Kahaani 2 is worthy to watch once for some thrilling elements and stellar performances of Vidya Bala !!

This sequel Kahaani 2 directed by Sujoy Ghosh after a gap of four years is a mystery that absolutely serves up intrigue, but fails to keep a tight grip on proceedings throughout its duration. But you can see for Vidya Sinha, a harrowed, working mum from Chandan Nagar in West Bengal and her handicapped teenage daughter, who like most middle-class people overcome hurdles to go through the daily grind. So much so, that when Mini goes missing and Vidya meets an accident, there is a sense of void. Enter, Indrajit (Arjun Rampal), the cop-on-the-case, who is the first one to discover that the woman in a coma resembles Durga (Vidya Balan again!), a school clerk from Kalimpong, who is a fugitive-on-the-run.

 

Now we can say that the movie works because Vidya the mother or Durga the murderer are both authentic and solid characters.

 

Previously, Sujoy Ghosh and Vidya Balan had come together for Kahaani in 2012, a crack thriller about a supposedly pregnant woman looking for her husband in Kolkata. Afterward, the duo had an argument, sorted out the problem and teamed up once more for Kahaani, which is not a sequel but a new story to carry the franchise forward.

 

As per story, When Sub-Inspector Indrajit Singh (Arjun Rampal) comes across an accident case, he is shocked to discover that the victim Vidya Sinha (Balan) looks like Durga Rani Singh, a woman who is wanted by the police on charges of kidnapping and murder.

 

When Singh starts unravelling the mystery of her identity, he also learns that Vidya is a single mother with a wheelchair bound daughter, who seems to have disappeared in thin air.

 

Are Vidya and Durga two different women or is there a criminal mastermind with numerous identities pulling the proverbial wool over everyone's eyes?

 

When Vidya's past catches up with her, Singh faces two choices-to stand up for justice or follow the law and arrest Vidya, who is a fugitive from the police.

 

Vidya Balan, who was last seen in a distinctive appearance in TE3N, is back to doing what she does best- present a solid and authentic character and back it with a powerful performance. The beauty about her character is that at times, she comes across as so vulnerable and the next moment, Durga is a she-wolf, who can rip anyone to shreds for messing around with her cub. When it comes to convincing acts, Vidya Balan has never upset us and this movie proves that yet again. On the other hand, Arjun Rampal is not just elegant and refined, but also manages to stand tall in a movie completely dominated by Vidya Balan. Jugal Hansraj does a decent job of essaying the antagonist, though he could have been more menacing and Amba Sanyal, who essays the evil grandmother, is a pleasure to watch.

 

The story of Kahaani 2 is not fast and slick and takes time to unravel but still keeps you on the edge of your seat. As the story reveals, you will really feel a shiver creeping up your spine and sense your heart going out to the protagonist and her cause.

 

But, when it comes to the second half, Kahaani 2 somewhat goes simple. Recall that scene in Kahaani where Vidya discloses that she was never pregnant and you gasp in genuine shock? There are no such scenes in this movie. Though the movie scores high when it comes to the thrill element in the first half, the second half goes the archetypal Bollywood way and ends up being predictable.

 

Shot mostly at night and on real locations, the movie has the realistic touch. If you fell in love with Kolkata in the 2012’s Kahaani, you will love Kalimpong in this sequel. The background score and the camera work is enjoyable.

 

Overall, Kahaani 2 is worthy to watch once for some thrilling elements and stellar performances of Vidya Balan and Arjun Rampal.