Movie Review: Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam (2026) – A Darker, Funnier and Sharper Sequel
After the 2024 comedy-drama Bharathanatyam, director Krishnadas Murali returns with Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam, a dark comedy thriller that takes the eccentric family from the first film into much more dangerous territory.
Starring Saiju Kurup, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Jagadish, Vinay Forrt, Baby Jean, Kalaranjini and Sreeja Ravi, the film mixes family comedy, crime, suspense and increasingly absurd situations. Released theatrically on April 10, 2026, the film has earned praise for its writing and dark humour, with The Times of India awarding it 3.5/5. (The Times of India)
Quick Review Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Krishnadas Murali |
| Writers | Krishnadas Murali, Vishnu R. Pradeep |
| Lead Cast | Saiju Kurup, Suraj Venjaramoodu |
| Supporting Cast | Jagadish, Vinay Forrt, Baby Jean, Kalaranjini, Sreeja Ravi, Swathi Das Prabhu, Nandu Poduval |
| Cinematography | Bablu Aju |
| Editor | Shafeeque V. B. |
| Music & Background Score | Electronic Kili |
| Genre | Dark Comedy / Thriller / Family Drama |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Runtime | Approximately 122–155 Minutes* |
| Release Date | April 10, 2026 |
| OTT | Netflix |
| Sequel To | Bharathanatyam (2024) |
*Published sources differ on the listed runtime, so the duration can vary by database. (The Times of India)
Storyline: A Family Secret Turns Into a Nightmare
The story continues after the events of Bharathanatyam, once again following Sasidharan Nair (Saiju Kurup) and his dysfunctional family.
Sashi and his family travel to Sreekandapuram to help settle matters involving his late father’s second wife and half-brother. What initially appears to be a straightforward family and property issue soon becomes complicated when the family discovers that the deceased Bharathan Nair had left behind more secrets than they expected.
The arrival of Govindaraj (Suraj Venjaramoodu) changes everything.
An old secret comes to light, a crime occurs, and suddenly the family finds itself in a situation where everyone has something to hide.
Rather than immediately turning into a conventional crime thriller, the screenplay finds comedy in the family’s increasingly desperate attempts to protect themselves. The tension grows precisely because the characters are ordinary people who are completely unprepared for the consequences of what has happened.
The story therefore becomes a strange combination of family drama, crime thriller and dark comedy, with the characters repeatedly making their situation worse while trying to make it better. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Character Performances: Suraj and Saiju Lead a Strong Ensemble
The cast is one of the film’s biggest strengths.
- Saiju Kurup (as Sasidharan Nair): Saiju Kurup once again gives Sashi a wonderfully ordinary and relatable personality. His nervous reactions and understated comic timing are particularly effective when the family becomes trapped in increasingly bizarre circumstances. His performance provides the emotional and comedic centre of the film.
- Suraj Venjaramoodu (as Govindaraj): Suraj is one of the film’s major highlights. He brings menace without losing the comedy, creating a character who can be intimidating in one scene and unexpectedly hilarious in another. Several reviews and audience reactions have singled him out as a standout performer. (The Hollywood Reporter India)
- Jagadish: Jagadish brings his considerable experience to the ensemble. His timing and reactions fit perfectly into the film’s increasingly chaotic family situation.
- Vinay Forrt: Vinay adds another distinct personality to the eccentric group and contributes effectively to the film’s darker comic tone.
- Baby Jean: Baby Jean makes a strong impression and is one of the film’s notable comic performers. His character becomes particularly memorable as the story moves deeper into its chaotic second half.
- Kalaranjini: Kalaranjini gives the family portions emotional grounding while also fitting naturally into the comedy.
- Sreeja Ravi: Sreeja Ravi adds another strong supporting presence to the family ensemble.
The official trailer credits also list Nandu Poduval, Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Sruthy Suresh, Divya M. Nair and several other performers. (YouTube)
Technical Craft & Direction: Darker Than the Original
Director Krishnadas Murali makes a smart decision by not simply repeating the formula of the first film.
The original Bharathanatyam was more of a family comedy-drama, whereas Mohiniyattam pushes the same characters into a darker crime-oriented world.
Cinematography
Bablu Aju handles the cinematography. The visual style supports the transition from ordinary family situations to increasingly sinister circumstances.
The film doesn’t need excessive visual spectacle. Instead, the locations and framing help establish an atmosphere where something could go wrong at any moment.
Music & Background Score
Electronic Kili provides the music and original score. The background music plays an important role in enhancing the film’s dark-comedy tone, particularly during revelations and suspenseful sequences. (YouTube)
Editing
Shafeeque V. B. handles the editing. One of the film’s advantages is its quicker setup compared with the first instalment. Onmanorama noted that the sequel moves into its central conflict more quickly rather than spending too much time establishing the characters. (Onmanorama)
Critical Analysis: When Crime Becomes Comedy
The biggest success of Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam is its genre balance.
The film has a genuine crime-thriller foundation, but instead of treating every situation with complete seriousness, it finds humour in the characters’ panic and desperation.
The family members aren’t master criminals. They are ordinary people who suddenly find themselves dealing with an extraordinary problem. Their attempts to conceal what happened naturally create increasingly ridiculous situations.
This is where the screenplay works particularly well.
The Hollywood Reporter India praised the film as an unusually dark comedy and highlighted how efficiently the screenplay establishes its villain despite limited screen time. (The Hollywood Reporter India)
At the same time, the film isn’t universally praised. The Indian Express gave it 2.5/5, arguing that although it is a worthy sequel and has entertaining moments, its humour and storytelling don’t consistently reach their full potential. (Indian Express)
That difference in critical response is understandable. The film’s humour depends heavily on its unusual tone, and viewers who prefer straightforward comedy may find the darker material unexpected.
But for audiences who enjoy black comedy mixed with suspense, this tonal shift is exactly what makes the sequel stand out.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Watching?
Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam is a clever and entertaining Malayalam dark comedy thriller that improves on its predecessor by taking the story in a much darker direction.
Saiju Kurup once again anchors the film with his natural comic timing, while Suraj Venjaramoodu delivers one of the standout performances. Jagadish, Vinay Forrt, Baby Jean and Kalaranjini complete a strong ensemble. (Rotten Tomatoes)
The screenplay by Krishnadas Murali and Vishnu R. Pradeep is the film’s biggest strength, combining mystery, family chaos, crime and dark humour without simply copying the first movie.
It isn’t a perfect film, but its unexpected twists, strong performances, dark humour and entertaining second half make it a worthy sequel.
If you enjoy Malayalam dark comedies, crime thrillers, family chaos and clever situational humour, Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam is definitely worth watching. The film is currently available to stream on Netflix. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ / 5 (The Times of India)
