I’ll start off with a question– KYU BANATE HO AISI MOVIES? I’m sorry if this turns out to be a rant instead of a review, but you can’t really blame me. In a year in which “Jawan,” “Pathaan,” and “Gadar 2” (idk how) are flexing their success muscles, “Yaariyan 2” comes with a purpose to restore balance. Ek toh you’re denying that it is a remake of “Bangalore Days”, uske upar se you’re copying the entire storyline, only making it even worse. It struggles to find a unique identity, resembling more of a poorly executed imitation than an original creation.
Plot
The story is about three cousins—Laadli, Shikhar, and Bajju—whose lives are surprisingly similar (ditto) to the characters of Bangalore days. Laadli’s got a husband who’s married to his job, Shikhar is fighting legal battles because apparently, racing is now a crime, and Bajju is just out here collecting heartbreaks like they’re Pokémon cards. The only problem is, the struggles of the cousins fail to leave an impact on you. Originality takes a coffee break, and we’re left with a plot that’s more recycled than your mom’s cookies waale dabbe. How to mess up goated movies ka tutorial padh liya shayad galti se.
Performances
Just horrible, horrible, horrible and horrible. Divya Khosla Kumar, shows improvement from her last gig, but if we’re being honest, even a CGI frog might outshine her. Meezaan Jafri, mistakes stiffness for ferocity, and the supporting cast—Warina Hussain, Priya Prakash Varrier, and Anaswara Rajan—are like the seasoning that forgot to spice up the dish. Yash Dasguptaa, stepping into Fahadh Faasil’s shoes, barely scratches the surface of his character’s emotional range. Everything from the dialogue delivery to the facial expressions is all over the place. It’s like watching a pizza delivery guy trying to fix your plumbing—it just doesn’t add up.
Direction and Writing
Can you believe this is the same director duo that helmed “Sanam Teri Kasam???” How did they fck up so bad this time with “Yaariyan 2?” It’s less of a spiritual sequel and more of a confused cousin trying to be something it’s not. The decision to remake “Bangalore Days” appears more as a lack of originality than a creative adaptation. And on top of it, the attempt to distance itself from the Malayalam classic is like saying a pineapple pizza is just misunderstood—it’s not fooling anyone. The narrative shifts and character developments feel forced and fail to establish a genuine connection with the audience.
Screenplay and Cinematography
Screenplay hai hi nahi toh baat hi kya karni? It’s like a poorly written school essay—forgettable and lacking in originality. The denial of its Malayalam roots is so strong that even Meezaan Jafri’s attempt to convince us falls flatter than a pancake. Agar ye Bangalore Days ka remake nahi hai toh main bhi SRK hoon. Cinematographer Ravi Yadav, typically associated with Abbas-Mustan’s projects, fails to elevate the film visually. It’s like he accidentally wandered onto the set with no idea what the film was about. I mean, can’t really blame him. Jab director ko hi nahi pata ki kya ho raha hai, toh inhe kya pata hoga? AND WHY THE FCK DID THEY REMAKE THE SONGS TOO??? BHAI YAAR ISSE ACHHA REHNE DETE PLS.
All in all, “Yaariyan 2” struggles to justify its existence (like me) offering little more than designer lehengas, stylish outfits, and rehashed songs from its predecessor. As the credits roll, you sigh in relief. Also, you can’t help but wonder if maybe this movie should’ve stayed in the drafts. A half-hearted apology to Malayalam cinema for the attempted crime of duplicating “Bangalore Days.” Sorry, Babu! Sometimes, it’s best to admit when a sequel should’ve hit the snooze button and stayed in bed.
