Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“मैं तेरी हर जिद्द मान लूंगा, बस याद रखना, इस झगड़े में कोई तीसरा शामिल न हो” (Translation: I will agree to all your wishes, just don’t ever involve a third person between us)
Love triangles, betrayal, blood, and tears (and crocodiles) return in the 2024 Netflix movie “Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba,” directed by Jayprad Desai and written by Kanika Dhillon. A sequel to “Haseen Dillruba,” the story picks up a few months after the events of the first film. Rani (Taapsee Pannu) and her husband Rishu (Vikrant Massey) are on the run from the police, who now believe Rishu faked his own death after murdering Neel, Rani’s lover but have to evidence to prove it. The couple plots to flee the country, their plans go awry, and Rani’s decision to involve her new admirer, Abhimanyu (Sunny Kaushal), further complicates things.
Running just over two hours, the first hour of ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ is solidly entertaining, unfolding like the Hindi pulp-fiction novels its characters are inspired by. Rani, a widow in the eyes of the world, lives in Agra and clandestinely meets Rishu, as he’s supposed to be dead. Always dressed in pretty sarees, low-cut blouses, with roses in her hair, Taapsee Pannu’s portrayal of Rani is spot-on in the sequel, while Vikrant Massey, as her fiercely loyal Rishu, keeps the heat in their blood-tainted romance burning. Sunny Kaushal’s Abhimanyu starts off as a refreshing contrast to the couple—introduced as a reserved, gentle medical compounder, completely head-over-heels in love with Rani.
The dialogues might feel dated to some viewers; they have a deliberate old-school poetic touch, which may come across as slightly cringe-y but is in sync with the ‘die-hard romantic’ personalities of its protagonists. While there are no song-dance sequences in ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’, its got some great original tracks playing in the background and the creators also revive a fantastic number that’s perfect for Rani and Rishu’s love story – the 1980 hit song “Ek Haseena This” from the thriller “Karz”.
Also Read: Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba Movie Ending Explained
Jimmy Shergill enters ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ about 25 minutes into the runtime and delivers an entertaining cameo as a new cop determined to expose Rani. He has a personal stake in the case because he is Montu Chacha, Neel’s (the man Rani kills in the first film) paternal uncle. It seems quite absurd that Rishu and Rani continue to meet easily in secret, even after Montu Chacha dispatches several cops to keep an eye on Rani’s movements. Given the film’s ‘filmy’ and theatrical nature, I didn’t really care about the lack of logic, but the plot twists in the second half become increasingly far-fetched and aren’t even fun.
Considering the climactic twists towards the end, I would have preferred that the writers included some blood-laden sequences to make it more noir and pulpy. Although the lead characters are morally grey, their ‘insane’ streak is far too tame this time around. Backed by a good soundtrack and strong performances, ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ is a decent one-time watch overall.”
Rating: 3 stars on 5. Stream the film on Netflix.
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