural manner. VFX turned out to be below average and could have been better. Tammiraju's editing turned out to be a mixed bag. At times, the editing looked solid but many times, there are scenes that slowed the pace of the narration especially in the mid part. Production values are rich.
Altogether, Akhanda 2 Thaandavam turns out to be mass entertainer with a spiritual touch. Boyapati Sreenu showed Balakrishna in out and out mass role and he delighted all the fans by showing him as Aghora and spreading spirituality and sending powerful message in a action entertainer.
But he lost the plot as the story turned out to be pretty ordinary. Except for Balakrishna's Aghora role, the film offered nothing new and over the top action sequences and lengthy, preachy dialogues dampened the spirits. Little finetuning of the script, powerful elements would have added more firepower to this mass sanatana dharma entertainer. Considering all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 2.5 rating for Akhanda 2.