The Bhool Bhulaiya 3 trailer is here

 

When Bhool Bhulaiya released in 2007, it was marketed as a psychological thriller.

Considering it was a Bollywood movie, I didn't have much hope for it. It had a stellar star cast and entertaining songs, but could it really live up to the mark.

It was at the time when Bollywood was "borrowing" stories from other film industries. Some were faithful adaptations, while others were blatant rip-offs.

Could a Bollywood movie actually deliver its promise on its marketing keywords?

Yes, it can.

Bhool Bhulaiya had extraordinary performances and actual frightening scenes balanced with equal measure of humor. This was the first Bollywood movie for me that was a well-made horror comedy.

Was it a box office success? Of course it was. It garnered positive reviews from critics as well.

When a sequel was announced, it was a cause of celebration among fans who couldn't wait to see what the creators had in store for them.

When the movie was released fifteen years later, fans of the original were taken aback. The director was different, the cast was different, and the story...?

Remember the movie Alone, which was based on a Thai horror movie of the same name, which in turn was based on an episode from Tales From tye Crypt.

The only saving grace of Bhool Bhulaiya 2 was Tabu, whose acting skills gave the movie some dignity.

Now that the trailer for Bhool Bhulaiya 3 has dropped, let's just say that even with capable stars like Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit, the movie is cringe-worthy at best.

Why?

It's because the original movie was a surprisingly terrifying psychological thriller. It dealt with actual mental issues and was handled with sensitivity. Director Priyadarshan was no doubt the only man who could shoulder such a responsibility of converging various elements and genres and delivering a tasteful thriller that wowed the audience.

It helped that Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan gave their career's best performance.

Bhool Bhulaiya 2 moved away from psychological thrillers. Helmed by Anees Bazmi, the movie relied heavily on comedy and lighter on horror. There was an actual ghost this time played by Tabu who managed to play her role with ease and grace.

The protagonist, Kartik Aryan, simply imitated Akshay Kumar's mannerisms and showed his originality and basic acting skills towards the climax.

Bhool Bhulaiya 3 seems to deviate from everything the original was. From what we can see from the trailer, the movie is a slapstick comedy, piggybacking on the original movie's legacy. It has brought back characters from the first movie but made them caricatures rather than respectful and relatable characters.

The trailer showcases Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan's acting and dancing prowess, but it has also included scenes where they must rely on cheap comedy.

Tripti Dimri, the flavor of the month, is in this movie as eye candy, which is a waste of her talents. She was in Bulbbul, remember? She can act, and she has presence, but she has been relegated to wearing flowing dresses and posing with the hero.

Kartik Aryan does what he does in every movie.

One can hope that the trailer hasn't revealed everything and that there are still surprises in store for fans who are hoping that the legacy of Bhool Bhulaiya lives on. 

Check out the trailer below: