Instead of exploring the complex moral conflicts, Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba opts for an overt drama featuring predictable twists and overly sentimental dialogue.
Watching Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, the highly-anticipated sequel to 2021’s Hasseen Dilrubba, one wished that someone had made the filmmakers sit down and watch the movie Speed.
What does the 1994 Hollywood movie about a young cop trying to prevent a bomb from going off a city bus have to do with a one-handed cap-wearing bibliophile and his wife-cum murder accomplice?
Allow us to explain.
Besides reviving the careers of Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, the movie also presents us with a dialogue right at the end that the filmmakers of Phir Aayi Hasseen Dilrubba should have paid more attention to. After Keanu’s character has killed the bad guy and the city bus is no longer under threat of exploding, he goes in for the hero smooch, and Sandra Bullock’s character says, “I have to warn you. I’ve heard relationships based on intense experiences never work.”
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba tests this theory and, in the process, our sense of belief as well.
Does it work?
Let’s find out.
What’s the Story in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba?
This new chapter doesn’t pick up directly from the first film’s conclusion; it begins in a police station and uses flashbacks to recount the events leading up to the current scenario before moving forward. Rani Kashyap (played by Taapsee Pannu) seeks a new beginning, while her husband Rishu (Vikrant Massey) stays close, adopting a new identity. Their dream of escaping together for a blissful future is disrupted when Mrityunjay, also known as Montu (a competent Jimmy Shergil who’s picked up a habit of playing mustachioed cops), becomes entangled. As an aside, have you noticed how there’s a rich Bollywood tradition of naming bad guys/villains/losers Monty/Montoo? A further aside: there’s a scene in which Montu Chachu is seen offering namaz, which caused a mini explosion in our mind.
Back to the story.
Abhimanyu (Sunny Kaushal), a man deeply in love with Rani—not with desire but with genuine affection—becomes part of Rani’s plan to further complicate their already intricate situation, exacerbating the chaos. The unfolding story poses the question: to what extent can one sacrifice for love?
What Works?
Vikrant Massey delivers a strong performance as Rishu, building on his character from the first film. Taapsee Pannu energetically reprises her role as Rani, although her portrayal in the sequel lacks the subtle nuances of her earlier performance. Sunny Kaushal does well as the gentle yet intense Abhimanyu, adding to the dynamic between the leads. While Aditya Srivastav and Jimmy Shergill bring gravitas, their talents are not fully utilized, although Shergill’s scenes leave a mark. The cinematography effectively captures Agra’s essence, serving as one of the film’s highlights.
The moment that truly stirred excitement was when the track Ek Hasina Thi, Ek Deewana Tha from the 1980 film Karz echoed in the background. The reliance on a classic song from decades ago to evoke a thrilling atmosphere in 2024 speaks volumes about the current state of innovation in Bollywood. Unfortunately, the screenplay fails to match the moral complexity of this timeless song, as it opts to preserve a sanitized image of the characters in this sequel. The bold and provocative undertones in the first film’s dialogues are conspicuously absent in the narrative’s execution.
What Doesn’t Work?
Haseen Dillruba, released in 2021, generated diverse opinions. The film was an experiment in Bollywood with Kanika Dhillon’s blend of pulp fiction, which wasn’t universally embraced. Despite this, the movie excelled as a thriller, thanks to its captivating plot twists and standout performances by Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, and Harshvardhan Rane. The sequel, Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba, fails to recapture the original’s compelling mystery and distinctive pulp style despite retaining similar plot dynamics. The narrative becomes somewhat foreseeable, and the plot twists aren’t given enough room to be fully appreciated.
However, the film’s potential is marred by its execution. The narrative shifts from a captivating mystery to a more straightforward pursuit, diminishing the suspense that characterized the original. The interactions between the protagonists and law enforcement predictably lack the tension of the first film’s more gripping scenes.
