Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba Review: A Dull Sequel That Fails to Recapture the Magic
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba Review: A Dull Sequel That Fails to Recapture the Magic
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba tries to build on the intrigue of its predecessor but ultimately falls flat, leaving viewers with a sense of dissatisfaction. Taapsee Pannu, who once captivated audiences, now seems to have lost the energy that made the first film so compelling. Co-starring Vikrant Massey and Sunny Kaushal, the film starts with a nod to the classic song “Ek haseena thi, ek deewana tha,” but quickly unravels into a storyline that stretches the concept of “artistic liberty” to its breaking point—unfortunately, not in a good way.
The plot follows Rani, who is now perceived as a widow by society. Enter Abhimanyu (Sunny Kaushal), the quintessential boy-next-door who falls head over heels for her. His grand gestures, like booking an entire theater for a movie date and chasing after her rickshaw to return a forgotten item, seem charming at first but quickly turn into clichés. Meanwhile, Rani and Rishu (Vikrant Massey) plot to escape to Thailand, all while suspicion looms over the mysterious death of Neel Tripathi from the first film. However, with a tenacious cop (Jimmy Sheirgill) on their trail, the question remains: can they really escape unscathed?
A Lack of Originality
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba initially hints at exploring themes of female empowerment and desire, but these ideas get lost in a sea of predictable fluff. The film promises a satisfying conclusion but ultimately lacks the “big O”—originality. The plot rehashes much of what was already seen in the first film, with characters communicating through poetic graffiti and evading police surveillance with implausible ease. The reliance on the audience’s suspension of disbelief is stretched too thin, and the storyline dips significantly in the second half. By the time the big reveal comes around, it’s hard to care, and the hurried “anti-climax” only adds to the disappointment. The makers seem to challenge the Mission Impossible franchise with their illogical twists, but they fall short.
Sunny Kaushal, as Abhimanyu, is the only actor with a somewhat fleshed-out character arc, while Taapsee Pannu, the titular “haseena,” struggles to recapture the fire of her previous performance. Vikrant Massey’s character is reduced to little more than a brooding figure, and Jimmy Sheirgill’s talent is sadly wasted in this role.
The fictional Pandit Ji’s romantic thrillers remain a guiding light for the characters, much like in the first film. At one point, a character aptly comments, “Humne samajhdaari bauhaut peeche chhod di hai Pandit ji ke shagird ban ke” (We’ve left our common sense far behind by becoming disciples of Pandit Ji). After watching this misguided sequel, it’s hard not to agree.
