Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – Ruhaan, a fraudster posing as an exorcist, takes on a lucrative case at a haunted castle, unraveling a sinister plot involving mischievous priests, culminating in a hilarious yet thrilling ride filled with unexpected twists and scares.

My Take – I think most of us can agree that 2007’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa is a timeless classic. Released at the height of filmmaker Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar team ups, the film deservingly received praise for its story, humor, music and performances, especially that of Vidya Balan.

Hence as a good cinephile we were skeptical when it was announced that a quasi-sequel (15 years after the original) with a completely new cast (Rajpal Yadav‘s standout character Chota Pandit being an exception) and setting was in the works. While it retained the two most song popular tracks of the predecessor, most surprisingly the new installment let go of the earlier film’s psychological thriller elements and instead straight up embraced its proposed supernatural roots.

Relying heavily on Kartik Aaryan’s then newly-minted star power, irresistible charm and energy for spirit, swag, and comedy to deliver, the Anees Bazmee (No Entry, Welcome) directorial surprisingly not only managed to get decent reviews, but also became a box office smash, revitalizing faith in Hindi cinema, which had been struggling with middling numbers post-COVID.

Now two years later, we are back with a new standalone installment, which sends Kartik Aaryan’s Rooh Baba on yet another humorous ghost adventure, and also brings back Vidya Balan to deliver another menacing portrayal of the franchise mascot: Manjulika.

And while it could have benefitted from a tighter screenplay and is never as spooky as all-out horror flicks are supposed to be, returning director Anees Bazmee ensures that the narrative’s unbridled lunacy and spontaneous comic energy more than make ups for what it lacks and succeeds in being a decent entertainer that keeps viewers at the edge of the seats for its entire run time of 158 minutes.

Yes, the tale it tells is as old as time, but underneath the facade of familiarity, the film actually has some newness to offer, and though it may not be perfect, it’s certainly worth applauding for the efforts taken.

Beginning with a prologue set two centuries ago and sees a dancer turn into an angry spirit after being dragged away mid-performance from a royal court and burnt at the stake, the story moves 200 years ahead and follows Ruhan “Rooh Baba” Randhawa (Kartik Aaryan), a fraudulent exorcist who plies his trade in present-day Kolkata in the company of his lackey Tillu (Arun Kushwah). Though he claims to be endowed with the power to communicate with dead, Ruhan is also the first one to flee at the slightest sign of danger.

Yet, the two go about conning the gullible that is until they are caught on camera exposing their failings by Meera (Triptii Dimri) and her maternal uncle (Rajesh Sharma). But instead of reporting them, Ruhan is provided a counter offer: to get paid handsomely by coming with them to their ancestral palace at Rakht Ghat and dispel rumors abt it being haunted by the vile spirit of Manjulika.

The century-old massive mansion needs to be restored to its former glory and sold, but Manjulika’s terrorizing presence in it forbids the owners from doing so.

Hence, the royal family in dire need of resources, seek Rooh Baba’s intervention. Though the fraudster takes up the lucrative offer, however, the arrival of two mysterious ladies Mandira (Madhuri Dixit), a prospective buyer and Mallika (Vidya Balan), the head of the restoration department, reveals a century’s old labyrinth that Ruhan finds himself entangled in.

Written by Aakash Kaushik (who co-wrote the previous instalment as well), the film keeps with the theme of the franchise by pitting an unassuming cheeky protagonist against a spooky mansion with a buried past. While the film itself is greatly flawed, it lives up to its title as it takes us deep into a maze, never allowing us to guess the identity of the masked spirit. Throughout keeping us on the edge about Manjulika/Anjulika mystery.

For some reason, the horror element here is toned down a lot as compared to the previous two films of the franchise. Sure, there are some jump scare moments, but none are exactly noteworthy.

But in similar vein to its predecessors, the comedic performances are once again a highlight, with the cast delivering some genuinely funny moments that will leave you splits. Though the film’s attempt to blend horror and comedy effectively doesn’t work, underneath the garb of the chaos lies a simple social message that actually hits hard.

The riveting climax raises the bar of the whole by notch, especially considering this is a mainstream feature made for family viewing and comes as an endearing bold step without ever feeling a like a cliché.

Performances wise, Kartik Aaryan effortlessly reprises his role, proving once again, that he can do the needful when the material backs his strengths. Triptii Dimri doesn’t have much to do narrative wise, but adds a fresh and vibrant energy to the proceedings.

Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit, bring immense depth and charisma to their characters, adding the necessary gravitas and flair. Their dance-off in Ami Je Tomar 3.0, where each performs a distinct classical dance form is worth the hype. It’s tough to match up to Madhuri as far as dance is concerned but Vidya pushes herself skillfully. The song placement feels a bit sudden. Nevertheless, the visual appeal and riveting performances make up for it.

As always Vijay Raaz, Rajesh Sharma, Rajpal Yadav, Arun Kushwah and Ashwini Kalsekar bring the house down with their comedic-timing. On the whole, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ is a decent horror comedy that succeeds in providing a lighthearted and spooky time at the movies.