Cast: Vidya Balan, Arjun Rampal, Jugal Hansraj

Kahaani 2: Firstly let me tell you that Durga Rani Singh has no relation with the earlier Kahaani, the movie that came out four years ago. The story and characters are unrelated. So why is this one called Kahaani 2? No idea.

Sujoy Ghosh, who wrote and directed both the movies is brilliant in his direction. Undoubtedly…. however need to mention that this movie seemed more predictable as there wasn’t much heart racing moments.

Vidya Balan once again powers in both films, making even the most illogical scenes convincing. She saves the movie as a desperate emotional mother who is keen on looking out for her kidnapped daughter… who has a bitter history…. a not so comfortable history. Is her history linked to her suspicious disappearance? ??

Sujoy expertly establishes the right chords of a mother daughter relationship and their seemingly ordinary lives making you easily vulnerable. They live in a sleepy, small town near Kolkata. It feels like a safe haven. But then Vidya’s daughter Mini suddenly disappears and Vidya goes crazily looking out for her & gets hit by a car landing herself into coma. The first half of Kahaani 2 is superbly constructed. The story unravels in flashback as sub-inspector Inderjeet Singh ( Arjun Rampal) reads Vidya’s diary. Can’t say much about Arjun – didn’t find him any close to a cop. The 1st half of the movie keeps you breathless — there isn’t a wasted frame or moment. I wish I could say the same of the 2nd half.

2nd half becomes pulpy and predictable; the narration gets looser and less believable. The characters become exaggerated — for me, seeing a lady assassin with a blade was not at all convincing. The story telling gets so clumsy that you can easily predict what will happen next. Climax was no mystery to me.

I still recommend that you see the film — for that killer first-half and for the brilliance of Vidya Balan. She still has the charisma to sweep you off.