The story occasionally loses focus, burdened by unnecessary subplots and complex twists that seem forced and detract from its impact. Despite striving for clever dialogue and literary references, these elements come off as overdone, undermining the film’s effectiveness. Clocking in at 132 minutes, the pacing is reasonable, but several plot developments leave unresolved questions.
The original Haseen Dillruba was known for its vibrant and exaggerated characters, a trait that Jayaprad Desai aimed to replicate. At the same time, Kanika Dhillon was challenged to maintain that intensity with new characters. However, the sequel lacks the depth seen in the original, making it less engaging. Notably absent are the societal reflections provided by family and friends that enriched the first film, leaving only Poonam’s one-dimensional pursuit of Rishu to drive the narrative.
Plotholes Galore
A good thriller should leave you guessing right till the end. But midway through Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, the only question we had was, what were the filmmakers thinking? There are so many questions that left us scratching our heads. And all of them had to do with guessing what the filmmakers were thinking when they made the movie.
The sequel attempts to echo the finale of its predecessor by stacking more obstacles against Rishu and Rani to test their resilience. However, the overabundance of plot twists in this installment comes across as implausible. For instance, the film depicts Rishu and Rani exchanging secret messages through wall writings—quotes from an author who inspires Rani’s daring actions. One particular scene, where a message appears almost instantaneously, leaves the audience questioning the feasibility of such an act.
Montu Chachu is related to both the victim and the suspect, yet he’s assigned to the case, raising questions of conflict of interest. But let’s just move beyond that. He assigns the police to keep a close watch on the two suspects. In fact, he tells them to concentrate within a two-mile radius. And yet, as the movie progresses, we are left wondering which one is the most useless prop in the movie: the umbrella, which never succeeds in keeping the characters dry, or the police, which is nowhere to be seen as Massey and Pannu’s character shop for meat, sit on the bench, flirt and talk all over the city. When Taapsee gets married, and we see Monu Chachu and the rest of the police among the guests, we finally solve the mystery; they aren’t able to keep a watch on the suspects because they are busy preparing their wedding ceremony clothes. At one point, Montu Chachu was so engrossed in the food that he failed to recognize the most excited musician in the wedding band as the suspect he had been looking for all over the city.
While the first movie utilized exaggerated acting primarily in comedic scenes, here, even in moments that are supposed to be serious, the result is hilarious. In a scene, Sunny Kaushal’s character shows off his medical skills by saying, “Judge, police se le ke sab ki patloon hamaray saamne khulty hai.” One’s left wondering what type of compounder he is where people must drop their pants to get their prescriptions. Then, there’s the whole scene where they put Pavlov and his dogs to shame by classically conditioning a crocodile to move further upstream. But that’s nothing compared to where Massey sticks his prosthetic hand in the crocodile’s jaw before outswimming it and getting away. By this point, we’re wondering why the two couldn’t have switched names or moved to another city instead of being fixated on Thailand. The final dive off the cliff makes perfect sense, and of course, it wasn’t creepy at all that Massey was able to write a secret note in an underage child’s notebook because that’s what true love makes you do.
Final Verdict on Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba is moderately engaging with several enjoyable moments, styled beautifully and backed by a capable cast. Nevertheless, it falls short of delivering the originality and suspense needed to fully engage its audience. A more coherent script and a sharper focus on storytelling could have elevated this sequel into a more memorable cinematic experience.
The original film held a beloved spot among fans, so the sequel faced high expectations. Director Jayaprad Desai offers a competent follow-up, but the script lacks the original’s unpredictability. Director Jayprad Desai attempts to infuse drama into the visuals. Still, the screenplay fails to engage the audience, with harsh and overly dramatic twists reminiscent of a run-of-the-mill soap opera. The dialogue feels clichéd and does not support the film’s shaky foundation. The portrayal of the characters’ complex schemes is hard to accept, making the overall planning seem far-fetched.
We give it a 2 out of 5.
