Jailer 2: Malayalam film folk split between Rajinikanth joy and Mohanlal letdown

Nelson Dilipkumar's Jailer 2 opened in theatres on Thursday. Malayalam film people are reacting to it on Instagram in two very different ways: pride at sharing a set with Rajinikanth, and frustration over how little Mohanlal gets to do.

Actor and filmmaker Rajesh Madhavan appears with the superstar in a dance number. His partner, assistant director Deepti Karat, called it "my little brag moment". She said that sharing the screen with Rajinikanth was "way, way beyond a dream" for someone who had never dared to dream big in movies.

She also remembered what it was like on set. Every time Rajinikanth walked in, she wrote, a thousand dancers and artists burst into applause, and thinking about it still gives her goosebumps.

Mohanlal returns as Mathew, the smuggler friend he played in the 2023 original. Actor Aaryan wrote that he walked out happy as a Rajinikanth fan but heartbroken as a Mohanlal fan. He called the first half terrific and felt the second half did not match it. He also asked why shots of Mohanlal from the trailer were missing from the final cut.

Jishad Shamsudeen, who designs Mohanlal's costumes, went further. He wrote that cutting scenes of a star like Mohanlal made no sense, and said he would not work on a sequel if one is made.

Aaryan still called it a film worth watching. His advice to fellow Mohanlal fans was to leave their expectations outside the theatre.