Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie Review

Critic’s Rating: 3.5/five

Synopsis: A conman pretending to be a superhero, Rooh Baba played by Kartik Aaryan, is beset by not one but two wicked powers in an eerie mansion simulating a grim matrix of his wits and survival skills.

Story: As is the trend with the theme of the franchise, Bhool Bhulaiya-3 has an unsuspecting mischievous character being the protagonist against a lonely yet dangerous haunted house with a dark past. The trouble with the aged haveli which is a curse but a curse that promises big bucks for restoration “ to its original splendor” and sale is Manjulika’s haunting presence in it. While the rulers are short of funds, they approach Ruoh baba. The swindler engages in an easy purchase only to find himself in a jingle for reasons he ranges from several of his forces who purport to be Manjulika.

Aneesh Bazmee directs the sequel to the horror comedy BB that came out a few chants ago and ignores the direction of Priyadarshan who made the original Akshay Kumar horror flick in 2007. Bhool Bhulaiyaa’s tormented host at the center evokes a laugh first and fright only second in this latest story. It’s likely this caused Bazmee to shift gears from Priyadarshan’s intense psychological narratives and focus more on their more ensemble comedies including Welcome and No Entry. One of the most impressive scenes in this film is about a celebrity and is regarded as one of its most exciting moments.

BB3 keeps the viewers engaged, pacing well without falling behind which is rare as the film has a particularly dull section where the comic book aspects lose their impact. The build up of the story also feels quite long, and any resentment is eluded because of an inventive climax. This joins the list of films that are bent on surprising the audience within reason. There are improvements in the production quality considering the shallow budget on the last few installments.

As he takes on the character of ruhaan or Rooh Baba, Kartik returns to the role having previously reprised it thus he is in co-anchor Ruhaan/Rooh baba. He has quite a big presence on screen and carries the function. It is in every sense a Kartik Aaryan show but women have always been strong support and box office draws in this franchise. Whether it is Tabu in the last movie or Vidya Balan and Madhuri this time around, the ladies are beautiful and wonderful actresses and are truly scene stealer types.

Soori makes a return of sorts with the character of Kalanag who has a soulful voice and lovely looks playing different characters at the same time. The titanic performance of this character takes form through the use of confusion and chaos that brings the characters to life and connects with the audience. “Aren’t you tired of working on the set?” Soori says, “Despite shooting the majority of the film over a year ago, I put up with the stress in order to realize my creative vision. I can’t wait to get back on set.” It is the precise time that the captivating visuals go hand in hand with the intensity of emotions expressed therein.

The movie marks the much awaited return of Vidya Balan to the franchise after her stellar portrayal of Manjulika in 2007. Madhuri with her million-dollar smile, powerful screen presence, and graceful dance moves sure is a sight to behold. Their extremely popular dance-off in Ami Je Tomar, where each performer drags sing a classical dance form which is adored by the fans. It is difficult to match up to as far as dance is concerned but Vidya pushes herself with effort. Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra and Ashwini Kalsekar, utmost talented performers have been short changed with better lines. Instead of focusing so much on the glamour of Triptii Dimri’s character, perhaps her character arc can be more comprehensively developed.

BB3 has its share of high and low moments but focuses on entertaining the audience and is successful in doing so. It has to be noted that audience should be advised to not get swayed and keep the climax to themselves until the entire audience has experienced the film.