Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba Movie Review: You would think that severing one’s arm and killing one’s brother would provide a man with some perspective. You might also assume that fleeing from the law and witnessing your husband’s descent into murderous rage would prompt a woman to introspect. You’d be mistaken. Redemption rarely comes easily.
In Jayprad Desai and Kanika Dhillon’s Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, Vikrant Massey and Taapsee Pannu revert to their old ways of deception. However, this time, the actors themselves fall victim to the film’s convoluted plot.
After killing his brother and faking his death, Vikrant Massey’s Rishu Saxena relocates to Agra, where he lives a double life as a coaching teacher. His wife, Taapsee Pannu’s Rani Kashyap, pretends to be a widow in the same city. On the run from the police, the couple meets in secret, communicating through earphones and stolen glances. Just as it seems their separation might end, chaos erupts when another man falls for Rani and her red roses.
Sunny Kaushal plays Abhimanyu, a seemingly benign compounder who falls in love with Rani. Abhimanyu’s kind demeanor and gentle eyes captivate you, making it easy to forget that you’re watching a film about deceit. While Abhimanyu is smitten with Rani, she seeks his help to tackle Montu Chacha, portrayed by Jimmy Shergill. Montu is determined to prove that Rishu is alive and that he and Rani were responsible for Neel’s (Harshvardhan Rane from Haseen Dillruba) death.
As the two men in Rani’s life vie for her protection, the film echoes the sentiment: “Pagalpan ki hadd se na guzre voh pyaar hi kaisa? Hosh main toh rishte nibhaye jaate hain.” This leads to a game of snakes and ladders where Rani often faces setbacks when it’s her turn to play. Unlike in the first film, where Rani was as much an agent of chaos as Rishu, she is now reduced to a mere prize to be won by either Abhimanyu or Rishu.
The moment Vikrant Massey appears on screen, he commands your attention. Although his character, Rishu, exhibits more maniacal tendencies than most, Massey’s skilful performance makes us empathize with him. Taapsee Pannu embodies Rani Kashyap with such ease that she becomes the character. However, Rani’s narrative in this sequel leaves you longing for more of her previous charisma.
While Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey convincingly portray troubled lovers, Sunny Kaushal’s performance as Abhimanyu stands out. Sunny’s portrayal is marked by subtlety and nuance, making his character’s transitions between different shades particularly compelling. Bhumika Dube is a delight to watch on screen and you cannot take your eyes off her. Although Jimmy Shergill adds an intriguing element to the film, his character ultimately falls flat due to the script’s shortcomings.
The film’s downfall lies in its story. In the first half, Kanika and Jayprad provide enough intrigue to engage viewers. The world-building, moments of comedic relief, and the background score by Sachet-Parampara enhance the narrative, as does Vishal Sinha’s cinematography.
However, the second half of the film loses momentum and becomes increasingly predictable. While predictability isn’t inherently negative, it undermines the film’s potential here. The latter half fails to uphold the coherence established earlier, making the story seem too convenient and losing focus of the characters’ arcs.
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba does not fully utilise Jimmy Shergill’s potential. The superficial connection between Montu and Rishu fails to engage the audience meaningfully. Additionally, Taapsee Pannu’s Rani lacks the ‘spice’ she exhibited in the first film.
The climax is particularly disappointing, raising questions about various plot points and leaving viewers with a sense of dissatisfaction. It feels underdeveloped and inadequately resolved.
The film concludes with a plot twist, suggesting the possibility of a third instalment. Here’s hoping that the next chapter offers more substance and that Montu Chacha’s arc delivers a more satisfying payoff.
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