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It’s been 19 years since the first Awarapan, a film that bombed at the box office upon release. But there’s no business like film business. Today, thanks to the cult following the original developed organically over the years, Awarapan 2 has opened to packed houses, and my show was no different.
Sitting in the theatre, I was transported back to the 2000s, when Vishesh Films had a knack for churning out films at a rapid pace. Murder, Zeher, Gangster, to name a few. They shared a peculiar similarity: most were crime thrillers that worked, starred Emraan Hashmi in the lead, and came with songs that had a shelf life far longer than their theatrical runs. Awarapan 2 follows much of the same template, and for the most part, it works.
The story picks up from where Awarapan left off. Shivam (Emraan Hashmi) has survived the six bullets pumped into his body in the last scene of the first film. Away from the murky underworld now, he becomes attached to a baby he rescues. He names her Aliyah (Myrah Shivan), after his now-dead sweetheart. However, soon after Aliyah is adopted, Interpol informs him that she was, in fact, being pushed into the child trafficking business. Shivam sets out to save her, but to do so, he needs to earn the trust of Zorawar (Puran Gabbi) and find a place within his gang, which runs the trafficking operation. What follows forms the crux of the plot.
Writer Bilal Siddiqui cracks a decent, if predictable, plot that will certainly remind viewers of a bygone era. Thankfully, the production values don’t belong to the bygone era. Shot in Bangkok, money has been spent on creating real environments rather than relying entirely on AI or VFX-rendered backdrops.
The first half of this Nitin Kakkar directorial is effective in keeping the viewer hooked, with the rehash of the popular Toh Phir Aao doing much of the heavy lifting on the nostalgia front. There are stretches, though, where the story begins to test your patience and feels repetitive. There’s a gunfight every 15-20 minutes, which means the characters barely have time to process one shootout before another one arrives. After a point, even the bullets seem to be working overtime.
The second half gets much of the same treatment, with Tera Mera Rishta taking over the nostalgia duties. The climax, thankfully, works and should land well with viewers.
Performance-wise, this is the quintessential Emraan Hashmi an entire generation grew up watching. He hasn’t aged a day since Awarapan released. He delivers exactly what is expected of him: brooding intensity, and the kind of effortless cool that made him a star in the first place.
Shabana Azmi is the next scene-stealer. She exudes power the moment she enters the frame as Nafisa, the gangster queen, commanding attention without having to do much. At this point, Awarapan 3 should probably be about her backstory.
Disha Patani, as Zara, Shivam’s love interest, is good for the most part. Though one question remains: she is introduced as an accomplished cello player, but all she seems to play throughout the film is the same tune. Either Zara has one favourite composition, or the cello has been given a very limited contract.
Puran Gabbi as Zorawar delivers, but hams it up a little too much at places. Suvindar Vicky as Jaideep stands out.
Overall, Awarapan 2 is a film from another time, and that is both its biggest strength and weakness. It brings back the brooding hero, tragic romance, liberal use of firearms and, most importantly, the music that made the original such a favorite. It doesn’t always keep its pace in check. But there is an old-school charm to its earnestness. For those who grew up in the 2000s with Emraan Hashmi’s songs on repeat and romantic crime dramas as weekend staples, Awarapan 2 offers a generous dose of nostalgia without completely sacrificing the spectacle of a modern day sequel. It may not be a flawless comeback, but judging by the packed theatres, Shivam’s story still has plenty of life left in it.
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