'Lust Stories 2': Mostly pain, very little pleasure

Second instalment struggles to make a splash

KARACHI:

An explosive first season marked the beginning of Lust Stories. The legacy of the anthology will forever be marked by Kiara Advani achieving pleasure in front of her in-laws, as the Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham soundtrack plays in the background.

Lust Stories 2, albeit marked with instances of solid narration, fails to execute that shock value. This is not to say that it does not try - Neena Gupta's character in the trailer proves there is an attempt. However, amidst a sea of promising narratives, Lust Stories 2 is marked by lacklustre storytelling.

Made for Each Other

The first offering in the anthology seems like a lecture about the importance of sexual pleasure within a marriage. While the message is undoubtedly a vital conversation starter, the execution leaves much to be desired. One cannot even commend Mrunal Thakur and Angad Bedi, who essay Veda and Arjun respectively, owing to the fact that they are overshadowed by Gupta in the narrative.

The story seems to follow a 'tell-don't-show' approach towards what can only be called an attempt at sex education. One tires of Gupta's character's narrations and, again, while all that she says holds immense value, one cannot help but feel that the delivery is underwhelming at best. An unfortunately forgettable story, R Balki's offering possesses a wonderful message delivered in a jading package.

The Mirror

Konkona Sen Sharma's offering is not for everyone. A nuanced take on the dangerously thin line between pleasure and shame, Sharma dares to depict sexuality without objectifying her subjects. Tillotama Shome plays Isha, a single designer in her 40s, who walks in on her maid, Seema (played by Amruta Subhash), copulating with her husband. Mortified and perplexed, Isha realises that she is also aroused by the act. When Seema discovers one day that Isha is watching, she, too, says nothing.

This mutually assured destruction plays out and eventually bursts forth into a riveting face-off, with both women accusing the other of being vile. Viewers know that both parties are at fault, and are forced to consider that there is no black or white with the situation. Should Isha have confronted Seema, causing Seema to lose her job? Should Seema have said something when she realised Isha was watching, thereby admitting her own wrongdoing, and losing her job in this situation as well?

The consequent tussle between the two women also highlights the significance of power imbalance within the dynamic. While Seema is wrong for using Isha's home as her space for intimacy - something she cannot do at home, owing to a lack of privacy - one also acknowledges the violation of human dignity carried out on Isha's end by continuing to watch the two.

Sharma brilliantly utilises the female gaze to convey a narrative that transcends binaries. Coupled with Shome and Subhash's exceptional performances, The Mirror is definitely a stand-out from the anthology.

Sex with the Ex

As great as Vijay Varma (who plays Vijay Chauhan) and Tamannaah Bhatia (who plays Shanti) are as actors, Sujoy Ghosh's short does little to double as a testament to the same. One keeps hoping that the offering will amp up. However, this part of the anthology leans more into the 'lust' aspect of things. Sly, greedy glances on Varma's part towards his reel-life-ex-wife and real-life-girlfriend result in a steamy intimate scene, but that's all that remains memorable.

One has to point out that Varma and Bhatia's chemistry was a selling point for the series, with the two declaring their love for each other publicly in the news. While the chemistry lives up to one's expectations, the short, overall, falls flat. The minute Vijay's car crashes and he is ushered into an otherworldly landscape wherein he discovers his lost ex-wife, one can predict where the plot is going. Ironically, lust is the saving grace for this offering, with Varma and Bhatia carrying the otherwise unmemorable short on their backs.

Tilchatta

It is always a feast to watch Kajol Devgan anywhere, be it on the silver screen or on one's phone. Amit Sharma's short watches Devgan take on the rather bold role of Rani Devyani Singh, a former prostitute-turned-housewife, married to the wealthy Maharaja Suraj Singh (Kumud Mishra) who subjects her to sexual and physical assault on a daily basis. A hard watch, and another brilliant depiction of the imbalance of power, Sharma's offering dives into the lust-laden power trip that impacts many, wherein consent is never a factor worth considering.

The audience roots for Suraj to drop dead every instance he is seen on-screen, which is a testament in itself to Mishra's acting prowess. One also holds their breath each time Suraj abuses Rani, reminding her that she is nothing more than the sex worker he picked up and married. In all of this, Rani's son, Ankur (Zeeshan Nadaf) is her silver lining, on whom she places the responsibility of creating a life abroad, taking her with him. However, this being an exploration of the gritty underbelly of lust, Tilchatta - without giving away too much - does not offer closure. Instead, it is a stark reminder that, in real life, happy endings are painfully rare.

Overall, Lust Stories 2 struggles to be captivating. While some narratives have their saving graces, others, much to the audience's dismay, struggle to leave their mark.

Have something to add? Share it in the comments