Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba revolves around Rani and Rishu’s life after Neel’s death as their past eventually catches up with them. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
Story
After Rishu was presumed dead, Rani severed ties with her family and moved to Agra to be with him. Now, the two of them plan to escape to Thailand.
The two of them work tirelessly to save enough money for fake passports. They meet regularly but always ensure that they are never seen together to protect their secret.
However, before they can leave the country, Neel’s uncle, a police officer named Montu, begins investigating Rani, as he suspects that Rishu is still alive.
As the police investigation closes in on them, Rani decides to take advantage of the feelings of a seemingly harmless admirer to divert Montu’s suspicions.
Will Rani’s plan work, or will Montu see through her schemes and bring Rani and Rishu to justice for the murder of his beloved nephew?
Performances
Taapsee Pannu effectively depicts her character’s anxieties, but this emotion dominates her portrayal of Rani, leaving little room for other emotions.
Similarly, unlike in the first film, the script does not allow Vikrant Massey to fully showcase his range, but he still performs his part well.
Sunny Kaushal, plays Abhimanyu, Rani’s admirer. While he is convincing as a benign character, he is not so convincing as a cunning man capable of causing serious harm.
Jimmy Shergill fits well in the role of Montu, a determined policeman who poses a threat to Rani and Rishu’s future. His presence is initially intimidating, but the film fails to make use of that and present him as an ever-present danger.
The film also underutilizes Aditya Srivastava, who plays Kishore. His scenes are neither significant nor impactful.
Positives
For the most part, the film is visually appealing. It uses costumes and set designs to portray its narrative of love and depiction as colorful and vibrant.
Unlike the first film, which was more confined to interiors, this sequel takes the audience to various outdoor locations while giving a glimpse into Rishu and Rani’s relationship in the city of Agra.
As the film progresses, the city becomes familiar to the audience, and the shift in setting is noticeable when the characters move away from this familiar space.
It would be unfair not to credit the scenes, though few and far between, that effectively capture the heightened tension between the characters, such as Rani and Abhimanyu’s boat ride.
These moments keep the audience guessing the characters’ intentions and next moves. The film would have benefitted from more of these scenes.
Negatives
The film includes occurrences that are too improbable to be believed, such as Montu using the entire police force and resources for a personal grudge without any proof of Rishu and Rani’s guilt.
Additionally, over-the-top dialogues further break the illusion of reality, making the characters seem fictional rather than real people.
In an attempt to make the film unpredictable, it introduces many farfetched twists, aiming to surprise and impress the audience.
However, the plot is not devoid of loopholes, and eventually, the audience comes to expect these twists, making the ending predictable.
Neither of the antagonists comes across as a real threat to the protagonists. Montu is all but forgotten for a large portion of the film as the film shifts its focus to Rani and Abhimanyu’s story.
By the time the film remembers to bring back Montu’s character, he is far less threatening than he was at the beginning.
The film also fails to build tension in crucial scenes. With a bit more breathing space and a less cluttered script, the film could have been more exciting.
Verdict
While Haseen Dillruba had a truly surprising twist in its ending, the sequel lacks such twists. However, the film is not a drag and can even be entertaining if audiences do not expect much in terms of mystery.
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba
Director: Jayprad Desai
Date Created: 2024-08-09 11:54
2.5
Also Read: Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba summary and ending explained