Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ movie review: Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, Sunny Kaushal,
After three years, Vinil Mathew’s hit romantic thriller eased COVID-19 gloom through Haseen Dillruba‘s return to take advantage of Rani Kashyap’s charm and high ratings. Billed as an exhilarating follow-up that would spice up the wet season, it disappoints in the end. The producers sought to bring a captivating fusion of Indian pulp fiction into Netflix living rooms; instead they couldn’t turn a single romantic noir story into an interesting one.
One of the issues at hand is that, aside from the clueless police at the conclusion, there was little left to contribute to the scandalous tale of the small-town beautician who struggles to decide on the type of man she desires in her life. Consequently, in the sequel directed by Jayprad Desai, the buildup feels somewhat contrived, and the overly embellished writing of Kanika Dhillon leads one to a state of boredom as the superficial dialogue drags on before translating into action. Despite being set in Agra, the romance lacks depth and the crime lacks intensity. The constant back-and-forth to maintain suspense appears more as a editing tactic rather than a natural progression.
After leading the police on a wild goose chase, Rani Kashyap (played by Taapsee Pannu) and Rishu Saxena (portrayed by Vikrant Massey) devise a plan to flee the country. However, their escape is thwarted by the arrival of police officer Mrityunjay Prasad, played by Jimmy Sheirgill. Prasad is determined to put an end to their scheme, as he has a personal connection to the case and is eager to uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Neel Tripathi (played by Harshvardhan Rane), the missing piece in the puzzle.
Rani’s predicament in the original storyline added an element of enjoyment to the viewing experience. She enters into a marriage with a mild-mannered man, only to find herself captivated by the charismatic cousin of her husband. As her loyal husband undergoes a physical transformation, Rani’s inner turmoil leads to a tumultuous situation that goes beyond surface appearances. However, as the plot unfolds over three summers, the complexity of the deception and the looming danger become overshadowed by a lack of depth. The anticipated twist fails to deliver the intended impact, leaving viewers feeling unsatisfied.
The self-awareness of introducing a fictional pulp fiction writer, whose novels serve as inspiration for the characters in the film as a tribute to the genre, becomes overly apparent. The pearls of wisdom on relationships shared by this character quickly lose their luster.
In the world of cinema, the sequel to Vinil Mathew’s romantic thriller, “Haseen Dillruba,” has made its return after three years, aiming to capitalize on the charm and goodwill of Rani Kashyap. Marketed as a thrilling follow-up to spice up the rainy season, the film falls short of expectations. The creators once again attempt to deliver a desi dose of pulp fantasy to Netflix viewers but fail to transform a captivating story into a romantic noir. The movie review of “Haseen Dillruba” can be likened to a “Gone Girl” gone wrong. The narrative struggles to maintain momentum, with the exception of the clueless police towards the end. The tale of a small-town beautician grappling with her romantic choices lacks depth and fails to evoke genuine emotion. Directed by Jayprad Desai and penned by Kanika Dhillon, the sequel’s buildup feels contrived, and the dialogue fails to translate into meaningful action, leaving the audience yearning for substance. Set in Agra, the film lacks the soulful romance and passionate crime elements it promises. The back-and-forth editing technique employed to sustain suspense feels more like a gimmick than a natural storytelling device. As Rani Kashyap and Rishu Saxena attempt to flee the country, they are thwarted by police officer Mrityunjay Prasad, played by Jimmy Sheirgill, who is determined to solve the mystery of Neel Tripathi’s disappearance. Adding to the complexity of the plot, another admirer, Abhimanyu, portrayed by Sunny Kaushal, enters Rani’s life, leading to a game of cat and mouse with the police. Despite the promising premise on paper, the execution falls short of expectations. The film’s potential remains untapped, leaving viewers wanting more depth and authenticity in the storytelling.
The dynamic tension between Taapsee and Harshvardhan Rane’s characters that kept us on edge during the first installment is noticeably absent in this sequel. The connection between Rani and Abhimanyu lacks the necessary chemistry to captivate the audience. While Sunny is a talented actor, his portrayal of the character falls short of the charisma needed to truly engage viewers. Jimmy’s character feels underdeveloped and out of place, leaving him disconnected from the storyline and disinterested in the case at hand. Vikrant, who breathed life into the story in the first chapter, is given little to work with in this installment. Taapsee, too, seems to be stuck in a rut and could benefit from hitting the reset button to bring a fresh energy to her performance. Much like the film itself, she delivers a solid performance, but lacks the excitement needed to truly captivate the audience.
Review
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba Critic’s Rating: 3.0/5 has moved from the quiet town of Jwalapur to the bustling city of Agra in an attempt to capture the dark and edgy charm of its predecessor. Written by Kanika Dhillon and directed by Jayprad Desai, this movie promises to be a thrilling experience. With the introduction of a formidable new adversary and obsessed lovers, the stakes are raised even higher. The relentless cop, Montu (played by Jimmy Shergill), is determined to catch Rani and Rishu, putting them in grave danger. To make matters worse, Montu is the uncle of Neel, Rani’s former lover who was killed, making the case personal for him.
