– By Reneeka Chatterjee
‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’, the long-awaited Diwali entertainer, has finally released in theatres all over the world today.
Director: Anees Bazmee
Actors: Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Vijay Raaz, Rajesh Sharma, Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra, Ashwini Kalsekar
Release date: 1st November 2024 (worldwide)
Run-time: 158 minutes
Where to watch: In cinemas now
Story & Plot
Kartik Aaryan reprises his role as Ruhaan Randhawa aka “Rooh Baba”, a self-proclaimed exorcist who cons people in Kolkata. Triptii Dimri plays the role of Meera, the princess of Raktaghat, in West Bengal. Meera contacts Rooh Baba and brings him to Raktaghat because her father, the Maharaja of Raktaghat (played by Vijay Raaz), is convinced that his kingdom and palace are haunted by a 200-year old witch called “Manjulika”. Both the Raja and Meera need a ghostbuster like Rooh Baba to get rid of this evil female spirit called “Manjulika”.
Rooh Baba is a fraudster and Meera is aware of it, but she insists on bringing Rooh Baba to Raktaghat because Ruhaan bears a striking resemblance to a late prince of that kingdom, and everyone in the kingdom believes that Ruhaan is the reincarnation of this late prince. Rooh Baba is offered a sum of ₹1 Crore if he helps Meera and the others to bring Manjulika’s reign of terror to an end.
Vidya Balan enters towards the middle of the first half. Her character is called “Mallika” and she introduces herself as a woman who has come to restore the palace. Just before the intermission, Madhuri Dixit enters. Her character introduces herself as “Mandira”, a royal who has come to purchase the property for a sum of ₹1000 Crore. Meera suspects both of them and begins to feel that either of them could be “Manjulika”. Both the women are mysterious and as soon as they step into the kingdom, weird and horrific things begin to happen in the palace and its surroundings. What follows is a tale that perfectly blends comedy with horror, thrill and suspense!
Acting & Direction
Kartik Aaryan excels as Rooh Baba and delivers a charming performance. However, in some of the scenes, the director Anees Bazmee reduces him to a clone of Akshay Kumar. Although Kartik Aaryan cannot match Akshay Kumar’s performance in the first instalment of the franchise, he delivers an applause-worthy performance. His real capabilities as an actor shine the brightest in the final twenty minutes of the film that allow him to show that he can also put up a splendid performance.
Triptii Dimri as Meera delivers a restrained and subdued performance which I liked. However, Anees Bazmee reduces her character to a female character who is easily replaceable. Though Vidya Balan does a good job, it is Madhuri Dixit who steals the show with her impeccable acting performance and graceful dance moves. It is delightful to watch their “jugalbandi” as they both effortlessly hold their own with their commanding on-screen presence.
The veteran actors who constitute the supporting cast of the film, including Vijay Raaz, Sanjay Mishra, Ashwini Kalsekar, and Rajpal Yadav, happen to ham in many of the scenes to bring out the loud comedy that the director wants to show. Though their talent is not completely wasted, Anees Bazmee does not allow them to bloom to their full potential for the most part.
Music & Soundtrack
The background score of the film is composed by Sandeep Shirodkar. The soundtrack is composed by multiple composers, including Pritam, Tanishk Bagchi, Sachet Tandon and Parampara Tandon, Amaal Mallik, Aditya Rikhari and Lijo George–DJ Chetas. Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Nigam steal the show with their wonderful renditions, adding depth and layer to the score that elevates the overall experience of watching ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ on the big screen. I was a child when I started listening to Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Nigam, and I have been their ardent follower since then. Their voices weave a tapestry of emotion, bringing the story to life and transforming the soundtrack into a memorable one.
Shreya Ghoshal beautifully renders a new version of her iconic song “Mere Dholna” from ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’. The new version is called “Ami Je Tomar 3.0” which sounds beautiful in her mellifluous voice. Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit flaunt their elegant dance moves to her song. Pitbull and Diljit Dosanjh leave no stone unturned to make us groove to the new title track of ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’, as Kartik Aaryan flawlessly dances to the track.
Sonu Nigam too takes us on a joy-ride with his energetic rendition of “Hukkush Phukkush” which appears in the initial moments of the film. It is Sonu Nigam who impresses us through and through and completely hits it out of the park with his impeccable rendition of a special male version of “Ami Je Tomar” which we get to hear at a very crucial point of the film in the second half. The other songs of the movie are mediocre and seem to interrupt the screenplay and narrative, instead of adding depth or meaning to the story.
The “Peak” Highlight of the Film: The Climax
The best part or highlight of the film is its climax. As the film enters its final thirty minutes, the director surprises us with unexpected twists and impressive amounts of suspense, changing the tone and texture of the script so far. As the film reaches an extremely crucial point, we get to hear Sonu Nigam’s rendition of a special male version of “Ami Je Tomar”. But who dances to this song? And why was this special male version of the song created in the first place? You shall know only if you watch the film.
