The brilliance of Balan: Kahaani 2 review by Anupama Chopra - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

The brilliance of Balan: Kahaani 2 review by Anupama Chopra

Hindustan Times | By
Dec 09, 2016 07:00 PM IST

The thriller has a superbly constructed first half but post interval the storytelling gets clumsy. However, Vidya Balan makes even the most illogical scenes seem convincing.

KAHAANI 2: DURGA RANI SINGH

Vidya plays an overworked single mother who dotes on her physically challenged teenage daughter.
Vidya plays an overworked single mother who dotes on her physically challenged teenage daughter.

Direction: Sujoy Ghosh

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Actors: Vidya Balan, Arjun Rampal, Jugal Hansraj

Rating: 3 / 5


The first thing you should know about Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh is that the film has nothing to do with Kahaani, the movie that came out four years ago. The story and characters are unrelated. So why is this one called Kahaani 2? Sujoy Ghosh, who wrote and directed both films, described Kahaani as a genre, a genre about strong women-oriented narratives.

Another descriptor might be thrillers set in and around Kolkata, starring Vidya Balan as an unlikely superhero. She powers both films, making even the most illogical scenes convincing. And, of course, her characters save the day.

Read: Rock On 2, Force 2, Kahaani 2- Bollywood is riding high on sequels

In this installment, we first see her as Vidya Sinha, a name inspired by the ’70s heroine. Vidya is an overworked single mother who dotes on her physically challenged teenage daughter. Sujoy expertly establishes the rhythms of their relationship and their seemingly ordinary lives. They live in a sleepy, small town near Kolkata. It feels like a safe haven. But then Vidya’s daughter Mini suddenly disappears, Vidya is knocked down by a car and we are plunged into the heart of darkness.

The first half of Kahaani 2 is superbly constructed. The story unravels in flashback as sub-inspector Inderjeet Singh reads Vidya’s diary. We are introduced to Mini’s sinister grandmother and slightly creepy uncle (Amba Sanyal and Jugal Hansraj, both pitch-perfect) and the quietly heroic Arjun Rampal, who adds heft.

Editor Namrata Rao keeps the pace breathless — there isn’t a wasted frame or moment. I like to take notes during films but I was so engrossed that I barely wrote anything down.

The story unravels in flashback as Arjun Rampal — who plays the quiet, heroic sub-inspector Inderjeet Singh — reads Vidya’s diary.
The story unravels in flashback as Arjun Rampal — who plays the quiet, heroic sub-inspector Inderjeet Singh — reads Vidya’s diary.

And then, as happens all too often in Hindi cinema, the curse of the second half strikes. Kahaani 2 becomes pulpy and predictable; the narrative gets looser and less believable. The characters become exaggerated — for me, the final straw was an assassin with a blade. And the storytelling gets so clumsy that you know exactly how things will pan out.

Read: Vidya Balan has a lot of clarity and honesty, says Sujoy Ghosh

Kahaani 2 feels like a meal that begins with appetisers in a Michelin-star restaurant and ends with dessert in a dhaba. It’s unsatisfying.

I still recommend that you see the film — for that killer first-half and for the brilliance of Balan. This might be a flawed franchise, but I’m looking forward to Kahaani 3.

Watch the trailer for Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On