Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Review: Kartik Aaryan delivers a bold message in a horror-comedy

When you see a film with a preface that reads, “From the makers of Welcome, No Entry, Singh is Kingg,” you somehow know what to expect. You're in for a senseless ride full of punches and choking. While the first Bhool Bhulaiyaa film, which released in 2007, remains a classic and can never be copied, the second film felt like it was struggling to find its place. The good thing about any third act is that if the middle one was bad, at least the third film can redeem the franchise. But does Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 succeed in improving the franchise or does it fail? Let's find out.

What begins as a paranormal drama about the most famous Chudail (Ghost) in the City – Vidya Balan as Manjulika (sorry Stree, you get second place here) will soon become another attempt to meet the commercial expectations of a true Diwali release. This time the story takes us back to the origins of Manjulika. The makers take several creative liberties to adapt the folk tale to suit the requirements of the plot. Vidya's return to the franchise is a big reason why the third film piques your interest. Add Madhuri Dixit and you get a solid opportunity to see two Manjulikas for the price of one.

Kartik returns as Rooh Baba, the ghost hunter who takes more damage than the ghosts around him. The familiar faces of the mad hatter trio Ashwini Kalsekar, Rajpal Yadav and Sanjay Mishra are a joy to watch. But the writers fail to justify their talent and offer them some poorly written jokes. Luckily the second half recovers and the gags and punches slowly but steadily get better.

The Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 team's efforts to pay attention to logic are minimal. So don't expect everything to work out. What does wonders for the film, however, is its bold climax and Kartik's ability to convincingly maneuver a tricky second half. Without the actors' confidence and ability to try something different, the film would have had a certain, predictable ending. Without giving away any spoilers, I think Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has one of the most interesting highlights in recent times.

Watching Vidya and Madhuri duel in the new duel Ami Je Tomar Song is a pleasure. Madhuri steps into a genre that is somewhat new to her and it's a risk that pays off in her favor. Vidya adds a dash of nostalgia and pure excitement every time she breaks into a Bengali dialogue or heavily accents the accent. Triptii Dimri brings glamor and works hard to create impressive chemistry with Kartik. At the center of this insane horror and comedy venture is Kartik, and the reason the film gains such momentum in the second half, especially in the scenes leading up to the climax, is to his credit. His ability to make fun of himself, especially the dig at Shehzada, is one of the big highlights.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a good festival entertainer to watch. If the first half had worked better, the film would have reached a higher level. And will Manjulika be back for the fourth time? Well, your guess is only as good as mine!