Andaaz 2 Movie Review: A formulaic throwback that fails to strike a chord

Story: Aarav (Aayush Kumar) is a struggling musician whose band finally gets signed by their dream record label. Unbeknownst to them, it’s part of a scheme by the infatuated label owner, Priyanka (Natasha Fernandez), to get closer to Aarav. He rejects her advances, as he’s in love with her sister, Alisha (Akaisha Vats). What follows is the unfolding drama of what happens next.Review: Written and directed by Suneel Darshan, this spiritual sequel of Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, and Lara Dutta-starrer Andaaz (2003), weaves together plotlines reminiscent of several 90s formula films. Aarav and his friends, Tony (Srikant Maski) and Ehsaan (Parmarth Singh), perform at nightclubs and parties for meagre fees, harbouring dreams of making it big as a band. A last-minute cancellation lands them the chance to perform alongside star singer Priyanka, who develops feelings for Aarav and signs the band to an exclusive contract. When he rejects her, a scorned Priyanka terminates the contract, throwing Aarav’s life into turmoil. The question remains: will Aarav compromise, or will love prevail?While this is the central theme, the narrative takes several detours. Darshan attempts to deliver a complete entertainer with music, action, romance, and family drama, but the result lacks cohesion as it flits between these elements, with friendship also thrown into the mix. The romance, love triangle, and family drama remain inconsistent throughout.Subplots such as Aarav’s desperate need for a large sum for his father’s kidney transplant, or a stereotypical goon named Yeda Anna, played by Jeetu Verma (Sunil Shetty from Awara Pagal Deewana, anyone?), seeking revenge after Aarav gets him arrested for theft, further disrupt the flow and make the storyline feel disjointed. Set against the backdrop of music, the film frequently breaks into song-and-dance sequences, adding to the interruptions. Despite several attempts, like exploring the bond between Aarav’s father and sister, or Alisha’s confrontational scene with Priyanka, the film struggles to strike an emotional chord.The first half, which focuses on Aarav’s struggles as a musician and his budding romance with Alisha, moves at an even pace and remains coherent. However, the narrative loses its footing with Priyanka’s introduction and the main conflict post-interval. Nadeem’s (of Nadeem-Shravan) music and Sameer’s lyrics leave little impact, with the title track redux standing out as the only memorable number.Aayush Kumar makes a sincere effort as the lead and delivers a competent performance. Akaisha Vats and Natasha Fernandez are passable, though the latter has limited screen time despite being the antagonist. Srikant Maski brings some light-hearted moments, while Dolly Bindra is saddled with a cringe-worthy role as the neighbourhood aunty with a crush on Aarav.With its disjointed storytelling, inconsistent tone, and lack of memorable music, this one is best skipped.