Judwaa 2

Released in 2017, the comedy-action film Judwaa 2 is a Hindi-language Bollywood movie directed by David Dhawan. An official reboot of the 1997 film Judwaa, also directed by Dhawan, Judwaa 2 continues to draw on the original film's themes of mistaken identity and hilarious confusion to create a vibrant and entertaining spectacle.

The film stars the talented Varun Dhawan in dual roles, seamlessly shifting between the two characters of Raja and Prem. Varun shines, juggling the contrasting personas, mannerisms, and styles of the iconic, quirky twins separated at birth. On one hand, we have Raja - a street-smart, brash, fun-loving character who grew up in the streets of Mumbai. On the other hand, Varun also skillfully portrays the polite, sophisticated, and music-loving Prem who grew up in London. The effortless transition between the twin's characterization and Varun's magnetic screen presence ensures a rollicking spectacle throughout the film.

Apart from Varun Dhawan, key performances by Jacqueline Fernandez and Taapsee Pannu lend a refreshing air to the film. Jacqueline Fernandez embodies the role of Alishka, a lively, modern woman with charm and elegance. She displays an engaging chemistry with Varun Dhawan's Raja character, contributing to the film's humorous and lively appeal. On the other hand, Taapsee Pannu as Samaira, a college student in love with Prem, showcases the romantic side of the story gracefully.

Other characters in the film for adding comic timings and context include actors Johnny Lever and Rajpal Yadav. They contribute significantly to spice up the humour quotient of the film while playing distinctive roles. Furthermore, the role of Abhinay Raj Singh as Alex, the dreaded and ruthless gangster, adds the much-needed antagonistic role to weave the narrative with suspense and thrill.

The movie artfully places these twin brothers into situations where they mistakenly swap their identities in the most humorous way possible. Their lives wittingly intertwine, bringing together a multitude of exhilarating comedy sequences, paired with classic Bollywood-style romantic interludes, action-filled spectacles, and edge-of-the-seat thriller sequences.

David Dhawan, known for his mastery over slapstick comedy and family entertainers in Bollywood, doesn’t disappoint with this reboot. His classic touch of over-the-top comedy, bright, vibrant set designs, engaging dialogues, and a breezy narrative theme unify the film's tone resonating with his earlier work.

The foot-tapping music of Judwaa 2, composed by Sajid-Wajid, Sandeep Shirodkar, Anu Malik and Meet Bros, is another highlight that appeals to the audience and stays hummable long after the movie ends. The chartbusters "Tan Tana Tan" and "Oonchi Hai Building", have received particular attention for their catchy tunes and energetic choreography. The film's wardrobe, designed to suit the characters’ personality, colourful set designs and the exotic locations, add to the visual spectacle of the movie.

The cinematography captures the essence of both Mumbai and London exceptionally well, painting a vibrant cosmopolitan canvas for the movie. The editing ensures a swift flowing narrative and doesn’t allow the movie's pace to slack at any point, thereby making a near-two and half hours of the run-time enjoyable.

Judwaa 2 is a delightful entertainer for those who can enjoy the quirks of Bollywood's blending of laughter, drama, action, and romance. It is a masala film that successfully delivers loads of entertainment to its audience. The classic David Dhawan style of comedy, the sizzling chemistry between the actors, the punchy dialogues, the foot-tapping music, the vibrant ambiance, and last but not least, Varun Dhawan's power-packed double role, make Judwaa 2 a commercially successful and entertaining movie. In essence, the film is a rollercoaster ride of laughs, misadventures, and confusion, keeping the spirit of the original Judwaa intact, yet presenting it in a contemporary style.