The film contains all the paraphernalia of Aranmanai so much that it almost seems like its replica. Some of the actors are repeated, but with shift in their character. The plot too is about the restless spirit of a wronged woman yearning for revenge. But this one is more predictable, with hardly any twists and turns.
There is the same haunted mansion, where some paranormal activities are going on, the members of the family clear targets of some supernatural force. The scenes are unabashedly over the top. It’s a lazy screenplay, which takes the audience for granted. After the insipid romance between Murali and Anitha his fiancee (Sidharth-Trisha), the narration shifts to more horrific matters.
Murali’s nephew is harassed by an unknown force and is found in the pool. Matters take a serious turn when Murali’s father (Radharavi) is brutally assaulted; their driver (Raj Kapur) is murdered; and Murali’s brother (Subhu) disappears. As the family grapples with the situation,enters Ravi, Anitha’s brother (Sundar C). His entry reassures the audience.
For, they know that he would get to the bottom of the matter, the ghost standing no chance against him. In the first half nothing exciting happens. The Soory (replacing Santhanam)-Kovai Sarala- Manobala team is not able to tickle the funny bone.
There are too many characters ,the attention shifting from one to the other. It’s towards the latter part that the director peps up the scenario.
The comedy team gets into the act, where they go in a van driven by a woman possessed. It’s probably the only fun-moment in the film. Trisha who gets sidelined after the initial scenes, gets her space here. Hansika as Maya sports a modern look, her backstory lending the emotional quotient to the plot.
Radha Ravi lends a fine touch to his performance, where he is caught in a dilemma between family honour and parental love. The episodes towards the latter part gain momentum as Ravi has his face off with the tormented spirit.
And of all the ghost-acts, Sundar C’s is probably the one that is best performed. Aranmanai-2, with its comic take and horror quotient falling short, seems more like a pale imitation of its earlier version.