Mohit Suri, the renowned author and director, takes audiences on an exhilarating journey with his 2022 Hindi-language action thriller, “Ek Villain Returns” (also known as “One Villain Returns”). This highly-anticipated film is a sequel to his 2014 hit, “Ek Villain,” featuring an ensemble cast including Tara Sutaria, Disha Patani, John Abraham, and Arjun Kapoor.

Ek Villain Returns : The Plot:

“Ek Villain Returns” opens with a shocking incident where Aarvi Malhotra, a talented singer, is brutally attacked and killed by a masked assailant at an apartment complex. The police, led by former CBI agent and DCP Aditya Rathore, swiftly apprehend Gautam Mehra, the son of industrialist Divesh Mehra, as the prime suspect.

Backstory:

The story delves into the intricate backstory of Gautam and Aarvi. Gautam, a spoiled rich brat, disrupts the peace during his ex-girlfriend Siya’s wedding, leading to a viral video that Aarvi turns into a rap song. His life takes a turn for the worse as both his home and business are taken from him. In an attempt to win Aarvi’s favor, Gautam pretends to be in love with her, and she falls for him. However, when Aarvi reveals her true parentage and is rejected by her musician father, Gautam is torn apart.

Present:

As Gautam escapes the clutches of the police, Inspector Ganesan begins to doubt Gautam’s involvement in Aarvi’s murder. He investigates further and uncovers a pattern of similar murders of young women with unrequited love. Events take a surprising turn when it is revealed that Bhairav Purohit, a taxi driver, is the real serial killer.

Bhairav’s backstory reveals his obsessive love for Rasika Mapuskar, a mall salesperson, who drives him to commit a series of gruesome murders. Aarvi’s encounter with Bhairav escalates the situation.

Gautam decides to confront Bhairav at the zoo where he resides, leading to a deadly showdown. However, it is ultimately revealed that Bhairav suffers from schizophrenia and had been imagining Rasika’s presence. Bhairav’s shocking actions culminate in a tragic end.

Box Office Performance: Upon its release, “Ek Villain Returns” faced mixed reviews but made a significant impact at the box office. On its first day, it earned 7.05 crores at the domestic box office, followed by 7.47 crores on day two and 9.02 crores on the third day, resulting in a weekend domestic total of 23.54 crores. Globally, the film raked in 49.63 crores (US$6.2 million) in India and 19.01 crores (US$2.4 million) elsewhere, accumulating a total global gross of 68.64 crores (US$8.6 million) as of August 18, 2022.

“Ek Villain Returns” is a gripping thriller that combines elements of love, revenge, and mystery. Mohit Suri’s directorial brilliance and the stellar performances of the cast make it a must-watch for fans of Indian cinema. This sequel successfully builds on the legacy of its predecessor and delivers an engaging cinematic experience.

“Ek Villain Returns: A Mixed Bag of Reviews”

Introduction: Ek Villain Returns, the much-anticipated sequel to the hit Bollywood film Ek Villain, has recently hit the screens, generating a wide range of opinions from critics. While some have praised its music, visuals, and thrilling moments, others found fault with its plot, performances, and the handling of certain themes. In this article, we’ll explore the critical response to Ek Villain Returns and provide an overview of what various reviewers had to say about the film.

Positive Reviews

• Bollywood Hungama’s critic was quite impressed, giving the film a solid 4 out of 5 stars. They described Ek Villain Returns as the “epitome of supreme music, amazing visuals, and thrilling moments.” This review highlights the film’s strong points in terms of entertainment.
• India Today’s Shweta Keshri awarded the film 3 out of 5 stars and praised its gripping plot. She commended director Mohit Suri for delivering an engaging storyline and noted the presence of massy dialogues and good performances.
• The Free Press Journal’s Rohit Bhatnagar gave the movie 3 out of 5 stars, emphasizing that Ek Villain Returns offers a stylish thriller with mass appeal. While it may not capture the exact vibe of its predecessor, it still manages to captivate audiences.

Mixed Reviews

• The Times of India’s Rachana Dubey had a more lukewarm take, rating the film 2.5 out of 5 stars. She acknowledged the film’s twists and turns but pointed out that it lacked emotional connection with the characters and the story.
• Scroll.in’s Nandini Ramnath was less impressed, giving the film 2 out of 5 stars. She raised concerns about the portrayal of misogyny in the movie, even as heads were bludgeoned and blood flowed.
• Pinkvilla’s Avinash Lohana rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and attributed the disappointment to the overall story, suggesting it fell short of expectations.

