Guilty Pleasures: Ajith's gangster flick Billa 2 is a slick action thriller despite its flaws

Billa 2, starring Ajith in the lead which released amidst humongous expectations a decade ago, was a damp squib at the box office. The film, which was a prequel to the blockbuster Billa, was disregarded by the critics and the audience as an 'all style, no substance film'. But the fact is, many staunch fans of Ajith still consider it to be an underrated action movie.

If Billa was about Interpol going all out to nab the dreaded gangster David Billa, its prequel Billa 2 touched upon the journey of him from a refugee from Sri Lanka to turning out to be an intelligent, yet dangerous gangster who rules the roost in illegal arms dealing.

What makes the film a favourite among the star's fans and a few others, despite its flaws, is its stylish making, Rajasekar's stunning visuals, Yuvan Shankar Raja's effective background score, goosebumps-inducing action choreography by Kecha-Stefan Richter duo, and to top it all, the towering screen presence of Ajith. 

The subtle performance of the star and his cold-blooded characterization helps his role look suave and effortless on screen. Some of the punch lines uttered by him were quite a rage among his fans back then. The movie begins with him uttering the popular dialogue en vazhkayila ovvoru naalum, ovvoru nimshamum, naana sedhukunadhu da (I sculpted each and every moment of my life), which sends his legions of fans into a tizzy even today.

What worked in most of the dialogues he utters in the movie is the connection it has with his real-life personality. Needless to say, fans did not need another reason to lap them up. The dare-devil climax action sequence which featured Ajith and Vidyut Jammwal in a moving helicopter was a jaw-dropping experience for movie lovers.

Some of the swanky slow-mo shots coupled with Yuvan's background score were more than what fans of the star could have asked for. A few twists and turns at regular intervals are other attractions in the movie which make Billa 2 a watchable fare even today among those who love revisiting it.

However, it's true that director Chakri Toleti couldn't understand the pulse of the audience, unlike Vishnuvardhan who made Billa a successful flick in 2007, which had an arresting screenplay, too, along with impressive action scenes. One major criticism Billa 2 faced from several quarters was the similarity it shared with Hollywood flick Scarface.

The lack of detailing in other characters, including the antagonist, and the superficial development of Billa's journey let down its screenplay, though fans had many moments to cheer. A female lead cast in it just for the sake of having a romantic interest for the protagonist was another apparent drawback the film suffered.

Nevertheless, Billa 2 still continues to be that action entertainer which has oodles of goosebumps moments for Ajith fans and others who love stylishly shot gangster flicks.

Billa 2 is streaming on MX Player and YouTube.