Bhool Bhulaiyaa

Akshay handles the ghost with care

By: Ulhas Shirke

14 years ago a Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu became a hit in south. Thereafter this film was also remade in Kannada and Tamil. And now, Priyadarshan brings the same into Hindi with the name of Bhool Bhulaiyaa with some modifications for Super Cassettes Co. The reason being simple. He wanted his favourite actor Akshay kumar to walk away with the cake.

Bhool Bhulaiya revolves around a joint Chaturvedi family with its head (Manoj Joshi) living along with his brother ( Paresh Rawal) and others in a small town where the people are very conservative and irrational. The head of the family welcomes his elder brothers son Siddharth (Shiney Ahuja) and his newly wed wife Avni (Vidya Balan) to his own house, when they return to their ancestral village from US. But, Siddharth insists on staying in his ancestral palace which for long has been unoccupied, as its considered to be troubled. Despite opposition from elders, the newly wed couple shift to their ancestral palace. Avni being more courageous, breaks the basics to explore the room thats considered to be the devils home. What follows thereafter is a series of life threatening sequences, that we generally watch in any Ghost film. Siddharth impulsively invites his effervescent Doctor friend Aditya (Akshay Kumar) to solve the mystery in the palace.

Who is behind all the baffling activities? Whether the film will go the Gumnaam way? Whether the doctor will be able to solve the mystery ? These are all the questions which are likely to strike the minds of viewers at the time of interval of the film. And, it would be most appropriate not to reveal the climax of this mysterious tale screened by Priyadarshan in a different manner, combining comedy with action. Bhool Bhulaiyaa has tried to uncover the mystery, almost in a similar fashion as Ramgopal Vermas Bhoot did it. The only difference is that the foreign returned Psychiatrist played by Akshay Kumar, combines his treatment using Indian traditional methods with the help of a Baba, (close to the family) to recover the affected person with Dissociated Identity Disorder, in this confusing action filled tale.

Priyadarshan has brought in the entry of his favourite actor almost 45 mins after the start of his film, but manages to make it entertaining besides keeping the main theme alive till the climax. The post interval is more like watching a psychological thriller. Director Priyadarshan has planted just the right ingredients at appropriate places, to create that desired impact on majority of superstitious people spread all over the country. And, he has succeeded in doing so, with his new trick. The response mainly coming from youngsters in packed theatres clearly indicate the same. The music is not bad but the background score is still better.

Performances from all artistes are good; but Akshay certainly stands tall, with his perfect timing and well suited dialogues to support his character. Viday Balan scores in the second half.She is terrific, especially in that climax. Shiney Ahuja is good only in parts. Paresh is just a typecast; but Asrani,Rasika Joshi, Rajpal Yadav and Aameesha Patel do well in their limited roles. The film is an average entertainer, with a strong coating of superstition.

 

Plus Points: The film is good from all technical sides in its presentation; like good editing, wonderful camera work and effective background music.

 

Minus Points: The belief in superstition that has been highlighted only takes you back into the olden days.