Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) is a standalone sequel to the 2017 movie, Bhool Bhulaiyaa. The film was directed by Aneez Bazmee and stars Kartik Aaryan, Tabu and Kiara Advani. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’s story revolve around a young man, Ruhaan (Kartik Aaryan) who met Reet Thakur (Kiara Advani). The Thakur family is related to the legend of Manjulika, a lady who does black magic and was sealed inside a room in the Thakur mansion.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 was released in cinemas on 20 May 2022.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2- Movie Review
The film has seen a lot of box office success since it has hit the screens, and has been declared a super-hit. This success is especially celebrated by the Bollywood film industries as sales have generally been bad since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Plot
Before Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’s release, expectations were quite low for the film as the general public was comparing it to it’s predecessor. However, it turns out that this movie is a standalone sequel and so there is not much room to compare in the first place. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 knows exactly what it is. It is a horror comedy film and not a psychological thriller, and therefore, it plays to it’s own narrative. The horror elements were present with creepy music and jump scares from time to time. Occasionally, it gets a little bit too cheesy, especially when it comes to portraying a typical banshee. The comedic department is good, but it seems to lack a certain polish too. Using Kartik Aaryan’s typical cheeky smile in Rooh Baba’s character carried that entire comedic segment and the comedic timing is quite on point. Unfortunately, some jokes in the script like “ring, ring” and “conjuring, conjuring” seem to fall a bit flat. This could potentially be due to the jokes being lost in translation, as well.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 also did not just settle to be a typical horror comedy. It made sure to add that bit of twist in the end to excite the audience. Although the twist could’ve already been predicted when the film introduced the concept of twins, the film delivers the build up to the reveal solidly and convincingly. That eventually became one of the strengths of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The film kept the audience engaged throughout the film, without faltering at any point.
One complaint I would have on the plot is the romance section. Perhaps Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 was so focused and strong in it’s horror comedy element, the whole romance between Ruhaan and Reet seems rather small, and maybe even unnecessary.
Songs
As the film borrows the theme of Manjulika and the title from Bhool Bhulaiyaa, the film also paid a rightful homage to the original. Ami Je Tomar was still used as the song to get the audience’s hair raising and this itself helped create that nostalgic element for the prequel. Arijit Singh’s rendition gives a soulful vibe to the song and made for an interesting scene towards the end of the film.
The other songs like Hum Nashe Mein Toh Nahin and De Taali seem to be average romantic and club dance music.
Cast Performances
In terms of the performance of it’s cast, Tabu was the main highlight of the film. Audience would have already expected the senior actor to blow it out of the water. Nevertheless, the plot and script continued to help in showcasing Tabu’s range as both the docile Anjulika and the menacing Manjulika. Kartik Aaryan, who was cast as the main lead also did a solid job. He was obviously the perfect person to play the role of Rooh Baba, considering the similarity in his other works like Sonu Ke Totu Ki Sweety and Pyaar ka Punchnama. Naturally, he too portrayed a convincing character and delivered most of the comedic sequence. Somehow, he also managed to show some range in the final climax.
Verdict
An entertaining show, but definitely a one-time watch.
6.5/ 10
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