As someone who has been through a fair share of Bollywood horror-comedies, I must say that Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 was a rollercoaster ride, albeit one with a few too many unexpected twists and turns. The movie, directed by Anees Bazmee, manages to keep you guessing till the very end – which is commendable, given how predictable most Bollywood films can be these days.
A fair assessment of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” might be that it’s full of surprises. There isn’t much in the movie to hint at the shocking turn of events near the end, which are both daring and absurd. Despite having good intentions, the execution is so awkward that it falls short in generating the desired emotional response. However, I must admit, I wasn’t expecting that twist at all.
If we don’t take another path, we find ourselves revisiting well-known grounds. The Bhool Bhulaiyaa series originated from the 1993 Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu, which was later remade in Hindi as of 2007. Both adaptations offered a blend of humor and suspense that lacked genuine supernatural occurrences. In both instances, it was eventually revealed that the reason for the main female character’s transformation into Manjulika, a vengeful spirit of a royal dancer, was actually dissociative identity disorder.
However, when filmmaker Anees Bazmee assumed control with the 2022 remake, the horror transformed from fictional to genuine. The concoction included black magic, spirits, sudden shock moments, eerie settings, and undeniably, Shreya Ghoshal’s enchanting rendition of “Ami Je Tomar”. Additionally, a playful, crass humor was infused into the film. One particularly amusing scene depicted Rajpal Yadav as Chhote Pandit and Sanjay Mishra as Bade Pandit mistakenly believing Manjulika to be Bade Pandit’s wife, Panditayeen. In a comical turn of events, they requested her to prepare daal (lentils), only to receive a hard slap from the ghost.
In the third film, Bazmee continues the themes established in the first two Hindi movies: an enormous mansion with a room sealed for decades, rumored to house a ghost; a ruling family harboring hidden truths; the enigmatic dance of Manjulika. The well-known theme song is back, along with “Ami Je Tomar”. Naturally, there are the ambiances – long, empty halls, ominous skies, eerie noises and a flock of CG crows that could fill a remake of Hitchcock’s The Birds.
For a second time, actor Kartik Aaryan portrays Ruhaan, or Rooh Baba, a deceitful paranormal investigator who profits from people’s apprehension of the supernatural. This time, he is called to a castle nestled in West Bengal, where locals strangely recognize him. The story then unfolds with elements such as past lives, a destitute king eager to offload his palace, numerous characters adopting poor Bengali accents, sibling disputes, and the imposing specter of Manjulika, no longer yearning for her slain lover.
One of the notable aspects in this image is the comeback of Vidya Balan, whose outstanding portrayal as Avni, an archaeologist convinced she is Manjulika, significantly contributed to the 2007 movie’s success. Her dance, characterized by messy hair, wild eyes, and a red tilak adorning her forehead, was genuinely haunting. In this new role, she takes on Mallika, a restoration specialist who could potentially be Manjulika, and her acting aligns with the overall exaggerated style of the film.
Indeed, Bazmee holds not just one, but two ace cards in this scenario. Madhuri Dixit joins the series as Mandira, a prospective mansion buyer who seems to be concealing something. At a certain juncture, Balan and Dixit engage in a tense confrontation that verges on strangulation. In another instance, they share a dance-off within the palace. The head-to-head between two of Hindi cinema’s top-tier actors promises to be an engaging spectacle.
The screenplay, penned by Aakash Kaushik, appears fragmented, making it challenging for characters to leave a lasting impression. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 lacks internal consistency and plays out as a haphazard mix of humor, fear, explanations, songs, and set pieces, seemingly stitched together in the hope that they will coalesce into a sensible and captivating storyline. Mandira and Mallika engage in verbal sparring or share maniacal laughter for no apparent reason, or it’s all a dream sequence. Dixit is listed as a special appearance, which might explain why her role seems underdeveloped; I found myself focusing more on her extensive sari collection and the grandeur of her jewelry, rather than her character development – Mandira enjoys dressing up elegantly.
I too pondered what legendary choreographer Saroj Khan could have created with a challenge like the dance duel. Although Dixit and Balan deliver impressive performances in the Chinni Prakash-choreographed scene, it fails to leave as lasting an impression as the dance confrontation between Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Devdas.
Generally speaking, the movie “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” seems to meander its way through. Two romantic songs appear to have been inserted, apparently for Triptii Dimri to participate; otherwise, she is mostly required to look attractive. Veteran comedic actors Vijay Raaz and Rajesh Sharma are placed in the ornate backdrop, although I did chuckle when Raaz, as the destitute king, declares his readiness to confront the ghost in the palace but not endure another day of poverty.
Aaryan takes center stage, handling everything with ease: he’s witty and amusing, romantic and dance-ready, overcoming the threats. I appreciate that the actor isn’t afraid to challenge the stereotype of overly macho Bollywood heroes. Ruhaan, on the other hand, is easily frightened, much like in his second movie. In times of great pressure, he attempts to flee, similar to before. However, his extensive efforts are undermined by lackluster writing. The humor falls flat — though there is one standout joke about Shehzada, which was one of Aaryan’s biggest flops — and the scary moments fail to terrify.
Maybe it’s high time for Manjulika to have a break. Truth be told, there are certain limits to how much a vengeful spirit and just two great tunes can carry on.
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2024-11-05 21:55