Movie Name: Bhool Bhulaiya
Actors: Akshay Kumar, Vidhya Balan, Shiny Ahuja, Amisha Patel, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Asrani, Manoj Joshi, Tareena Patel
Director: Priyadarshan
Producer: Bhushan Kumar, Krishnan Kumar
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty
Writer: Neeraj Vora, Madhu Muttam
Lyricist: Sameer
Bhool Bhulaiya – a film that transcends the segregation of genres have generated rave reviews from the audiences, critics as well as the film dome at large. Though a flick that is a remake of the Malayalam and Telegu blockbusters, Manichitrathazhu and Chandramukhi respectively, it has been commendably scripted in the mainstream Bollywood hue by the dexterous director, Priyadarshan.
As categorized to be a comic thriller, Bhool Bhulaiya delves into the intricacies of human psychology where very less filmmakers have dared to foray in. The story that is build over a hamlet of typically conservative and superstitious people has been merged efficiently to the main theme. The plot centers on a young couple Siddharth (Shiney Ahuja) and his wife Avni (Vidya Balan) who arrives in the village after many years of stay in US. Siddharth insists to live in their ancestral mansion which was uninhabited for a long time and was believed to be haunted. Despite oppositions from Siddharth’s uncle, Badrinarayan Chaturvedi (Manoj Josi) the newly wed couple decides to dwell in the palace. Avni being curious in nature starts exploring the place and in the meanwhile opens up the room considered to be the devil’s abode. The series of untoward eerie incidents that ensues introduces Aditya (Akshay Kumar), a psychologist to unentangle the mesh of mystery.
The characterization in the movie is well-thought of. Vidya Balan is playing the role of a kathak dancer who acts as the protagonist suffering from split personality syndrome. She is the one, around whom the complete thought is developed. She has stolen the entire after-interval phase of the movie and excelled all her past performances in the real sense of the word. Akshay kumar too plays a pivotal role and is the main string of resolution. His rendition of emotional sequences and comic timing is diligently used by the director. Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and Asrani are also sources of comic relief and further adds to the humorous fervor of the movie.
The screenplay, dialogues and cinematography of the film has been purled into a composition that has dealt with the novel thought in a totally fresh manner. The editing too is not a cliché borrowing from a mélange of other horror or comedy movies. Humor and horror are not clubbed together but they appear to be intrinsic elements of the spontaneous process of display.
The film is finely balanced in all the aspects so as to keep the audiences at the edge of their seats. Talk of the color tone, lighting and set design, everything reinforces the ambience. The thrill and excitement are evident in the treatment of the subject. Nothing is overdone or fitted in forcibly. The effect is doubly emphasized by the background score that kept the mood of the film alive all throughout. Though Priyadarshan’s films are generally considered to be low on music but Bhool Bhulaiya’s ‘Allah Hafiz’ and ‘Hare Krishna Hare Ram’ has exceptionally caught the pulse of the public. So with that right combination of every necessary ingredient this pot pourri is a real hit.
