Film: Avunu-2
Cast: Poorna, Harshvardhan Rane
Director: Ravi Babu
When it comes to horror films, the basic things that people expect from the movie is to be spooked, experience more than a few hair-raising moments and to be gripped to the film right till the very end. Sadly, Ravi Babu’s latest horror flick Avunu 2, fails on all three counts. The film, which is a sequel to 2012 success Avunu, neither spooks the audience nor does it keeps them engrossed. The director focuses too much on loud sounds, spirits and technology but the film does not have any visual element to scare the viewers.
Avunu 2 takes off from where the first part finished and Mohini (Poorna) and Harsha (Harshvardhan Rane) go to Varanasi before starting a fresh chapter in their lives. They run into an old Sadhu who hands over a locket to Mohini and tells her that as long as she wears it on her body, the lustful ghost will not be able to harm her. The couple soon move into a new flat in the heart of the city, which has enhanced technology where one can monitor all controls of the home with a mobile phone or a tablet. As soon as they move in, the ghost of Raju (Ravi Babu) comes back to haunt them and tries to undress Mohini. Upon seeing the locket, the ghost collapses. The ghost’s attempts to dislodge the locket from Mohini and the various forms it takes to cause havoc to their lives makes for the rest of the story. While the film is quite gripping to start with, just when the viewers are expecting something to happen, it loses pace in the narrative. Bhupesh R Bhupati’s camera work is impressive and the film does have a few bright moments, but the script is a complete letdown as viewers are constantly waiting for things to happen. The visuals effects too leaves a lot to be desired.
Poorna is undoubtedly the heart and soul of Avunu 2 and the entire movie is focussed around her. She does an admirable job as the housewife battling an invisible ghost. Harshvardhan Rane is decent as the doting yet protective husband and manage to comes into his own in the film. Actresses Sanjjannaa Galrani and Nikitha Thukral are efficient in their brief cameos.
Director Ravi Babu tries to cash in on the success of the first part but doesn’t have enough in the script to reignite the magic. Avunu 2 has the cast, the technology and the premise but sadly, the filmmaker fails to get the basics right. A disappointing fare.
