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Kanchana 2
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Wikipedia article
'Kanchana 2' (marketed as 'Muni 3: Kanchana 2') is a 2015 Indian Tamil-language horror comedy film written, produced and directed by Raghava Lawrence, who enacted dual roles in it. It is the third installment in the Muni (film series). The film stars Nithya Menen, Taapsee Pannu and Kovai Sarala and was released worldwide on 17 April 2015. The film was remade in Kannada as 'Kalpana 2' (2016) starring Upendra.
Plot
This movie is set two years after the events in 'Muni 2: Kanchana'. The film begins with a couple visiting a friend's home for dinner. To their surprise, their friends were not home but instead the house was haunted by spirits. Then time skips to the present where Raghava is a cameraman for the channel Green TV where his crush Nandini also works. When Green TV drops down to second position in the ratings, Nandini advises to shoot a horror program to bring their channel back to first position. After the board members agree on this plan, Nandini decides on a location with a house with an intense haunted look, without knowing the fact that it is actually haunted. She sets out with Raghava, his watchman Mayil, Dr. Prasad, and the anchor Pooja to complete the task.
While shooting on a nearby beach, Nandini discovers a 'Thali', and after the discovery, mysterious events start taking place. Because of this, she decides to visit a priest. The priest discovers that the 'Thali' is actually haunted, lets Nandini out of his room, and returns the 'Thali' to the spirit. Nandini does not seem to believe it, and the priest challenges her to check the place where she had taken it from. After Nandini and Pooja disturb the 'Thali' for a second time, it does not leave them. She rushes to the priest, and he helps her. As instructed by him, she prepares a coffin and a groomed woman's corpse which has the 'Thali'. They move to a distance and shoot to see that the coffin literally breaks open and the dead woman is dragged by the ghost. All the members run away out of fear, and Raghava collapses. The priest is also killed by the ghost. Nandini tries to wake Raghava up but is too late, as she becomes possessed by the ghost.
Raghava and Nandini move into another house, where the haunted Nandini is planning something, and to their surprise, Raghava's mother, and Nandini's sister-in-law also come to stay there. Several changes occur in Nandini which only Raghava notices at first; she starts smoking at night and even physically assaults him. Soon, all realize that she is possessed. Nandini (now possessed as Ganga) influences Shiva's ghost, to be sent into Raghava. When Raghava's mother and Nandini's sister-in-law return, they are beaten up. They then run to a church and learn about Shiva and Ganga.
Ganga is handicapped, but Shiva loves her anyway. Unfortunately, Marudhu killed and buried them when Ganga refused to marry his insane son Shankar. Also Marudhu killed Shiva and Ganga's family and made Shiva's best friend insane. Before dying, Shiva killed Shankar. When Raghava (possessed as Shiva) kills Marudhu's brother, he learns that a spirit killed him. He gets a Tantrik and revives his dead son to kill Shiva and Ganga. Shiva battles Shankar and eventually defeats him. Ganga takes her revenge by killing Marudhu. Shiva returns Raghava safely to his family and promises to return whenever they needed him; the story of Shiva and Ganga restores Green TV to first position.
Cast
* Raghava Lawrence as Raghava and Shiva (dual role)
* Nithya Menen as Ganga
* Taapsee Pannu as Nandini
* Kovai Sarala as Raghava's mother
* Renuka as Nandini's sister-in-law
* Jayaprakash as Marudhu
* Rajendran as Marudhu's henchman
* Suhasini Maniratnam as Green TV Head
* Sriman as Dr. Prasad
* Mayilsamy as Watchman
* Pooja Ramachandran as Pooja
* Manobala as Arnold
* Jangiri Madhumitha as Aishwarya
* Pandu as Dr. Pandurangan
* Chaams as Aravind Swamy
* Bhanu Chander as Chandru
* Vinu Chakravarthy as Raghava's father (photo only)
* Mathi as Church Father
* Boys Rajan
* Janani Balasubramaniam
Production
Raghava Lawrence began work on the third installment in the 'Muni' franchise in 2012, then titled 'Muni 3: Ganga'. He said that he had two different storylines for the sequel. Taapsee Pannu was selected as the female lead. Anjali was said to have been signed for the title role of Ganga, but she was later replaced by Nithya Menen.[http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/100832.html Nithya Menon in 'Muni 3' Tamil Movie News]. Indiaglitz.com (7 December 2013). Retrieved on 2015-05-29. Lawrence introduced his brother Elvin in the film, who danced in a music video.[http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/muni-3-takes-six-forms-raghava-lawrence-muni-3-08-05-13.html Muni 3 takes six forms, Raghava Lawrence, Muni 3]. Behindwoods.com (8 May 2013). Retrieved on 2015-05-29. Lawrence was reported to be appearing in six different looks in the film. Pooja Ramachandran was also chosen and was said to be playing the role of an anchor. In October 2013, Lawrence injured himself while filming and the making of the film was stopped for over three months. The film was in production for over two years.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack features five songs composed by C. Sathya, S. Thaman, debutants Ashwamithra and Leon James, with the latter contributing two songs to the album.
