There is only one thought that ran through my mind after walking out of RAAZ 2 THE
MYSTERY CONTINUES - 'why is it that Bollywood films are loaded with the worst possible endings?' But more on that later.
To tell you the truth I expected RAAZ 2 to be much worse than it turned out to be. The signs in the promos looked ominous - Mohit Suri re-teaming with his pals Kangana Ranaut and Emraan Hashmi, a sequel to the shamelessly plagiarized RAAZ and hints of lifting material from THE RING. But the director washes off the muck, paints on a new canvas and offers a superior product that scares and entertains.
RAAZ 2 is not a sequel to the original film. It is not even like Golmaal 2, where the same characters play different roles. In fact RAAZ 2 has been given the name purely for platform material and bragging rights. It could've been given an entirely different name, but it was smart marketing to have the 'RAAZ' name to generate curiosity and invite people to the theaters.
RAAZ 2 begins in spectacular fashion, with a car driving under a moonless sky, followed by an eerily creepy sequence at a strange temple in a desolate town. Cut to the main characters, lovey-dovey couple Kangana Ranaut and Adhyayan Suman move into their new posh home and make out on the terrace. Kangana is stalked by artist Emraan Hashmi, who later reveals to her that his paintings have a metaphysical connection to her. Whatever he draws on canvas actually happens to her, including near death experiences. And one portrait shows her dead in a pool of blood.
Before one stops to think how lame the plot is, Mohit Suri builds up a tight, nightmarish atmosphere and you can't help but slide in your seat, terrified of the next scene. There are cheap, but deliciously effective thrills, there is unsettling music and a goose bump inducing scary as hell Kangana Ranaut. A few jolts, like the scene at the ATM machine are downright scream worthy.
The film manages to hold ground even after the interval, but it is only in the final 20 minutes where RAAZ 2 falls frustratingly flat. A few CG bisons (or were they buffaloes) turn up and things go downhill. It seemed like screenwriter Shagufta Rafique simply hit 'Control C Control V' towards the end of his draft and then gave it to the Ramsay brothers for a rewrite. Too bad, considering the rest of the movie was sumptuously original and interesting.
Kangana Ranaut is in fine form with her heart stopping stare and four kilos of makeup. Here is one heroine tailor made for horror films. She does appear buck naked in one scene and it is interesting that the censors didn't object. Emraan Hashmi has certainly improved over the years and does perform well in RAAZ 2. Although his dialogue delivery is still quite weak, and he can't pull a stalker-ish look for nuts. Adhyayan Suman is a younger, brattier version of his dad, but fails to make his presence felt in any scene. Limited expressions and lack of experience are a turn off for viewers.
Full marks to director Mohit Suri for immersing the audience right in the middle of a nightmare, and making bonus use of an ultimately weak script. His camera angles, pacing and eye for beauty are commendable, one would think he's been directing horror films for decades. Cinematography by Ravi Walia is gorgeous and haunting. Technical finesse is what separates this film from the average Bollywood trash. The CG bisons and even the whole town of Kalindi was fleshed out from scratch and is beautiful to behold. Two of the songs, 'Mahi' and 'Soniyo', which are already popular with the junta slip very well with the film. 'Maahi' was shot in an astounding location, pure eye candy.
There you have it then, RAAZ 2 does impress the hell out of you from the word go. If only the final 20 minutes were better written, we would've had a blockbuster in the making. RAAZ was lifted from 'What lies beneath', RAAZ 2 also has been lifted, but has unfortunately been very clumsily copied. Watch the film for the visuals, Kangana and the ATM scene.
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