Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 review: Kartik Aaryan delivers a courageous message in horror-comedy

If you watch a film with a foreword that reads ‘from the makers of Welcome, No Entry, Singh is Kingg’, you know roughly what to expect. You’re in for a mindless ride full of punches and jokes. While the first Bhool Bhulaiyaa film, released in 2007, remains a classic and can never be duplicated, the second felt like it was struggling to find its way. The good thing about any third act is that if the middle one was bad, at least the third film can redeem the franchise. But does Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 manage to improve the franchise or fail? Let’s find out.

What starts as a paranormal drama about the most famous chudail (ghost) in town – Vidya Balan as Manjulika (sorry Stree, you get second place here), quickly becomes another attempt to meet the commercial expectations of a bona fide Diwali release. This time the story takes us back to the origins of Manjulika. The creators take several creative liberties to shape the folktale to meet the demands of the plot. Vidya’s return to the franchise is a major reason why the third film piques your interest. Add Madhuri Dixit and you get a solid chance to watch two Manjulikas for the price of one.

Kartik returns as Rooh Baba, the ghostbuster, who himself is arrested more than the ghosts around him. It is a delight to watch the familiar faces of the mad hatter trio – Ashwini Kalsekar, Rajpal Yadav and Sanjay Mishra. But the writers fail to justify their talent and offer them some poorly written jokes. Luckily, the second half picks itself up and the jokes and jabs get better, slowly but surely.

The Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 team’s efforts to pay attention to logic are minimal. So don’t expect everything to fall into line. What works wonders for the film, however, is its brave climax and Kartik’s ability to convincingly maneuver a tricky second half. Without the actors’ self-confidence and their ability to try something different, the film would have had a safe, predictable ending. Without giving away any spoilers, I believe Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has one of the most interesting climaxes written in recent times.

To see Vidya and Madhuri dueling in the new Ami Je Tomar song is a treat. Madhuri steps into a genre that is somewhat new to her, and it’s a risk that pays off in her favor. Vidya adds a touch of nostalgia and sheer excitement every time she interrupts a Bengali dialogue or uses a heavy accent. Triptii Dimri brings glamor and works hard to deliver impressive chemistry with Kartik. At the center of this crazy, part horror, part comedy endeavor is Kartik and the reason the film picks up pace in the second half, especially during the pre-climax scenes, is thanks to him. His ability to make fun of himself, especially the Shehzada dig, is one of the big highlights.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a good festival entertainer worth watching. If the first half had worked better, the film would have taken itself to the next level. And will Manjulika return for the fourth time? Well, your guess is only as good as mine!