Film: Awarapan 2
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi, Puran Gabbi, Suvinder Vicky
Director: Nitin Kakkar
Rating: 3.5 Moons

Storyline 

‘Awarapan 2’ brings back Shivam Pandit (Emraan Hashmi), 19 years after the first film. Still unable to move on from the loss of his love Aaliya Hamid (Shriya Saran), Shivam finds a new purpose in life. He becomes attached to a little girl, again named Aaliya, whose life takes him back into the world of crime when she gets caught in a child trafficking racket. Determined to save her, Shivam travels to Bangkok. His search brings him face-to-face with Zorawar (Puran Gabbi), a dangerous criminal, while Zara (Disha Patani), a gangster’s daughter, becomes an important part of his journey. Nafisa (Shabana Azmi) adds another powerful presence to the criminal world, while Purab Kohli also plays a key role in Shivam’s mission that becomes more than just a rescue operation, forcing him to revisit the pain, love and unfinished emotions of his past.

Acting
Emraan Hashmi steals the show. He slips back into Shivam Pandit’s skin with the same pain, intensity and vulnerability that made the character memorable. His eyes and expressions often say more than the dialogues, and that works beautifully for the character. Shabana Azmi is a badass antagonist as Nafisa. She brings authority, menace and a quiet confidence to the role, making every appearance count. Puran Gabbi is decent and does justice to his part, while Disha Patani makes an impact with whatever limited screen time she gets. Suvinder Vicky also leaves his mark.

Direction

Nitin Kakkar directs the sequel, and while the film has its own story and treatment, there is still a certain warmth that takes you back to the ‘Awarapan’ era. The Mohit Suri-Emraan Hashmi combination from the first film was special, and that magic is difficult to recreate, but the sequel manages to retain some of that emotional flavour. The film understands that ‘Awarapan’ was never just about action or crime. It was about pain, love, loneliness and redemption, and that emotional core continues to hold the sequel together.

Dialogues

‘Awarapan 2’ does not rely heavily on dialogues. Much like Emraan Hashmi’s performance, expressions often do the talking. But whenever the dialogues land, they are heartwarming and powerful. Shabana Azmi, in particular, gets some of the strongest lines and delivers them with great impact.

Music

Music remains one of the film’s important elements. Some of the original ‘Awarapan’ music is retained, bringing back the nostalgia, while the new tracks fit well into the story. However, you may still find yourself missing the unforgettable musical aura of the first film.

Overall

If you are an ‘Awarapan’ fan and enjoy watching Emraan Hashmi in his lover-boy and anti-hero space, this is a must-watch. Even if you have not seen the first film, the sequel is worth giving a chance.