INDIA: Despite the title and the persona of Rajpal Yadav, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is a self-contained film with nothing prevalent with its predecessor, directed by Priyadarshan. Yes! The infamous ghost of Manjulika reappears in the sequel, but this time it escapes the psychic realm and enters reality, scaring and amusing the audience.
Kartik Aaryan is a charming yet psychic persona who holds himself as Ruhaan Randhawa, a. k. a Rooh Baba, accompanied by Rajpal Yadav’s Chhote Pandit and Sanjay Mishra’s Bade Pandit. Kiara Advani as Reet Thakur adds to the Thakur clan’s burgeoning presence, including blossoming chemistry with Ruhaan. Tabu as Anjulika is the most exemplary persona to elevate the entire film.
Anees Bazmee helms this horror-comedy fusion. Unlike his earlier projects, his humor approach is mild, with his vivid drive to hold 60-plus films, including popular comedies such as No Entry, Welcome, and Ready. Though Anees’ comic touch mixed with a scary mood doesn’t quite fit Priyadarshan’s directorial vision, it works as a family entertainer.
The duo of Kartik and Tabu is a captivating spectacle to contemplate
Kartik Aaryan plays the lead and fills the vacuum left by Akshay Kumar. Kartik has done an excellent job retaining a separate role before Akshay; he portrays a similar persona to his past performances. Kartik’s there as his recurring character, complete with comedy remarks and facial expressions.
Tabu is an accomplished actress who hardly requires any accolades. She dominates the film in specific instances of performance, as she always does. Her effectiveness occasionally overshadows the protagonist. Tabu’s screen presence completely dominates the spectacle when the second half arrives. Her master class skill in precisely balancing the emotions can be summarised in severe and some amusing scenes.
Since the film is a mishmash of horror and comedy, such a genre is tough to maintain in recent times. In a nutshell, it’s a challenging task to maintain the balance of two opposing concepts, yet the film succeeds, albeit imperfectly, as a delightful phenomenon. Kartik’s character’s meme gags can sometimes be funny but turn into complete jerks in other instances.
The cornerstone for crafting a comic shot in the film is slapstick comedy. As mentioned earlier, Rajpal Yadav and Sanjay Mishra are primarily liable for those. Both actors possess tremendous talent, but both ponder in the line of seldom portrayal. Although their full potential is scarcely explored in this film, they offer everything with their emotions.
The screenplay appears to be a rollercoaster as well, but it is the one that perplexes us the most. Only the surprise flip at the conclusion brings the derailed tale back into balance. The storyline twist transforms the entire story into a delightful setting to observe. The trailer, edited in the dullest manner possible, deserves all of the credit for lowering expectations. The film is unexpected, and while it has issues, it succeeds as a family entertainer.
The underdeveloped aspects drag the narrative down
The narrowing down of characters to deliver slapstick is the least loved feature of the film; it works at times but feels forced after certain aspects. Rajpal Yadav and Sanjay Mishra are primarily responsible for dumbing down the issue, which seems demeaning to great actors.
Kiara’s character seems to be there to add chemistry to the story. Her possessed form is frightening at times but has a drab sense overall. Her character could have been fleshed out more, making for a fascinating aspect to display.
Verdict:
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is a flawed labyrinth of jump scares and humor, unlike its predecessor. Still, the voodoo touch and the clever concept transform this Kartik Aaryan starred horror-comedy into an entertainment relief for the audience, undoubtedly a one-time watch with friends and family.
Transcontinental Times rating: 3/5
Also Read: Nigeria Military School Celebrates 68th Founder’s Day
