Chhori 2 Review: Strong performances by Nushrat Bharucha and Soha Ali Khan, but less fear, more disappointment
Chhorii 2 has finally released on Amazon Prime Video. After the success of Chhori in 2021, director Vishal Furia has again introduced Nushrat Bharucha in the role of Sakshi in this sequel, along with stars like Soha Ali Khan and Gashmeer Mahajani. The film tries to combine social issues with a horror story, but did it leave an impact like its first part? Let’s find out in this review.
Story: A scary journey after seven years
The story of Chhori 2 begins seven years after the first part. Sakshi (Nushrat Bharucha) is now living a new life with her seven-year-old daughter Ishani (Hardika Sharma). Ishani has a rare condition due to which she cannot tolerate sunlight. Sakshi is a school teacher and lives with Inspector Samar (Gashmeer Mahajani). Everything is going well until one night Ishani is kidnapped and taken to the same village where Sakshi had a horrifying experience seven years ago.
In the village, Sakshi comes across a mysterious Dasi Ma (Soha Ali Khan) and a dangerous ritual. The story tackles social issues like child marriage and superstition, where Ishani is being made a scapegoat for an age-old tradition. Will Sakshi be able to save her daughter? This is the main premise of the film.
Performing: The power of Nushrat and Soha
Nushrat Bharucha has brought life back to the character of Sakshi. Her emotions as a mother and her strength to deal with fear are clearly visible on screen. She wins the hearts of the audience, especially in some emotional scenes. Soha Ali Khan is strong in the role of Dasi Ma. Her character is mysterious and scary, but at the same time has human emotions, which Soha has portrayed well.
Hardika Sharma has done a good job as Ishani, although her delivery seems a bit weak in some dialogues. Gashmeer Mahajani’s character Samar is limited, and he does not get much screen time. Supporting actors like Saurabh Goyal and Pallavi Ajay leave their mark, but the weakness of the script reduces their impact.
Direction and technical aspects
Vishal Furia had created a good balance of fear and social message in Chhori, but he could not repeat this magic in Chhori 2. The cinematography of the film is excellent, especially the scenes of sugarcane fields and dark caves are strong. Anshul Chaubey’s camera work and Adrija Gupta’s background score manage to make the atmosphere scary. The set design, especially the underground caves, make the story more mysterious.
However, the shortcomings in the editing and script of the film are clearly visible. Many scenes are repeated, and the second half slows down. The jump scares seem old, and the scary moments fail to leave the impact that is expected from a horror film.
What special?
- Performance: Nusrat and Soha’s acting is the strongest side of the film.
- Social message: The attempt to raise issues like child marriage and superstition is commendable.
- Visuals: The atmosphere of sugarcane fields and caves adds to the fear.
- Music: The background score helps set the mood.
What was weak?
- Story weakness: The script is not new, and many scenes are unnecessarily dragged.
- Lack of fear: Despite being a horror film, the jump scares and scary moments are weak.
- Slow pace: The second half falls apart, and the climax ends in a hurry.
- Weak use of characters: Characters like Gashmeer did not get a chance properly.
Fans reaction
Chhori 2 is getting mixed reactions on social media. While some fans praised Nusrat and Soha, some called the film weaker than the first part. One user wrote, “Nusrat has done wonders again, but the story does not have the power that Chhori had.” Another fan said, “Soha Ali Khan’s comeback is great, but there is not much in the name of horror.”
Comparison and impact
The first Chhori presented a serious issue like female foeticide in a scary way, and its atmosphere was strong. But in Chhori 2, an attempt was made to raise the issue of child marriage, but it could not be as impressive. Compared to horror films like Stree 2 or Tumbbad, this sequel lags behind. The film has less fear and more disappointment, which makes it average.
The brilliant performances of Nusrat Bharucha and Soha Ali Khan in Chhori 2 make it worth watching, but due to the weak script and lack of fear, it is unable to match its first part. If you want to watch a horror film with a social message, this is worth a watch, but don’t have too many expectations.
Rating: 2.5/5
