It is quite common for movies to not live up to its exciting trailer. It is extremely rare for the opposite to happen. Sachin Pilgaonkar’s Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is that rare film that turns out to be many times better than its trailer. In other words, the film’s promo was misleading, but in a good way.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is the sequel to the iconic and successful Navra Maza Navsacha (2004), which starred Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar in lead roles. The film ended with Vakratund aka Vacky (Sachin) somehow managing to fulfill his late father’s vow of visiting the Ganesh temple in Ganpatipule naked. He was pushed for the same by his wife Bhakti (Supriya). The couple also earns Rs. 8 crores as they help the police nab the criminal Babu Kalia (Pradeep Patwardhan).

Hence, in the second part Navra Maza Navsacha 2, Vacky and Bhakti are leading a comfortable life. Their daughter Shraddha (Hemal Ingle) has grown up. She is in love with Lambodar aka Lamby (Swapnil Joshi). Due to certain circumstances, this time Shraddha vows to get Lamby visit Ganpatipule temple naked along with other difficult conditions. Lamby somehow agrees and the four of them set out to for the trip through train.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 pretty much follows the same template as its predecessor with the ST bus being replaced by train and Ashok Saraf’s character being the ticket collector (TC) instead of the conductor. However, the characters and their funny mannerisms and the overall jokes and gigs are quite fresh and genuinely funny. In fact, barring some emotional moments, which were necessary, the movie is a complete laugh riot where even little things play a big role in getting you in splits.

Unlike the first film, the journey in the second one starts in the second half. The first half has some major conflict and drama. This takes you by surprise because none of this is shown in the trailer.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 brings back the nostalgia of the first film. But it is shot and presented like a film of today’s times. The balance is well maintained. The music falls in the decent category with ‘Dumroo Vaje’ turning out to be memorable.

Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar have carried on from where they left in the first film, bringing the same energy. Swapnil Joshi, despite his age, fits the character of a bachelor and succeeds in bringing Lamby alive. Hemal Ingle also performs well among the stalwarts. Like the first film, Ashok Saraf takes the cake despite arriving late. His act is not only funny but also moving.

The film has cameos and extended cameos from Siddharth Jadhav, Nirmiti Sawant, Jaywant Wadkar, Vijay Patkar, Vaibhav Mangle, Sonu Nigam, Ali Asgar, Johnny Lever, Shriya Pilgaonkar, among others.

Like the first film, there are a lot of creative liberties taken. But the major issue with the film is its timeline. The first movie ends in 2004. Considering Vacky and Bhakti had a kid right after the story’s completion, Shraddha would have been born in 2005. So her age should be 19. But there is no mention that she is very young and it’s difficult to believe that a modern girl like her decides to marry at such a young age in today’s times.

Vijay Patkar’s character is continued from the first film. But Nirmiti Sawant, who was Vacky’s aunt in the first movie, is now shown as Lambodar’s mother. At one point Ashok Saraf’s character is said to be the same from the first film. But then, Vacky and Bhakti never seem to recognize him. The same goes for a few other characters too.

But overall, Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is a thoroughly entertaining surprise of the year. And if you are a believer in Ganpati, you are in for a treat.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Director: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Producer: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Writer: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Cast: Sachin Pilgaonkar, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Swapnil Joshi, Hemal Ingle, Ashok Saraf

Also Read: Ashok Saraf on Lifeline, “More than the length, the strength of the character is important”