Jailer 2 review: Rajinikanth’s swag and cameos earn 4/5

For Rajinikanth fans, the wait is over. Jailer 2 arrived in theatres on October 15, 2026, with a 4/5 review from Pinkvilla. Director Nelson Dilipkumar returns to the world he built with the 2023 blockbuster Jailer, and this sequel is being called a celebration built for the big screen.

The story for this round

Set just three months after the first film, Jailer 2 follows the idol-trade group’s hunt for the person behind Varman’s death and the hidden containers of idols. Muthuvel Pandian has a larger plan waiting, and the conflict spirals into an all-out war with the Kalpak family. That setup gives Rajinikanth room to be both strategic and stylish.

What works: star power and the cameo parade

Pinkvilla’s review notes that even a small gesture from Rajinikanth can get a theatre cheering, and the film leans into that. The cameos also do real narrative work rather than just crowding the frame: Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar, Jackie Shroff, Vijay Sethupathi and Hrithik Roshan all make a mark. Hrithik’s appearance, backed by a track that hasn’t been released online yet, is singled out as a moment where a star’s eye does the talking. Anirudh Ravichander’s background score and songs give the hero moments extra lift, while Vidya Balan, SJ Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Mithun Chakraborty fill out the world.

Here is where the sequel lands strongest:

• Rajinikanth returns as the calm, in-control former warden.
• Cameos are placed to serve the plot, not just to boost a frame.
• The music makes the mass moments feel bigger.

What drags

The review is clear about the rough edges. The first half takes time to build its world, and an emotional arc carried over from the first film slows the middle. Some VFX and CGI moments feel off, and the colour palette sticks close to the original, occasionally too saturated. None of this sinks the experience, but it does leave a few flat stretches.

Verdict

For Bollywood Society readers who loved Jailer, Jailer 2 is the kind of film that deserves a full, loud theatre. Pinkvilla says it seems to surpass its predecessor in engagement and entertainment. If you are choosing a weekend show, it is a star vehicle that understands exactly what Rajinikanth fans show up for.

Source: PINKVILLA

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