Release
The film was released on 17 April 2015 in around 750 screens worldwide alongside Mani Ratnam's 'O Kadhal Kanmani'. The Telugu version was released later on 1 May 2015 in around 550 screens.
Critical reception
'Kanchana 2' opened to positive reviews from critics.'The Times of India' gave 3 stars out of 5 and wrote, "The comedy is broad and low-brow, banking on gay humour and the reactions of the characters when they are spooked by the presence of the ghost. It becomes too childish at times but you laugh nevertheless...the film does what it promises we chuckle, cower, cry and at times, cringe". Behindwoods gave the film 2.75 out of 5 stars and said, "Looks like Lawrence has mastered the genre, so well that he knows how to keep the audience at the edge of their seats. His creative imagination has made this film different from the usual horror comedy films". 'Rediff' rated the film 2.5 on 5, calling it "an enjoyable film" and wrote, "The plot may be out of date and the comedy absurd, but the antics of the familiar characters and their enthusiasm make you laugh despite yourself". 'Sify' wrote, "'Kanchana 2' is no different from Lawrence's earlier horror comedies...The formula is the same mix crass comedy with lots of horror, dead person's spirit getting into hero/heroine body, slapstick humour, glamour, melodrama, ladies sentiments, fight scenes...Add five songs, haunted house, scream and wailing sounds, it works".
'Indo-Asian News Service' gave 2.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "The movie, which follows a very clichd and dated format of horror template, suffers heavily due to the lack of a good story" and called it "undoubtedly a weak film in the franchise".
'The Hindu' wrote, "The acting isnt the problem; the predictable story is...'Kanchana-3', which is hinted at before the end credits, needs to do better if the franchise has to survive".
Box office
'Kanchana 2' grossed approximately worldwide.On its first day, the film grossed nett in Tamil Nadu alone and around worldwide. The film had a "phenomenal" opening, earning nett in Tamil Nadu in two days. 'Kanchana 2' earned nett in Tamil Nadu in its opening weekend. The film netted in Karnataka, in Kerala and from the rest of India. In Chennai city alone, the film made in three days.
The film grossed in Tamil Nadu in ten days. It made from TN, Kerala and Karnataka in fourteen days.
'Ganga', the Telugu version collected share in its first week with a gross of .[http://www.ibtimes.co.in/ganga-first-week-collection-ap-t-box-office-lawrence-starrer-grosses-19-3-crore-7-days-631817 'Ganga' First Week Collection at AP/T Box Office: Lawrence Starrer Grosses 19.3 Crore in 7 Days]. Ibtimes.co.in (8 May 2015). Retrieved on 2015-05-29. The final share was , making it the third highest earning dubbed film in AP/Telangana after 'I' and 'Enthiran'.
The film opened with in the United States on a limited release. In UK and Ireland, the film made in the opening weekend. In Malaysia, the film had a very good opening, grossing in its first three days.
Sequel
A sequel to the film, Kanchana 3 was released on 19, April 2019. While it was actually connected to Muni 2: Kanchana, due to Kanchana being a bigger hit and more interesting than Kanchana 2, and Kanchana 2 being a different story, it was not the sequel to the previous film and it had the cast from the previous film reprising their roles.
Legacy
The dialogue from this film "Motta Siva Ketta Siva" inspired a 2017 film of same name also starred Raghava Lawrence.
References
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