Zootopia 2 Hindi review: A worthy sequel that delivers laughs, heart and a gentler nudge on socially relevant issues!

Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, Zootopia 2 sees fan favourite cops Judy and Nick return with brand new investigations and Shraddha Kapoor’s exciting voicework in the Hindi version!

Few films pull off the magic trick of converting big, sensitive topics into a joy ride like Disney’s 2016 outing, Zootopia did. With its colourful world of anthropomorphic animals, cheeky humour, and pure intent, this buddy-cop adventure weaved the complex themes of prejudice and stereotypes into a memorable saga that spoke beautifully to kids and adults alike! Nine years later, the film returns with some more socially relevant messages, albeit lacking the sharpness of its predecessor. 

Zootopia 2 (Hindi) brings back the beloved Zootopia Police Department (ZPD) partners, Judy Hopps - a feisty bunny (dubbed by Shraddha Kapoor) and Nick Wilde, a street-smart fox, joining forces to solve a complex mystery that tests the very foundations of the animal metropolis. The film opens with a quick flashback of events that followed in the first film before setting the tone for the crux and conflicts in this one. The sturdy cape buffalo, Chief Bogo hesitatingly brings the unconventional duo on-board in a team consisting of hippos, cheetahs and rhinos, among other alpha mammals, thanks to Hopps and Wilde’s previous success. However, a misadventure lands the cop pair in trouble, casting aspersions on their professional capabilities and ‘unconvincing’ partnership. To prove their doubters wrong, the cops take on a case involving the unexpected arrival of reptiles in the city- a species that has been largely marginalised and segregated for decades. 

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While the investigation is convoluted and introduces us to multiple animals and their worlds, the movie remains a fun ride with its pop-culture references, classy humour and vibrant visuals, while delivering an important message of celebrating diversity and peaceful coexistence. As Hopps and Wilde’s investigation takes them to the city's gala event hosted by the founding fathers of  Zootopia - the mighty Lynxiles,they encounter Gary De'Snake, a mysterious and venomous pit viper who is accused of stealing a historical journal belonging to the aristocratic family. As the story unfolds, the heightening crisis puts Hoppsand Wilde’s friendship, their dedication to justice, and their trust in Zootopia’s founding myths to test. At the same time, it also subtly holds up a mirror to the audience, compelling us to confront our own hidden biases and question the casual prejudices we’ve inherited with those unconscious, everyday divisions quietly reinforced by media narratives and power structures that too often paint entire communities as ‘natural’ predators or prey.

Nonetheless, the film remains a comic outing with investigative chaos and confusion landing hilariously well in the Hindi dubbed version. Despite cramming too many plots in its roughly two hour runtime, the animals and their roles are well written and manage to bring a smile to your face most of the time. The feared and revered underworld mafia, Mr. Big, an artic shrew and Flash, the sloth, make a return in stunning cameos, extending support to our protagonists at crucial points. Besides, the film also features a stallion mayor, desi uncle-sque mountain goats, and an over-enthusiastic but ever helpful podcasting beaver, Nibbles Maplestick, who contribute in their humble way to untangle the mysteries of the case.

However, at its core, Zootopia 2 soars because of the chemistry between Hopps and Wilde. Their unlikely partnership, marked by playful banters and vulnerable confessions, beautifully shows how sharing our stories builds empathy and how dangerous it is to bottle up pain or let shame silence who we truly are. The versatility of Shraddha Kapoor’s voice is well known - her singing assignments and viral videos of her nailing everything from British to South Indian accents made her an interesting choice for Disney to cast as the Hindi voice of Judy Hopps, and she does not disappoint. Kapoor does an impressive job embodying the feisty, courageous, yet vulnerable bunny cop, who, at the end of the day, is just a small-town girl with big dreams, who every ambitious girl can relate to. Kapoor effortlessly channels Hopp's enthusiasm, determination, and every tremor of her self-doubt and heartbreak, making the character feel just as alive and adorable in Hindi as it is in the original!

Overall, Zootopia 2, while a tad unengaging and blunt in comparison to its predecessor, still delivers a heartwarming tale of friendship and socially relevant values that has something to offer for all age groups!

Zootopia 2 will hit the theaters on November 28!

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