'Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba' review: An unnecessary, overlong, below-average sequel
Making direct sequels is an uphill climb because there's immense pressure to do justice to the expectations set by the first part. Jayprad Desai's Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba falls prey to this pressure. While the first part, though plagued by loopholes, was dramatic, pulpy, and humorous in equal parts, the same cannot be said for PAHD, which is ludicrous, overbearing, and consistently insipid.
This time too, there are three players in the story
PAHD follows Rani (Taapsee Pannu) and Rishu's (Vikrant Massey) "second life" as they try to evade the claws of justice after Neel's murder. While he changes his identity and job, she takes up work at a salon and soon finds a lover in Abhimanyu (Sunny Kaushal). They get married, but Rani-Rishu's hearts still beat for each other. What will Abhimanyu do now?
Sadly, it's nowhere near as enjoyable as part one
When a movie spawns a direct sequel, locations expand, the budget multiplies, and new faces join, but does nobody pay attention to the (lack of) writing? Painfully hollow and shockingly flimsy, the film has no narrative depth, the characters are unremarkable, scenes sometimes mirror buffoonery, and it's evident that this is more of a desperate cash-grab attempt than a project fueled by passion.
The film suffers from surface-level treatment
We believed Rani-Rishu's story in HS because they represented a believable, arranged marriage set-up, with palpable love. Here, everything is lent surface-level treatment. Be it Abhimanyu's introductory scene, the shadows that lurk in his past, or the absolutely needless addition of Officer Montu (Jimmy Sheirgill). You can scroll social media or read a short story, and most things would still be the same onscreen.
Nothing sticks or stays with you
Despite its lapses, Haseen Dillruba justified its runtime because it was intensely gripping and had meat (pun intended) you could sink your teeth into, unlike PAHD where everything, at all times, is all over the place. Scenes aren't allowed to blossom or develop organically, and when they have the potential to, the film hurriedly moves forward. A rushed, unsatisfactory, perfunctory job.
Want fast-paced fun? Don't look at this movie
There are very few tragedies in the cinematic world than a film that considers itself smarter than it is. PAHD squanders its potential, keeps moving in circles like a hamster wheel, and tries to outdo its predecessor, only to end up as a below-par product. There is no "thrill" in this crime-thriller, and the only mystery here is how the story got approved.
Sometimes shows promise, but it fizzles away
PAHD has a (wayward) mind of its own; it becomes smart when it wants to, and then throws all logic down the drain. Moreover, metaphors slap you in the face—for instance, Rani-Abhimanyu repeatedly play the snake and ladder game. At one point, Abhimanyu says that if he knew love was so merciless, he would have stayed away. I think the same about the movie.
An example of how silly things are
No major spoilers, but the paths PAHD chooses for its characters will make you pause Netflix and check if you heard things right. The police are looking for Rishu, so, what does he do? Turns into a delivery person, the fact that he is more recognizable and omnipresent now be damned! Thanks to such instances, I lost my faith in the film several times.
Positives: The actors do a fine job
Coming to the parts that work and make it a bearable affair—all the actors play their parts well, and it's laudable how well Pannu and Massey slide under the characters' skins. So, when we first meet them, it feels like no time has passed between the first and second installments. As for Kaushal, he, too, joins the pulpy-thriller's world with effortless ease.
Some metaphors gel well with the story
Another appreciable aspect is how, in the beginning, the characters are shown watching Ayushmann Khurrana's An Action Hero. Not only does it help establish a timeline for the story, but it's also a smart choice because, like PAHD, it's about crime, murder, deception, and a wild-goose chase. Also noteworthy is the treatment of the song Ek Haseena Thi, because what else describes Rani better?
Only watch if you're hardcore lovers of the franchise
The film ties itself up in knots multiple times, and surprisingly, even repeats the twists from the first movie. When we already know what's coming, why would we keep watching? Laughable and needlessly far-fetched, it cheats the viewer with its senseless twists and hollow core. It tries to pull the rug from under your feet but ends up tripping itself. Verdict: 1.5/5 stars.
