Lust Stories 2: All Films Ranked
July 9, 2023
by Inakshi Chandra-Mohanty
1. The Mirror
The film begins with a wide shot of a city. Towering apartments, surrounded by sprawling slums. Progress, countered by underdevelopment. This starting frame is just one example of the brilliant visual imagery that director Konkona Sen Sharma uses to set the stage for the complex relationship that develops between a woman and her maid. The Mirror is about a woman who walks in on her maid having sex in her bedroom. Lust and desire take over as she finds herself turned on by this spectacle prompting her to establish a pattern of secretly watching her maid’s sexual endeavors. This film is about much more than just lust. It is about two women who discover a new side to their sexuality that transcends class and caste. It is as much about the difference between them as it is about the common ground they find through this surreptitious activity. The themes are relevant. The writing, direction, and cinematography, are immaculate. And combined with the amazing performances by Amruta Subhash and Tillotama Shome, this short film becomes the best part of the anthology.
2. Tilchatta
A woman in an abusive marriage aspires for a better future for her son as she struggles to escape her terrible fate. Directed by Amit Sharma of Badhaai Ho fame, this film is a tragic tale of manipulation, violence, and revenge, with lust at the center of it all. The best aspect of this film is the ominous atmosphere. The spacious haveli, its unspoken secrets, the many characters, and their dubious intentions. But in the process of building atmosphere, at times the plot suffers. The initial idea and the buildup are executed well, but the relevance of the conclusion is unclear. It is a depressing end to an already depressing story and serves little purpose beyond shock. However, despite the twisted ending, Tilchatta is impactful and serves as a great closure to the anthology.
3. Sex with the Ex
It is no surprise that this segment is directed by Sujoy Ghosh. Known for films like Kahaani, Badla, and Ahalya, Ghosh’s filmography is mainly comprised of films of a similar suspenseful genre. However, this horror thriller disguised as a lust story is the biggest misfit in this anthology. The story follows a man who encounters his ex after being stranded in a village due to a car accident. While lust is clearly a pertinent part of the film leading to a shocking climax, it is unfortunately hidden by other aspects of the film. The story is too absorbed in its mystery and suspense that lust barely makes an impact. It also does not help that the artificial background visuals, while purposeful, are extremely jarring. But despite the flaws and predictability, the plot development is intriguing. While not a perfect film, it kept my interest alive and is definitely worth a one time watch.
4. Made for Each Other
The weakest film of the lot is R Balki’s Made for Each Other which ironically starts the 2 hour long journey. What should have been an explosive beginning is instead a futile, ill-executed drama about a to-be married couple and their forays with ‘sex’ prior to their wedding. The concept itself, with its emphasis on the importance of sex in marriage, is interesting. However, there is no development of the plot, no arc to the characters, and an overall absence of conflict in the story. It remains bland and stagnant throughout. On top of that, the idea of an extremely progressive “Dadi” and her comical conversations with her granddaughter on sex, seems contrived and unrealistic. The advice that this short brings forth is useful, but unfortunately not impactful due to the lack of depth and conflict. It’s thirty minutes of time passing, nothing happening. And at the end of it all, I found myself asking, what was the point?
As with any anthology film, Lust Stories 2 has its ups and downs. Some parts are so well-made I desire to revisit them and others so insignificant they are best forgotten. But it maintains a balance, and ultimately is a worthwhile watch.
