Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba: Dark, Complex Yet Predictable

Love triangle meets whodunit again as the past catches up with the present. The atmospherics seem just right. The plot is packed with intrigue, and twists and turns. The characters reek of deceit and deviousness appropriate for a suspense thriller. Yet something is amiss with Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba.

It fails to offer the same feel as its prequel. It’s not easy to put a finger on the exact flaw, though. Perhaps the fictional crime fiction author Dinesh Pandit, the ghost script writer behind the craftiness of the characters who props up in conversations throughout the movie, would know. But we can make a few guesses in his absence.

Let’s begin with predictability. After the experience of the original, Haseen Dillruba, we anticipate the unpredictable. When they come thick and fast, we knew they would. Rani Kashyap and Rishu Saxena escape to Agra after executing a murder and hoodwinking the police. Here they maintain a discreet distance while planning a flight out of the country. Enter Abhimanyu, the compounder who falls in love with Rani and would go to any extent to live up to it. Also in the picture now is Mrityunjay, the new inspector in charge of the case, who has a personal score to settle with the duo.Abhimanyu has a backstory that is dark and disturbing. All this is fine, but when you are mentally prepared for the unpredictable, whatever it is, it hits you with lesser force. The element of surprise is less impactful. It’s somewhat like entering a horror house prepared fully for the shocks you might receive.

Then come the twists. There are just too many. Abhimanyu, the passionate lover, is not as uncomplicated as he appears. He is being blackmailed by a snake charmer for reasons we won’t disclose as they will be spoilers. When the movie draws to a close many diabolical motives and moves in the characters get revealed. That numbs you. The simplicity of the original is lost in the twists of the second. Was the writer trying to be too intelligent? Let’s not go there.

The police end up as fools in the end, as is the rule in the movies of this kind. But it helps the plot if they are smart, matching the intelligence of the criminals and reading or anticipating their moves well. Even attention to the procedural aspect can make the police side of the story interesting. It’s a bit bland here.

All said Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba is watchable. Gripping in parts with a good dose of suspense and complexity, it is backed up by solid performances from the lead cast of Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey and Sunny Kaushal. The plot revolves around Taapsee’s character, which is delightfully layered and deceitful. Vikrant’s talent goes waste in a miniscule role. Sunny needs a special mention for the nuance he brings to the table as a character of many shades. Jimmy Sheirgill could have shone better with a well-fleshed out role.

(By arrangements with Perspective Bytes)