Yaariyan 2 movie review: A sparkling idea buried under stiff performances

Cast: Divya Khosla Kumar, Yash Dasgupta, Anaswara Rajan, Meezaan Jafri, Warina Hussain, Priya Prakash Varrier

Director: Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru

Language: Hindi

Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi’s OMG 2 was designed and described as the spiritual sequel to OMG. The common thread between the films was divinity. Yaariyan 2 can be best described as a silly sequel to Yaariyan. This isn’t just a sequel but a remake of the Malayalam film Bangalore Days, which released in the same year as the first Yaariyan, 2014 to be precise. There’s a lot happening in the first paragraph itself.

There’s a lot happening in the film too. Three cousins and their destinies are intertwined and also tested time and again. There’s an astrologer who has some heartbreaking suggestions, there’s a solemn bride whose husband is a workaholic, and then there’s a reckless biker who has what else but behavioural issues. And in between all this mess, there are some revelations that work both for and against these inane characters. Divya Khosla Kumar, who directed the film, stars as one of the leads here, and the rawness in her performance still prevails. Meezaan Jafri mistakes stiffness to be ferocity, and Priya Prakash Varrier and Warina Hussain barely register.

Director duo Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru made a romantic saga amid a war in Russia with Salman Khan and Sneha Ullal back in 2005 (Lucky- No Time For Love). For all its flaws, it was ambitiously crafted and exquisitely shot and had a haunting soundtrack acting as its spine. Sanam Teri Kasam (2016) gave all the dejected lovers enough material to create reels on social media. What does Yaariyan 2 give? Maybe designer lehengas, stylish outfits, and one rehashed song from the earlier film.

In the days when we are celebrating the return of Hindi cinema with blistering successes like Jawan, Pathaan, and Gadar 2, and surprises like Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and The Kerala Story, a film like Yaariyan 2 is likely to create that room of lull all over again. It is not as unwatchable as it is unnecessary and barely does anything for the leads. Unless you count the 25 million views on its trailer on YouTube the hallmark of success.

Rating: 2 (out of 5 stars)

Yaariyan 2 is playing in cinemas

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