The grand climax of this spook-tacular threequel definitely emerges as the most unmissable highlight of this epic blockbuster. Although the entire movie has no real spine-chilling scares or spine-tingling laughs, the outstanding climax pleasantly surprises the audience with how the events finally unfold and neatly come together with ample amounts of twists and turns. The final moments of the film are written and executed smartly, allowing Kartik Aaryan as well as Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit to display their commendable acting skills. The climax is a stunning display of skill and emotion, allowing the masterful dancer within Kartik Aaryan to also shine.
Miscellaneous Technical Aspects
Narrative, Screenplay, Script-writing, and Dialogues:
‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ begins with the introduction of Ruhaan aka “Rooh Baba” and talks a lot about him and his life. The narrative then shifts to what happens after he reaches Raktaghat in West Bengal. The screenplay and narrative are quite gripping and keep you glued to the screen. The screenplay is tight and does not go haywire or deviate from its purpose. However, the story seems to progress slowly but by the time the movie reaches its climax, it allows us to understand why the story progresses the way it does. The dialogues are good, but not noticeably good.
Cinematography and Camera-work:
The cinematography is also outstanding which does wonders to the film and its narrative. The use of camera lens and camera angles in many of the scenes, especially in the climax, is wonderful and does not mask Kartik Aaryan’s flawless performance, in spite of heavy usage of VFX and camera trickery in the climax. The use of light, shadow, and movement creates a visual spectacle, making the visuals truly unforgettable and setting a new standard in cinematic artistry.
Choreography:
The choreography, I feel, could have been better. There are a couple of tracks in the film that lack lustre and recall value. It is visible that not much attention has been paid to choreograph them well. However, I specifically did not like the choreography of “Ami Je Tomar 3.0” which appears right after the intermission ends. A dance face-off between two stalwarts like Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit to an iconic song sung by a legendary singer like Shreya Ghoshal deserved better choreography and camera-work. However, the overall camera-work in most of the other scenes is good, if not outstanding.
Visual Effects and Special Effects:
‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ excels in most of the technical departments. For instance, the VFX and SFX are exemplary. The climax makes use of a great deal of VFX as well as SFX to create a make-believe world. The visual effects (VFX), special effects (SFX), and computer-generated imagery (CGI) never seem out-of-place or hit-or-miss. The top-notch technical elements of the film create a captivating and stunning experience, leaving the audience awestruck and longing for more. The meticulous attention to detail elevates almost every scene, seamlessly immersing the viewers in a captivating experience.
Editing and Pacing:
Though the editing is tight and concise, the film could have been edited in a crisper manner by allowing the story to progress a bit faster, especially in the first half. The first half might appear slightly sluggish but steady, disallowing the story to reach a concrete point even before the movie reaches the intermission. Although the first half is a bit slow-paced, it is gripping and manages to hold the attention of the audience. However, it is the second half of the film that truly stands out and baffles the audience.
Production Design, Set Designs, and Art Direction:
The production design and set designs bring alive the visual concepts of the film and perfectly show the mood and atmosphere of the film. Old and creaky Bengali havelis in the heart of West Bengal. Locked rooms. Lavishly spooky doors. Vengeful ghosts and spirits who hover around. Bats flying around. A black cat crossing your path and supposedly bringing misfortune. The sets, costumes, and props together constitute what we know as “production design”. Needless to say, the production design team of ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ has effortlessly brought alive the overall look and feel of the film and its premise on the big screen.
Costume Designs and Props:
All the characters wear such costumes and carry such props which fit into the plot and premise of the film. For instance, Vidya Balan as “Mallika” wears black costumes for the most part. Kartik Aaryan as Rooh Baba wears what a bogus ghostbuster would ideally wear and sometimes carries a “flambeau” in his hand. Triptii Dimri as the modern Meera wears modern sarees with low-neckline blouses. Props, such as the “royal throne” that originally belongs to Manjulika, are intricately designed and look majestic.
Sound Design:
A horror-comedy film like ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ ought to have strong background music and accompanying music to create a spooky atmosphere that scares the audience. ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ excels in the audio department, creating a world of horror and terror that occasionally scares you but makes sure that you also laugh the next moment. The sound design department of the film makes sure that both tension and humour are expertly balanced. Each creak, each laugh, each scream, each eerie echo, each tinkling sound made by the anklets – heightens both the scares and the chuckles in equal measure.
Colour Grading and Lighting:
Since ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ is a horror-comedy film, colour grading and lighting play important roles in creating an immersive cinematic experience for the audience to delve into. The film excels in these departments and creates an ideally spooky environment that promises jump scares along with chuckles. The film uses a relatively vibrant colour palette in the lighter scenes, reflecting the comedic aspects of the narrative. Darker and more muted tones are used in the horror or suspenseful scenes to create unease and tension. The use of hues and lighting creates a playful yet eerie atmosphere, enhancing both the comedic moments and the suspense in the climax.
Ringing Down The Curtain
All in all, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ is a complete package that offers unexpected twists, intense scares, and plenty of humour as well as suspense. Anees Bazmee’s ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ is a worthy addition to the “Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise” which delivers what it promised. Until the very end, you would have to keep guessing to know who the real Manjulika is. The climax keeps you hooked and longing for more. ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’, with its sinister plot and star-studded cast, promises fire-crackers at the box-office after Diwali, the festival of lights and fire-crackers!
My rating: 4 stars
Step out and watch ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ at a cinema near you now!