Bunty Aur Babli 2 Review

The task of creating a sequel that lives up to the expectations of the audience has always presented a considerable challenge for filmmakers. While some movies, such as S.S. Rajamouli's "Baahubali: The Conclusion," have succeeded in capturing the essence of their predecessors, many others have faltered in their attempts. Unfortunately, "Bunty Aur Babli 2," directed by Varun V. Sharma, finds itself among the ranks of unsuccessful sequels. Released on November 2021, Bunty Aur Babli 2 sees the return of Rani Mukerji in her role as Vimmi but introduces Saif Ali Khan as Rakesh Trivedi. Despite fans' considerable anticipation surrounding its release, "Bunty Aur Babli 2" ultimately fell short of meeting their expectations.

Plot Overview

The narrative opens with Rakesh Trivedi aka Bunty (now portrayed by Saif Ali Khan) and Vimmi Trivedi Babli (role reprised by Rani Mukerji), living like a normal couple in Phursatganj, a small district in Uttar Pradesh. Rakesh works as a railway ticket collector, while Vimmi is your classic middle-class housewife. Their lives lack the excitement of their youth, except for their occasional performances in loud and colorful attire during local festivities.

Meanwhile, Kunal (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Sonia (Sharvari Wagh), two young fresh engineering graduates, have started conning people using the identity of Bunty Aur Babli. They use the same calling card that the original con couple once used, creating chaos and confusion. Inspector Jatayu Singh (Pankaj Tripathi) sees Bunty and Babli as the key to apprehending the new fraudsters and enlists their help.

The script writer has tried his best to interweave allusions to the original movie as the plot develops, but he finds it difficult to do so naturally. The film showcases a couple of innovative cons and disguises, but the execution falls short, lacking the necessary maturity to be taken seriously. The initial part of the movie concentrates on building up the big confrontation, although it moves at a leisurely pace. In the second part, the plot picks up speed, but the audience's engagement in the characters is hampered by the lack of logical coherence and conviction in the storyline.

Character Analysis

"Bunty Aur Babli 2" features Saif Ali Khan as Bunty, while Rani Mukerji reprising her role as Babli. While Khan and Mukerji exhibit crackling chemistry and deliver entertaining performances, Bunty Aur Babli 2 suffers from weak and very sloppy writing. Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharvari Wagh, who plays the new conning couple, Kunal and Sonia, lack interesting backstories and character development, that entice the audience. This makes it difficult for the audience to connect with them. Pankaj Tripathi's character adds some humor to the narrative with his portrayal of Inspector Jatayu Singh, but it is just too repetitive. Overall, the Bunty Aur Babli 2 did have an exciting premise. But filmmakers fail to live up to the legacy of the original movie, leaving the audience unsatisfied.

Director's Vision and Cinematography

Bunty Aur Babli 2's directing, cinematography, and technical features are all far from satisfactory. The directing of Varun V. Sharma lacks a distinct vision and is unable to successfully steer the plot. The sequences are little more than haphazard sketches that lack a consistent rhythm and flow. Although the cinematography makes an effort to depict the lively and colorful world of con artists, it lacks originality and visual impact. The camera technique seems very basic and is unable to capture the excitement and intensity that a con film ought to have. In addition, additional technical elements like editing, sound design, and production design seldom ever help the story. The film's speed and overall coherence are hampered by the choppy and erratic. Similarly, the lack of depth in the sound design prevents viewers from having a fully immersive experience. Overall, the directing, cinematography, and other technical components of Bunty Aur Babli 2 fall short of expectations and are the primary reason for its generally unimpressive execution.

Reception

Bunty Aur Babli 2 received mixed to negative reviews from reviewers and viewers after its release. The movie presently has an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews. While some reviewers commended the actors' performances and their ability to keep the audience's interest, others claimed the film lacked originality and was poorly made. The primary characters are reduced to caricatures, the story is frequently repeated, and the language is forgettable. These are all flaws in the film. It is hardly unexpected that Bunty Aur Babli 2 has only been able to make 22.12 crores internationally as of December 2021, with 14.88 crores in India and 7.24 crores overseas, considering the mixed critical reception.

Conclusion

"Bunty Aur Babli 2" falls short of living up to the legacy of its predecessor. Despite the efforts of the talented cast, weak writing, lack of character development, and subpar directing and cinematography contribute to its overall disappointing execution. Mixed negative reviews and modest box office numbers reflect the audience's dissatisfaction with this sequel.