Ek Villain Returns Review: Rating irrelevant

Ek Villain Returns

Director: Mohit Suri

Cast: John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani, Tara Sutaria

Released in theatres.

The title of this review refers to a recurring dialogue in this film where John Abraham, a cab driver says to his customers, “Rating zaroor de dena”. As the film continues, you’d know that he will ask for ratings for the murders he commits. Mohit Suri’s Ek Villain Returns has sickness overloaded with no scope for coherence. This is a franchise film. That means the first one was a hit. And as it happens with most Bollywood sequels – literal or spiritual – the film reeks of the overconfidence of the makers.

I watched this film’s predecessor Ek Villain (2014) directed by Suri himself much later after it had been released owing to recommendations from friends. The film in spite of its uneven narrative was engaging. It scored on the plot, music and performances of the actors. All these things are lacking in the sequel. You might want to use all the synonyms of pathetic and lackluster to describe this braindead script. Not kidding, I genuinely wondered whether the script of this was ever read.

More questions followed because what happening on the big screen was not worth looking at or thinking about. What does it take for big studios to bankroll such flicks? What brief is given to the actors? Why is John Abraham such a paradox when it comes to choosing films to produce (wonderful choices) and choosing films to act in (well). How do the makers find the conviction to pull off such a rehash of b-grade movies with A-list budgets?

Also read: A Holy Conspiracy Review: Exquisite and mind-blowing!

By virtue of trying to find something positive from any film that I watch, I must say that there are a couple of engaging sequences; both action sequences. One takes place inside and outside a speeding metro. And the other one is inside a car. But that’s about it.

The cinematography is too rushed. Seeing the camera moving in 360 degrees gives you a headache, not an adrenaline rush. The music sounds like you have heard it before. The makers rely on a rehash of the popular Galiyaan song from Ek Villain. The performances are one-note. The best expression comes from the yellow mask used by the serial killer. Who is the serial killer after? He kills only the girls who betray boys in one-sided love. He is called “Dil toote aashiqon ka messiah”.

In bad films, you’re disappointed in the first 10-15 minutes itself. After that, you wish that, at least, the sheer ridiculousness of it all becomes so bad that it is good. But no such luck with this film. That’s enough writing about a bad film. Watch it at your own risk.