Bursting into theatres on a hot and sultry Diwali weekend, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has its task cut out for itself — to pull in a holiday crowd in the mood for some good, clean family fun and entertainment. The third instalment of the vastly popular horror-comedy franchise, it also bears the responsibility of living up to the standards of its super successful predecessors. Director Anees Bazmee undertakes to accomplish the job at hand with a combination of elements and ingredients calculated to pay assured dividends.
Starring an impressive cast of the likes of Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri, the focus is clearly on star appeal and the actors on their part have lived up to their reputation of giving audiences their money’s worth. Armed with a story that is mysterious, exciting and amusing, and set in a time and place that evokes a nostalgic aura, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 also provides them the opportunity to play parts that most actors would wish to add to their kitty.
The plot is simple, yet holds out promises for unlimited possibilities. Meera (Triptii), a vivacious young lady, blackmails Rooh Baba (Kartik), a fraud ghostbuster, into visiting their ancient mansion in rural Bengal to prove to locals and prospective buyers that their home is not haunted. Thus the location shifts from the bright, friendly streets of Calcutta and its colourful inhabitants to Rakhtghat, a fictional riverside town on whose banks stands the imposing but dilapidated royal abode of Meera’s ancestors. The audience is also introduced to the motley crowd who comprise Meera’s extended family, an ensemble group of characters who bring to the table generous doses of humour (as their penury prevents them from filling it with much else!). The story of Bade Pandit (Sanjay Mishra) and Chhote Pandit (Rajpal Yadav) in the previous Bhool Bhulaiyaa films is reimagined in a manner that adds more mirth to the madness while contributing to the main plot in significant ways.
Comedy is one of the cornerstones of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, but a note of suspense and intrigue is struck whenever the camera lens focuses on the deserted palace and provides enough food for thought to the actors and the audience about the identity of Manjulika, the evil spirit who haunts it. Jump-scares abound as do the usual cinematic devices like spooky music and other atmospherics to intensify a feeling of horror and impending doom. But what is interesting about Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’s treatment of the horror theme is its inclusion of the psychological aspect of horror. Besides dealing with the idea of revenge and retribution as is common with most horror stories, it brings to the fore feelings like empathy, understanding and forgiveness, which also have the power to liberate an unfulfilled spirit.
Though it is evident from its onset that the film deals with issues arising from patriarchy and sibling rivalry, romantic emotions also hold centre stage in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. The love story that brews between Meera and Rooh Baba aka Ruhaan adds much to the experience of this horror comedy. Kartik’s twinkling eyes and mischievous charm do their trick as does Triptii’s unique blend of intellect, confidence and attractiveness. Their easy chemistry lifts the romantic song-and-dance sequences in the film, which otherwise detract from the main narrative and unnecessarily stretch the runtime of its story that develops more complexities post-intermission.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 offers enough proof that Kartik has grown in confidence since he last played Rooh Baba. Nevertheless, his comedy scenes recall Akshay Kumar in Bhool Bhulaiyaa. His body language and dialogue delivery bear clear influences of Dr Aditya Shrivastav, who ‘exorcised’ Manjulika (Vidya Balan) in that film. But what stands out is Kartik’s performance in the climax, which reveals the unexpected twist in the story. The sensitivity demonstrated by his character in that scene not only bears testimony to his maturity as an actor but also invests in the scene a realism that would be hard to accomplish in the circumstances.
As evident from the pre-release promotions, Vidya Balan’s return to the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise is one of the highlights of this film. Along with that is the introduction of Madhuri Dixit in a fascinating role that will keep everyone guessing till the end. Both actors virtually steal the show whenever they are on screen, especially when they share space with each other. The duet dance recital on Ami je tomar 3.0 by Shreya Ghoshal is perfect in its aesthetics and electrifying in impact, underscoring the enigma surrounding the two characters and their mutual relationship. Bordering on the theatrical at times, but necessary for maintaining the suspense of the story, their dialogues and actions gain more meaning and intensity when the mystery is finally unveiled in the climax.
The addition of elements like Durga Puja rituals and dhaak music, dialogues spoken in Bengali, genuinely comedic scenes and a whole lot of situational humour will especially appeal to audiences in this part of the country and add to the twists and turns, romance and intrigue, fear and laughter that make Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 worth watching.