Negative Reviews

• News 18’s Sonil Dedhia was critical, rating the film 1.5 out of 5 stars. He lamented that Ek Villain Returns only picks up after the interval, while the first half was a waste with dialogues reminiscent of ’80s Bollywood.
• The Indian Express’s Shubhra Gupta gave the film 1 out of 5 stars, describing it as having a disjointed plot and pedestrian performances. She even suggested that the first Ek Villain movie was better in comparison.
• NDTV’s Saibal Chatterjee was equally unimpressed, awarding the film 1 out of 5 stars. He singled out Arjun Kapoor, John Abraham, Tara Sutaria, and Disha Patani, suggesting that they failed to elevate the film.
• Firstpost’s Anna M.M. Vetticad was particularly critical, rating the film 0.5 out of 5 stars. She highlighted John Abraham’s lack of expression and described the overall circumstances of the film as dismal.
• Rediff’s Sukanya Vema also gave the film 0.5 out of 5 stars, suggesting that Ek Villain Returns heavily relied on the popularity of its Galliyan track to boost its appeal.

Ek Villain Returns has received a mixed bag of reviews from critics, with opinions ranging from praise for its entertainment value to criticism for its plot, performances, and thematic handling. Ultimately, whether you’ll enjoy the film may depend on your personal preferences and expectations, but it’s clear that it has elicited diverse reactions from reviewers.

Ek Villain Returns Movie Review: A Painful Sequel Lacks the Thrill of its Predecessor

Ek Villain Returns, directed by Mohit Suri, attempts to continue the legacy of its 2014 predecessor but falls short in many aspects. Starring Arjun Kapoor and John Abraham as the leads, along with Disha Patani and Tara Sutaria, this action-packed thriller leaves much to be desired.

A Confusing Plot

The film kicks off with a series of fights, set in various locations throughout the city. However, the audience is left puzzled as to why these characters are fighting in the first place. The lack of clarity in the storyline is a persistent issue throughout the movie.

The plot revolves around a serial killer targeting young girls with twisted love stories. Kapoor portrays Gautam, a wealthy and spoiled young man entangled in a complicated relationship with Aarvi, played by Sutaria. Meanwhile, Abraham takes on the role of Bhairav, an introverted taxi driver who falls for Rasika (Patani), a materialistic salesgirl. As the story unfolds, both Kapoor and Abraham’s characters become jilted lovers, adding to the confusion.

The identity of the serial killer, the hero, and the villain remain shrouded in mystery for an extended duration, leaving the audience waiting for answers.

Pacing and Storytelling Issues

Despite its relatively short runtime of 128 minutes, the film struggles to maintain the audience’s interest. The non-linear storytelling further complicates matters, as the characters’ appearances hardly change in flashbacks, making it challenging to keep track of the timeline.

Underutilized Talent

The movie features a talented cast, but their potential remains untapped. Patani and Sutaria’s characters are reduced to mere props, lacking depth and development. Patani’s eerie laughter becomes more annoying than unsettling, while Sutaria’s efforts are constrained by the script.

John Abraham, known for his acting prowess, disappointingly has limited dialogue in the film, which fails to showcase his potential. Arjun Kapoor, however, manages to shine through with his character’s relatable shades.

Supporting actors JD Chakravarthy and Shaad Ali, portraying cops, are underutilized and appear sporadically, leaving them with little to contribute to the storyline.

Musical Letdown

While the soulful track “Teri Galliyan” is reprised as “Galliyan Returns” and plays throughout the film, the rest of the album falls short of expectations.

Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity

In conclusion, Ek Villain Returns falls short of expectations set by its predecessor. The confusing plot, sluggish storytelling, and underutilized cast members make it a lackluster sequel. It’s unfortunate that this film fails to capture the thrill and excitement of the original. If you can overlook these shortcomings and enjoy mindless action, you might find some entertainment value, but be prepared to leave your brain at home.

Also Read : Ek Villain (2014) Review 

Of all the movies I’ve watched this year so far, Ek Villain stands out like a sore thumb. The fabricated thriller is forseeable right away. Mohit Suri transports you back and forth for two hours in a performance that is hardly enjoyable. I sat there in awe of the plot’s absurdity. What a waste of talent in an uninteresting and sometimes funny plot. Characters who make even some of those in television soap operas (like our mafia don Remo Fernandes) appear bad are the dialoguebaazi from about the 1970s. The director was smoking something.

Unexpectedly, Shraddha Kapoor is a delight. She makes a charming Aisha, the effervescent humanitarian. During our conversation last week, Sidharth Malhotra’s smoldering good looks made it difficult to focus on what he was saying. When he’s on screen, it’s difficult to turn your head. It was made simpler by his sparse discourse. I could look away guilt-free. And swoon and gush as he removed his shirt twice (;-) This was a good performance for a two-film performer, but despite my slobbery affection for him, he looked to be straining too hard. He won’t be long, and his best is yet to come! Ritesh Deshmukh does a superb job portraying the merciless villain. What he lacked was better lines. His wife? His backstory? His dialogue? All ridiculous. No problem!

The one saving grace is Aisha and Guru’s (Sidharth) love tale, which has enough goo and romance to keep you interested and is accompanied by consistently pleasant music.