A sequel to the much-loved Lust Stories, Lust Stories 2 dropped on Netflix today. Four notable directors direct the anthology viz. R. Balki, Konkona Sen Sharma, Sujoy Ghosh, and Amit Ravindernath Sharma. The movie sees some of the best performers in Bollywood we have today like Neena Gupta, Mrunal Thakur, Tillotama Shome, Amruta Subhash, Vijay Varma, Tamannaah Bhatia, Kajol, and Kumud Mishra. The four stories in the anthology show lust in four different forms, each different from the other. Does Lust Stories 2 deliver on the promises it makes, or does it fizzle out?

Made for Each Other

R. Balki’s Made for Each Other is the most light-hearted and fun short film from the anthology. The movie stars Neena Gupta, Mrunal Thakur, and Angad Bedi in primary roles. Veda (Mrunal Thakur) and Arjun (Angad Bedi) are all set to get married but Veda’s grandmother (Neena Gupta) urges the couple to test their sexual compatibility before committing to a marriage. Nowhere, other than in new-age Bollywood, would you find a dadi who openly talks about sex and its impact on long-term relationships. Balki chose to take the support of humour to put his point across and it works. Neena Gupta is brilliant as an open-minded grandmother who emphasises the importance of sexual compatibility. In fact, she is the star of this short. Made for Each Other also gives an insight into why it is important to talk about sex openly with family, rather than keep it hushed.

The Mirror

Directed by Konkona Sen Sharma, The Mirror is probably one of the most impactful stories of the anthology and one that truly explores female sexuality. Isheeta (Tillotama Shome) is a single, working woman who comes home a little early one day, only to find her house worker Seema (Amruta Subhash) and her husband in the throes of pleasure. Though shocked by what she sees, she comes back to the same visual the next day. This invokes a sense of desire in Isheeta who takes voyeuristic pleasure out of watching Seema and her husband making love. The Mirror touches upon the topic of consent, voyeurism, class difference, and the shame that’s often associated with female pleasure. Both Shome and Subhash pull off performances that will blow your mind. Amruta Subhash’s Seema, especially, is a woman who owns her sexuality and isn’t ashamed, either of her desires or of the lies she says. The Mirror is not just a tightly written story, but also well-shot and executed.

Sex with the Ex

Sujoy Ghosh’s Sex with the Ex was perhaps the most-anticipated short from the Lust Stories 2 anthology. Unfortunately, it was also the least impactful story. With performers like Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia in the frame, you would expect a mindblowing story. But this turned out to be a highly skippable one. As the short film starts, Vijay (Vijay Varma) is driving through a small town while on a call with a girl. He gets into an accident, and since his car breaks down, he decides to look for the town’s mechanic.

The small-town set with picket fences, huge yards, cute houses, and greenery everywhere looks so fake that it already takes your attention away from the story. Whether that was a deliberate choice or a half-hearted attempt at making a movie, only the creators would know. Vijay runs into his wife, Shanti (Tamannaah Bhatia) who he believed was dead. Soon, the couple sees the spark of their old relationship coming alive and gives in to their desires. Sex with the Ex is slow, boring, and predictable. The suspense, mystery, and thriller genre that Ghosh goes for would have made sense if it was a full-fledged movie or part of the Ghost Stories anthology. The lack of background stories of the characters takes away from this already drab short film.

Tilchatta

Amit Ravindernath Sharma’s Tilchatta is one of the darkest and most heartbreaking shorts of the entire anthology. Devyani (Kajol) is a prostitute-turned-mistress of a haveli. Her husband, played by Kumud Mishra, is a down-on-his-luck, caste and royalty-obsessed brute. Every night, he comes home drunk and rapes his wife. Devyani is a desolate soul whose only aim is to send her son to England to keep him away from the dreaded life that awaits him at home. Both Kajol and Kumud Mishra deliver powerful performances. While you empathise and sympathise with Kajol, you abhor her husband, which is a testament to how convincing both the actors are. If you pay close attention, you will be able to see at least a part of the plot twist that hits you in the climax of the movie.

Lust Stories 2 has a few hits and a few misses, but it is definitely worth a watch.

Can you watch Lust Stories 2 with your family?: If the title wasn’t enough warning, here’s another. No, you can’t watch it with family.

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