‘Fukrey Returns’ Is Fun, but No Match for the First

Our beloved Fukrey boys – Honey, Lali, Choocha and Zafar – return with this latest instalment. Fukrey, the surprise hit of 2013 about "chaar Dilli ke laundey" and their much loved shenanigans, would warrant a sequel no doubt. The writing then was the hero – sharp and witty, propped up by some great performances.

While Fukrey Returns is no match to its predecessor, it is fairly enjoyable in parts.

It starts with an elaborate introductory song that takes us back to the familiar universe and gives us the much-needed context to the ensuing madness. Bholi Punjaban (Richa Chadha) who has been in jail for the past year, we are told, and is desperate for her release. She buys her freedom after getting into a shoddy deal with a corrupt politician (Rajiv Gupta).

She then hunts down the fabulous four and the fun starts immediately. Choocha now doesn't just dream but also has premonitions. The rest – Honey (Pulkit Samrat), Lalli (Manjot Singh), and Zafar (Ali Fazal) – try and understand his weird visions and weave plans around it, hoping to make some quick dough.

What made the original work was how Vipul Vig's writing made the implausible seem believable and charming. That level of precision in the script, sadly, is never achieved here. Some jokes fall flat, major chunks have an exasperating lull, but Varun Sharma singlehandedly saves the day for us.
His maverick Choocha, with all the endearing crankiness, is most fun to watch. Which is not to say that the others disappoint, but they were strangely sidelined and have precious little to do.

Apart from Richa Chadha and Rajiv Gupta, both solid performers who not only had significant screen time but also made the most of it, everyone else was ignored.

One would have loved to see more of Ali Fazal and Manjot Singh, but that was not to be. Sigh! Pankaj Tripathi, however, even in a bit role is supremely impressive with his comic timing.
Fukrey Returns isn't in the same league as Fukrey but two hours 15 mins of relatively harmless fun doesn't seem such a bad idea after all.