Cast: Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Shiney Ahuja, Amisha Patel, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Asrani
Director: Priyadarshan
Producer: Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar
Music Director: Pritam
Lyricist: Sameer
Cinematography: Thiru
Screenplay: Neeraj Vora
EXCLUSIVE REVIEW BY HANUMANT BHANSALI
Bhool Bhulaiyaa, directed by Priyadarshan is a comic thriller dealing with human psychology amidst the beautiful locales of Rajasthan. Bhool Bhulaiyaa is the Hindi remake of the critically acclaimed Malayalam blockbuster, Manichitrathazhu. The film was also remade in Telugu as Chandramukhi in 2005.
The plot of Bhool Bhulaiyaa revolves around a small village whose denizens are very conservative and superstitious. America settled young couple Siddarth (Shiney Ahuja) and Avni (Vidya Balan) arrive at their ancestral mansion to spend their holidays in India.
Ignoring the warnings of Siddarth’s superstitious uncle Badrinarayan Chaturvedi (Manoj Joshi), Avni enters the room in the third floor and strange things begin to happen in the house.
All fingers start pointing towards Badrinarayan Chaturvedi’s daughter Radha (Amisha Patel). Siddarth’s close friend Aditya, a psychiatrist is called in to investigate. Vidya Balan will be seen playing a Kathak dancer who suffers from split personality.
If you are expecting a full on comic entertainer from Bhool Bhulaiyaa then the movie may actually shock you as it has elements of comedy blended in the moments of a ‘scary’ thriller. Infact, it is a welcome change for Priyadarshan who had closed himself into a own shell of comedy. Apart from this, the characters are well crafted and the film does not move on the single shoulders of Akshay Kumar.
Now, this movie has its sets of flaws too. Though the first half is well screened, the second half becomes a serious bore. The plot unfolds mysteries that seem to look unconvincing in the broader outlook. Also, the latter half of the film needed a few more cuts in order to retain the crispness of the plot. Akshay Kumar’s late entry brings the needed relief on the faces of the viewers.
Dialogue writer Manisha Korde’s one liners are lengthy. They just get into a preachy stand.
Visually, Bhool Bhulaiyaa is well shot and the art direction is appealing. Coming to the music of the film, the song sequences take the movie one step behind. The peppy tracks look out of place and forced most of the times. Adding to this is the title track that is shown only at the end of the film.
Actingwise, Akshay Kumar is a rockstar in true aspects but this time he goes on to underplay himself for reasons best known to him. Shiney Ahuja gets his share of screen space only till Akshay enters the storyline. Vidya Balan captures everyone’s attention in the latter half of the film. Amisha Patel looks like a newcomer. Its high time that Amisha lifts her acting graph.
Paresh Rawal is superb. Rajpal Yadav is good in his small appearance. Rasika Joshi looks convincing.
On the whole, Bhool Bhulaiyaa is a mixed baggage of entertainment and laidback storyline. With its star studded presence and good publicity, the film is expected to get a good opening and should sustain the tides of box office for a few weeks from now.
Radiosargam Movie Rating: 6/10
Hanumant Bhansali
Part 1
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