Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani starrer ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ has been released in theatres and it has opened to a positive response. The audience is loving the Anees Bazmee directorial and even the critics have praised everyone’s performances and the storyline. Bhul Bhulaiya 1–starring Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan was a stupendous hit at the box office and has attained somewhat of a cult status over the years. Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani trying to recreate the same magic and Tabu lending an able support. The leading pair’s onscreen chemistry is one to look out for. The supporting cast aces their characters well, making one wonder if there is anything that Sanjay Mishra, Rajpal Yadav, Ashwini Kalsekar, Rajesh Sharma, and Govind Namdeo can’t do. Amar Upadhyay and Milind Gunaji performed well, but their parts inherently seem limited. Samarth Chauhan as Potlu is bound to win a lot of hearts.
There are of course newer elements of thrill that director Anees Bazmee has instilled and introduced. It’s Aakash Kaushik’s story (he has also written the dialogues) that allows the actors a huge canvas to show different shades and perform. Of course, background music from the original comes in handy at many junctures, which gives the film a nostalgic value. Editor Bunty Nagi has given a smooth flow to the film, while art director Ajay Verekar and production designer Rajat Poddar help elevate the genre requirements of the film. Mukesh Chhabra’s casting is bang on.
On Friday, Kartik was seen seeking blessings at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple as his film got released today. The actor has been known to follow this tradition in all his films.
While there’s nothing common in this sequel and the first part–except Manjulika–the background score and the song Ami Je Tomar constantly take you back to the 2009 film and you again end up comparing. Nevertheless, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is a fresh story and it holds its ground. I’m glad that Anees Bazmee has not just resorted to jump scares to make it fit the horror genre but there are actual moments of ‘ghostly encounters’ that take you by surprise. Given that the director has a stronghold on the comedy genre too, having helmed films such as No Entry, Welcome, and Singh is King, there’s no dearth of comedy in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The best part here is that after a long time I got to see audiences laugh out so hard on clean jokes that mostly enjoyed a smooth landing. People were clapping, hooting, and screaming their hearts out during most parts of the film. Here, I must mention the unmatched craze and cheering at the entry of Chota Pandit (Rajpal Yadav), who is perhaps the only (living) character that the makers have carried forward from the original. Rajpal brings a different level of comedy with his dialogues and expressions.
Kartik, in this funny and uncanny role, delivers a performance that doesn’t disappoint. He gets ample scope to show his acting chops, dancing skills, and comic timing and does trigger some genuine laughter. Kiara is sweet and simple as Reet and looks gorgeous in each frame. Not that it’s some drastically different role that she hasn’t done in the past, yet Kiara doesn’t look stuck anywhere and keeps up her charm. Sadly, her chemistry with Kartik doesn’t do any magic. Despite a lot of flirting and one kiss, too, you never sense any sparks onscreen. Then there’s Tabu, who stands tall from the word go. She is this restrained, well-behaved, and loving bahu of the Thakur family and it’s the experience that shows in every scene she appears in.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 doesn’t bore you. It doesn’t leave you in absolute awe of it either. It cracks you up quite often. Sometimes makes you question the logic of it all. But in the end, it’s a family entertainer that doesn’t walk on the crutches of slapstick comedy to make you laugh.
