Anthologies feel like an interesting prospect in times to come. With the peanut-sized attention span of aaj kal ki audience, four short films in three hours always sound like a good deal. Speaking of anthologies, Netflix is back with a second part of Lust Stories, directed by four new, but uncanny directors who delve into the world of sex, desire, and satisfaction, with the theme of lust lurking in the shadows. All four short films present a different take on the same topic. However, the sequel, with more misses than hits, makes for a rather disappointing watch. Here’s me reviewing each short film in the order of their appearance, so that you can choose which ones to watch, and which ones to protect yourself from!
- R Balki
R Balki’s short serves up a hilarious but aadha-adhoora take on the ‘taboo’ of sexual compatibility. Brace yourselves for two families on a mission to get their kids hitched, with Mrunal Thakur and Angad Bedi caught in the crossfire. But it’s Neena Gupta who steals the show as the crazily extroverted granny (I cannot relate). She fearlessly challenges society’s red flags about sex before marriage, making for a hatt-ke premise. However, while the film dishes out laughs and witty moments, film ki concrete storyline hi missing hai. We wanted more of Mrunal and Angad’s involvement apart from just awkwardly laughing at dadi’s comments and checking in hotel after hotel. Mrunal’s performance is kaafi mehhh, thanks to unconvincing emotions and poor dialogues. Angad has just 5 minutes of screen time and adds absolutely nothing to the story. It’s as if usko toh bhool hi gaye. What a waste. In short, the movie is simply a sex education ad, but 30 seconds ki jagah ye 30 minutes ki hai. Watch it only for the laughs maybe.
- Konkona Sen Sharma
Should we bow? Yes, she is a queen! Aisha… I mean Konkona absolutely hits it out of the park, delivering the best short film of this lot. What happens when a middle-class woman enters her house only to find out that *drum rolls* her maid having sex inside, is what forms the story of this hilarious, yet thought-provoking movie. In this battle, Tillotama Shome and Amruta Subhash go toe to toe to prove ‘main expert, mujhe sab kuch aata hai’ with their mind-blowing performances (please don’t ask me to choose the better one). The difficult scenes, such as the one where they face each other, show their true worth. Konkona’s unique direction efficiently shows us how lust doesn’t discriminate on the basis of social boundaries. Her fearless approach is as fresh as your spearmint gum, as she explores women’s sexual desires bilkul khul ke, which is why it is such a fun watch. Easily the only true highlight of the anthology, ye nahi dekha toh baaki 3 dekhne ka koi point nahi. So buckle up, embrace your desires, and break free from the chains of society! Also where to start a petition for more of Konkona’s directorials?
- Sujoy Ghosh
It’s sad to say that out of the four directors, it is Sujoy Ghosh who takes you on a rollercoaster ride of disappointment. Despite all the buzz surrounding Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia’s on-screen antics, the film is a hugeee bummer, with hardly anything right. The ‘Kahaani’ is about a love affair between the leads after they accidentally bump into each other after years, but duh it has a twist. However the short ends with more ????s than !!!!s, and thanks to the immature storytelling, you are more frustrated than confused. Sujoy Ghosh tries to be the jack of all trades, but itne saare genres ko 30 minutes mein express karna is what leads to this movie’s downfall. But what wins in this comedy of errors is the CGI. Teletubbies ke set pe shoot karne ki kya majboori thi? Nothing looks real- right from the childish set design to the unconvincing performances- resulting in a rare Sujoy Ghosh L. More depth and a less ‘Kuch bhi?’ plot could have saved the day, but it is what it is. Skip it for your own sake, please!
- Amit R Sharma
The anthology ends with the darkest, most saddening short by Amit Sharma. A tale of the twisted desires of the king who wants it all, this one plays like Dhoni- a dramatic build-up till the end and a mind-bending climax to finish things off. The short is a story of Kajol, a former sex worker turned queen (yes a lil weird), trying to create a better life for her son, while she herself is unable to break free from her debt-ridden, drunkard husband. Her portrayal of a woman with undying resilience makes me beg for more of her OTT roles, while Kumud Mishra’s evil performance is convincing to the extent your blood starts boiling and your fists curl for a punch. You feel uncomfortable and helpless throughout the short film, but that simply means you have understood the assignment. Although a sharper edit would have made for a more engaging experience, it still remains to be a pretty good watch, second only to Konkona’s class act.
P.S.- For those who are wondering, you saw the boy playing the ‘Yuvraj’ in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and 83. You don’t have to thank me.
All in all, Lust Stories 2 miserably fails to hit the mark in exploring the themes of sex and lust from a female perspective. Apart from Konkona, who pulls out a ‘Sharma Ji ka beta’ performance, none of the three male directors ace their short films, with only Amit Sharma coming the closest. NGL, I had pretty high hopes after the original back in 2018, but this one disappoints, to say the least. Watch the anthology only for the second and fourth films, and skip the other two! What a bummer, smh.
