Lust Stories 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, with very little romance and a lot more lust. However, the latest installment, now available on Netflix, is far more brazen and bold than the first one, which may be unpleasant for some viewers.
A more subtle approach could have worked wonders for these Lust Stories, consisting of four episodes helmed by renowned directors R. Balki, Sujoy Ghosh, Amit R. Sharma, and Konkona Sen Sharma.
Balki's "Made for Each" features an exceptional performance by Neena Gupta, who portrays a grandmother and marriage counselor to Veda (Mrunal Thakur) and Arjun (Angad Bedi). The young couple is in love and ready to take their wedding vows, but during a pre-marriage discussion, the grandmother intervenes and asks them if they have had sex, much to their embarrassment and that of their families. "But before you buy a car, do you not test drive it?" quips the old lady. Later on, she imparts invaluable lessons to Veda, and thankfully, there is a touch of subtlety in their conversations, such as using the metaphor of Mount Fuji instead of directly referring to orgasm.
The final segment, "Tilchatta" by Sharma, features Kajol as Devyani Singh. Kumud Mishra portrays Suraj Singh, and Anushka Kaushik plays Rekha. Devyani is tired of her husband Suraj's openly philandering ways, even going as far as not leaving the housemaid alone. Their son is about to leave for England for higher studies, and the mother is elated about this. However, little does she know that a shock awaits her just around the corner. "Tilchatta" is well-crafted, and the climax provides a delightful surprise, albeit a shock for Devyani.
The two disappointing episodes are Sujay Ghosh's "Sex with Ex" (featuring Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia) and Konkona's directorial effort, "The Mirror" (with Tillotama Shome). "Sex with Ex" has a bizarre and convoluted plot, accompanied by shoddy writing and below-average performances. "The Mirror" depicts a woman getting turned on by watching her maid (Anushka Kaushik) engage in sexual activities with her husband. Living in a crowded chawl, they have no privacy and use Sheeta's (Tillotama) bedroom while the mistress is away at work. When she unexpectedly walks in one afternoon, she finds herself enjoying the scene through a mirror. This plot seems unrealistic and far-fetched to me.
The production values are just about average, but there are a couple of standout performances. Neena Gupta shines as the frank and outspoken grandmother who teaches the young couple about sex and emphasizes its importance, declaring, "If there is no sex, there is no love" (a statement I would like to challenge). Konkona delivers a fine performance as a betrayed woman whose life is left broken and shattered in the end. However, the rest of the cast fails to make a strong impression.
