Film Review: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 [Labyrinth]

Starring:  Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra, Ashwini Kalsekar, Rajesh Sharma

Director: Anees Bazmee

As horror-comedy becomes more and more popular with audiences, Bollywood has off-late seen several filmmakers trying their hand at the engaging genre. Be it the ‘Stree’ franchise, which recently saw ‘Stree 2’ become a huge success, or films like ‘Kakuda’ or ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’’s own previous instalments, the horror-comedy genre has definitely become an audience favourite and is here to stay.

And Bazmee’s latest offering – ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ – definitely makes a great addition to the list. The film sees the return of Ruhan “Rooh Baba” Randhawa (Aryan), a character much-loved by the audience in ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, but this time in a completely new setting.

Ruhaan makes a living by deceiving people by claiming to be a ghostbuster. One day, when Meera’s (Dimri) uncle calls him asking for his help in talking to the ghost of Meera, Ruhaan employs his usual deception ghostbusting tactics, only to find himself face to face with a supposed real ghost. A terrified Ruhaan is left screaming and cowering for cover before he realises he’s being recorded on video and that it was all an elaborate set up to blackmail him into accompanying them to their ancestral palace back in Rakht Ghat in Bengal.

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Meera’s ancestral palace is believed to be haunted by Manjulika’s spirit which, according to legend, can only be destroyed by the reincarnation of Prince Debendranath. Ruhaan’s striking resemblance with the late prince’s portrait has everyone convinced that he is the saviour they had been waiting for.

The film follows a similar outline as its first two instalments in the sense that the makers have, possibly deliberately, kept certain elements the same; a haunted palace, a locked door behind which lies a deadly spirit, and a backstory rooted in history and intrigue.

This film, of course, goes a step further still in giving a nod to the franchise’s first release by bringing Vidya Balan back on screen and recreating Shreya Ghoshal’s famous track Ami Je Tomar. Audiences who have watched the trailer will know that the makers have created much suspense around who Manjulika is by bringing in Madhuri Dixit to the mix, another seasoned actress and yesteryear superstar.

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Dixit and Balan both have a very strong and charming on-screen presence, and bring a new freshness to the story. Aryan’s comedic timing is, once again, a winner and Tripti Dimrii also does a good job, although her character is fairly limited in its scope and storyline.

Without giving away too much from this suspenseful horror comedy, fans would certainly enjoy this latest offering from the franchise – a fun family entertainer, which nicely balances the horror and thrill with comedy and entertainment.