They may not be in the league of The Godfather 2, but they certainly are worth the popcorn and samosa!
With Tanu Weds Manu Returns getting great critical reviews and positive buzz, it’s time for Bollywood to rejoice – rarely has the second time worked well. Sequels are always a tough task, especially if the original is a hard act to follow. There were many a times when Bollywood couldn’t live up to the original. Dabanng 2, though successful, was an inferior imitation of the original. Singham Returns was no patch on the original Singham. And less said about Race 2, the better.
However, there are rare occasions when we made sequels that are on par with original film, if not better. The below are a few such films who surprised us by entertaining us more than the original film.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns
Tanu Weds Manu was the sleeper hit of 2011, that ended with the title getting justified. So when the makers announced that they will going ahead with the sequel, we were suprised as well as a bit sceptical. Tanu had got married to Manu; what else do we need to see in their story? Why push your luck further? However, we were wrong, as not only the sequel gave a fresh twist, but is far more funnier and energetic than the original. Doubt us? Check out the reviews then!
Dhoom 2
The original Dhoom, loosely inspired from Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break, was a surprise success, as it did not have major stars then (Abhishek and John were yet to give solo hits…). It was a fun ride, if not a critical darling. The sequel upped everything- be it the action, the comedy, the romance and even the villain, played Hrithik Roshan. Though the film faltered in the post-interval scenes, it was, nevertheless, an improvement on the original film. Sadly Dhoom 3 brings the graph down, though it became one of the highest grossers of all time.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai
Munna Bhai MBBS gave us a superstar director in Rajkumar Hirani, whose touch can turn everything into gold, as well as gave a fresh lease of life to Sanjay Dutt’s career. Lage Raho Munna Bhai notched things up with more fun, more Munna-Circuit antics, more emotions and a definitely better heroine in Vidya Balan. Above all, it coined a new term that will continue to resonate for years – Gandhigiri! Both the movies are definitely on the list of everyone’s favourites, for sure!
Gangs of Wasseypur II
Though the first part was far more successful, it was the sequel that was the best of the lot. Faizal’s journey to be the kingpin of the UP badlands is far more interesting that his father’s rise to gang-lord in the original. Nawazuddin gave a wonderful performance as the protagonist, ably supported by Richa Chaddha, Huma Qureshi, Rajkummar Rao, Zeishan Quadri and Tigmanshu Dhulia. Plus, it gave us some memorable characters with quirky names like Perpendicular and Tangent.
Don 2
Don was a just a passable remake of an iconic film with a great twist in the end. Don 2 had one major advantage over its predecessor – it was original. This time, Farhan made sure he completely owned the product. Though, it isn’t the best he can offer, the stylish action and the thrilling heist plot helped in rake a loot of moolah. And, of course, SRK never looked so stylish!
Krrish
Koi Mil Gaya was a melodramatic version of Hollywood blockbuster, E.T., where the hero turns from Forrest Gump to Hritik Roshan after an alien intervention. The sequel reduces the melodrama, and gives us one true superhero, after Mr India, who doesn’t embarrass us.
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns
Tigmanshu Dhulia’s take on the Guru Dutt classic was much appreciated for its concept and its array of wonderful performances by Jimmy Shergill, Mahie Gill (why can’t she get more roles!) and Randeep Hooda. In the sequel, Irrfan Khan replaces Randeep who died in the original, and Soha Ali Khan joins him the web of conspiracy, driven by lust of love and power. The second gets its own pedestal without spoiling the name of the first film, with more twists and turns than a Mumbai-Pune highway.
Did we miss out on any films? Do let us know…