Premachi Goshta 2

Premachi Goshta 2 (2025) : Movie Review -

Satish Rajwade has given Marathi cinema some beautiful and heartfelt films, and most of them happen to be remakes or adaptations. Among all his works, Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai still remains his best creation and is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon. His other films like Ek Daav Dhobi Pachhad, Gaiir, Ti Sadhya Kay Karte, Aapla Manus, and others may not have been masterpieces, but they were simple, relatable, and decently made movies. Back in 2013, Rajwade released Premachi Goshta during the golden phase of Marathi cinema - a time when both critically acclaimed and commercially successful films were flourishing in Maharashtra. Now, 13 years later, he returns with a spiritual sequel, Premachi Goshta 2. Sadly, this time, he picks up a dated idea and builds an entire film around it. The concept of God giving a man a second chance has already been explored in international cinema - Bruce Almighty made it hugely popular over two decades ago. So, while the intent behind Premachi Goshta 2 is noble, the execution feels too late for its time. It's not a bad film, but not a particularly good one either. At best, it's a decent, one-time watch.

The story follows Arjun (Lalit Prabhakar), a simple man who receives an unexpected marriage proposal from his childhood best friend, Mary (Rucha Vaidya). With no particular reason to say no, he agrees, and the two get married. A year later, however, we see them in a family court, filing for divorce. It's here that Arjun encounters two Gods, who decide to give him a second chance at life. The reason? Arjun has spent most of his life blaming God for every little trouble and disappointment. This divine opportunity allows him to rewrite his story - and in that alternate reality, he chooses to pursue his childhood crush, Priya (Ridhima Pandit), leaving Mary heartbroken and helplessly agreeing to marry a man chosen by her father. The rest of the story deals with whether Arjun finally realizes the true meaning of love and marriage, and whether he can correct his mistakes before it's too late.

Written by Abhijeet Guru, Premachi Goshta 2 struggles to offer anything new or surprising. It feels overly familiar from the very beginning. Even before the second half starts, you can easily predict how it's going to end - either in a courtroom or during a pre-climax wedding sequence in a church. You can literally see every twist coming at least 15 minutes in advance, and that kills the excitement. There are no real surprises, no emotional highs, and no moments that make you sit up. The writing clearly lacks imagination, and the story depends too heavily on clichés we've seen countless times before.

That said, the screenplay maintains a steady flow. Despite its predictable nature, it doesn't completely bore you - the pacing is decent, and there are a few enjoyable scenes scattered throughout. Some forced plot points are clearly written only to push the story forward, and though you can overlook them, the overall repetition is tiring. My bigger question, however, is - how long can Marathi cinema survive on the same recycled formulas? Why can't we write something fresh, something truly original that reflects today's world and emotions?

Coming to performances, Lalit Prabhakar looks effortlessly handsome and charming. His wardrobe of formals and casual party shirts adds to his appeal - credit to the costume designer for that. Performance-wise, Lalit delivers a decent act. Having seen him in Aanandi Gopal, where he gave a career-best performance, expectations were naturally higher because he is the one who set the bar high (unlikely to be matched). But he still does justice to the role. Rucha Vaidya, on the other hand, looks stunning - especially in her wedding gown. Once again, full marks to the costume department for making her look ethereal on screen. Unfortunately, her performance doesn't live up to her appearance. Her character feels underwritten and underdeveloped, and that restricts her scope as an actor. She does have a natural charm and screen presence, but the lack of depth in her role limits her impact. Ridhima Pandit, surprisingly, speaks fluent Marathi, and that was a pleasant discovery for me. However, Satish Rajwade's fascination for casting faces who are either from outside the Marathi industry or not very active in it continues to puzzle me - Sagarika Ghatge in Premachi Goshta, and now Ridhima in Premachi Goshta 2. Prasad Barve does well as Arjun's friend, bringing some light-hearted energy. As for the divine duo, Swapnil Joshi and Bhau Kadam play their roles with ease and subtle sophistication. The rest of the supporting cast is functional, doing what's required of them.

On the technical front, the film delivers mixed results. The music album is a letdown, especially because I personally dislike remade songs - and this one doesn't offer anything original or memorable. The cinematography, however, adds a refreshing touch. The visuals are bright and colourful, giving the film a vibrant tone. The background score complements the mood and emotions appropriately. The production design is decent, but the editing could have been much tighter. Trimming around 15-20 minutes from the film would've made it far more engaging and crisp.

Satish Rajwade, as a filmmaker, seems to be running out of fresh ideas. His reliance on remakes, adaptations, and borrowed concepts feels outdated now. During the last decade, this might have worked because audiences weren't as exposed to global and regional content as they are today. But in 2025, when people have access to hundreds of stories from around the world at their fingertips, selling such recycled ideas feels lazy and uninspired. Another problem is that Premachi Goshta 2 gives away its entire plot and emotional direction far too early. By the time we reach the climax, there's nothing left to look forward to. When the film reveals all its cards an hour before it ends, how are viewers supposed to stay invested? Rajwade could have at least experimented with the structure or narration to make it feel different. But instead, he sticks to the same old, tried-and-tested formula, which now feels more exhausting than comforting.

In the end, Premachi Goshta 2 is a film that tries to be sweet and emotional but ends up feeling too simple, too safe, and too predictable. It's not entirely bad - there are moments of sincerity, warmth, and decent performances. But it lacks the freshness and emotional depth that a story about love and second chances truly deserves. It's the kind of movie you can watch once, smile at a few moments, and then forget soon after leaving the theatre. Final words: Premachi Goshta 2 is a simple, visually pleasant, but overly familiar love story that fails to rise above its dated concept. Watch it once if you have the patience for predictable romances - just don't expect the magic of Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai again.

RATING - 5/10*