New Delhi: 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' featuring Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu opens with an impressive sequence that follows a throwback story on how Manjulika (the ghost) is captured in an old haveli in Bhavanigarh.
Aneez Bazmee, the director, makes good use of sound and form (camera movement) to give us a sense of what is to come. The rapid movement of camera and a woman echoing the classical 'Ame Je Tomar' soundtrack with visuals complement the tonality of the opening sequence.
From the opening sequence, the film fast forwards to 18 years later in a cold wintry landscape of Himachal Pradesh.
This is where the hero (Kartik Aaryan) and the heroine (Kiara Advani) meet in the most cliched circumstances and deliver conventional small talk dialogue.
Suddenly, 'De Taali' track happens in an unexpected place and manner. A formula trope for an opening sequence song that is forcefully fed into the narrative 15 minutes later. This could have been completely removed without affecting the look and feel of 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' in any way.
Kartik Aaryan plays Ruhan, a conventional good-at-heart brat introduced like Kareena Kapoor Khan's famous Geet from 'Jab We Met'. He later transitions and offers a variety of performances in the same role — a treat for any actor wanting to flex his acting skills.
Kiara Advani, on the other hand, is introduced as Reet, the traditional simpleton with no belief in superstitions. Her role is not as meaty as Kartik's. She is mostly stuck inside rooms, stairwells and only comes out when there is a song to dance to.
From Himachal's bright and white landscape, the tonality of the film changes to sandy and dark alleys of Rajasthan where the film really begins.
An array of ensemble cast including Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, and Sanjay Mishra among others are revealed.
Tabu, who is in a double role, is subtsantial to the film. Rajpal Yadav and Sanjay Mishra lend a necessary comic angle to this horror comedy which sometimes comes close to stupidity.
Rajpal Yadav's entry will remind audiences of Akshay Kumar's 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' and this reprisal is a well-intentioned ode to that Priyadarshan film.
However, Bazmee is unable to make use of a well-talented ensemble cast unlike the former director, Priyadarshan.
Why Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 works
For most audiences, going in with zero expectation will be a plus because they are likely to enjoy the film more.
After a series of badly made remakes that Bollywood has been churning out, 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' floats above average and has its good moments.
What is good in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
1. Dialogue
The dialogue of 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' has been written well in parts. Apart from parts where cringe-worthy comedy is really in your face, the film also has superb moments where some slick-intelligent dialogue and sarcasm brighten a sequence.
Dialogues like 'Ye haveli nahi bhool bhulaiyaa hai', 'Donald Trump ke tweet aur chudail ke paer humesha ulte hote hai', 'ache din ayenge', 'Isse better Bigg Boss chala jata... vahan bezatti karane ke paise to milte' etc. stand out.
They also create moments of meta-narrative comments on cinema, popular songs, and also a sarcastic take on political propoganda.
2. Sequences
'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' shines in some sequences. Starting from Ruhan's transition to Rooh Baba and then the 'Ache Din Ayenge' sub-sequence to finding Reet in the Haveli; all of these are commendable.
In Ruhan's transition to Rooh Baba, we see an intelligent use of music, dialogue, Kartik helming a sub-culture movement and then just when you think there is a vaccum just perfect for the title track of 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' to start playing--it never happens. This puncturing of narrative when you are 100% sure of something is a good way to engage audiences throughout the film.
It also shows how the filmmaker purposely tries not to follow the convention but obviously, only in parts.
In another sequence where we see people finding Reet in the film and the opening of the room that incarcerates Manjulika, there is great use of music and camera movement to heighten and create urgency, comedy and horror.
Kiara's dance sequence when she emulates Manjulika is another great narrative puncture trope we just discussed.
3. Editing
By all means, 'Bhool Bhualiyaa 2' is a well-edited film that makes good use of fade-outs to heighten horror, further the narrative and suggest more horror.
In night sequences, when Majulika is out preying, fade-outs and music cut in cresendoes, rapid movement of images creates a great impression.
In this regard, handheld camera in 'finding reet sequence', 'killing baba' sequence is a good narrative device.
Where Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 doesn't work ( SPOILERS AHEAD)
1. Repetition
Conventional motifs of tantric knowledge, black magic, women ghosts look and feel predictable. Anees Bazmee does try to challenge this is in the climax of the film when all feminine aspects associated with black magic are challenged as Kartik Aaryan becomes Manjulika; but only to reinstate these again.
Nevertheless, Kartik dancing to 'Ami Je Tomar' is a breaking stereotype moment to remember 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' for.
2. Dialogue
Although the dialogue is the film's strength in some places, in others it is cringy and way too much talk that is not required. For instance; Reet meeeting Ruhan and the dialogue repetition about 'sixth sense' could be done away with. Same goes for the absurd discussions between Sanjay Mishra and Rajpal Yadav's characters to expose Ruhan's reality.
3. Screenplay
In some parts, comedy stretches too far to an extent that make the film look lengthy. The first morning after Manjulika's release, for example, could have been avoided.
Conclusion
Overall, 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' makes intelligent use of music, comedy, form and design to create another cult horror comedy like its predecessor film in 2007.
Kartik Aaryan shines and besides typical formula elements like forceful songs, stretched content and this need to stick to the format set by Akshay Kumar's 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa'; the film is worth the watch.
'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' will also stream on Netflix post its theatre run.