With a poignant setup and compelling acting in ‘Shaitaan’, director Vikas Bahl crafts authentic moments within eerie scenarios, yet unexpectedly maintains a steady approach towards the film’s conclusion.
Shaitaan Movie Review:
- Rating: 3.5/5
- Director: Vikas Bahl
- Writers: Krishnadev Yagnik, Aamil Keeyan Khan
- Cast: Ajay Devgan, R Madhavan, Janki Bodiwala, Jyothika, Anngad Raaj
- Duration: 132 minutes
‘Shaitaan’ delves into the depths parents are willing to go to safeguard their children, blending elements of horror with a heartfelt depiction of familial connections.
Director Vikas Bell takes cues from traditional horror themes, highlighting themes of solitude, fright, and the instinct to protect those who are close to us.
Story:
Kabir (played by Ajay Devgn), along with his wife Jyoti (portrayed by Jyotika), daughter Jhanvi (played by Janki Bodiwala), and son Dhruv (portrayed by Anngad Raaj), arrive at their vacation home in Dehradun for a holiday. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when an unwelcome guest challenges the belief that guests are treated like gods.
Vanraj (portrayed by R Madhavan) utilizes the teenage Jhanvi (played by Janki Bodiwala) as a vessel for his sinister plans. With dread, her family can only observe as Vanraj seizes complete control over Jhanvi’s body and spirit.
The rest of the story reveals why Vanraj is so strong, what he wants, and whether the family will manage to break free from his torment.
Review:
A solid supernatural thriller usually depends on aspects of fright and tension to captivate the audience. Even if it doesn’t heavily rely on jump scares but offers a disquieting ambiance, it accomplishes its objective. In this aspect, director Vikas Bahl has effectively executed with “Shaitaan.”
‘Shaitaan’ reveals a frightening story of manipulation and terror as Vanraj, played by Madhavan, delves into dark practices to control a teenage girl named Janhvi, causing chaos in her and her family’s existence.
In the first part, you stay interested as you feel the danger from this intruder, who calls himself the ‘bhagwan’. However, Madhavan’s performance as the ‘shaitaan’ in the second half becomes a bit too much, just trying to scare people.
Some parts of the story may seem unrealistic, and there’s one scene that reveals an important plot twist, making the ending easy to predict. Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti, the cinematographer, does an excellent job creating a sense of fear and darkness, which is further enhanced by Amit Trivedi’s music.
Star Performances:
R. Madhavan’s portrayal of Vanraj is unsettling, bringing mystery and a sense of eeriness to his character, which adds to the overall unsettling atmosphere of the story. His relaxed demeanour and unpredictable behaviour make him seem even more ruthless.
When it comes to Ajay Devgn, there are scenes where you wish he would take control, but he’s mostly portrayed as a helpless father. It’s only in the climax that you witness his true essence. In a time where most heroes are sticking to romantic roles, credit to him for choosing unconventional films and roles suitable for his age. However, the final scene appeared forced, merely providing an opportunity for Ajay to deliver an emotional monologue as the closing remark.
Janki Bodiwala deserves applause for her exceptional performance as the young girl ensnared by a sinister influence. She flawlessly navigates between laughter, tears, dancing, and aggression with precision and skill. She is the star performer of ‘Shaitaan’ movie.
Jyotika gives a strong performance. She convincingly shows the pain of a mother watching her daughter suffer and fights hard to save her. Her acting leaves a strong impact. Anngad Raaj also delivers a solid performance as the son.
Shaitaan Conclusion:
‘Shaitaan’ offers an intriguing concept exploring parental love and psychological manipulation, yet it falls short due to uninspired writing and a lack of storytelling coherence.
Although there are exceptional performances and references to traditional horror themes that create moments of interest, the movie struggles to maintain suspense and misses opportunities to fully explore its thematic depth.
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