Shaitaan

SHAITAAN is the official remake of the 2023 Gujarati film, VASH [Written and directed by Krishnadev Yagnik]. The adapted story is excellent and different from the rest of the films based on black magic. Aamil Keeyan Khan's adapted screenplay is very engaging. And it’s a feat considering the genre is beaten to death across the world and also because it’s majorly set in one mansion. Sadly, the writer doesn’t tie the loose ends properly. Aamil Keeyan Khan's dialogues are normal and very select one-liners pack a punch. Vikas Bahl's direction is first-rate. He keeps the viewers captivated in the proceedings especially once things take a turn for the worse. One feels moved by the situation of the family and one can't help but root for them. Also, the tension levels are there throughout the film and it also helps in engaging the audience.

Shaitaan' serves as a prime example of how a well-cut trailer can lure audiences to the theatre, only to dash their high hopes. The premise is undeniably intriguing: a man invades a family's home and gains control over their young daughter through black magic. The parents watch helplessly as their once-bright daughter becomes a puppet to a stranger's will. From dancing to his tunes to assaulting her father and even attempting to harm her younger brother, the 'shaitaan' exerts complete control. By the interval, audiences are rife with theories about why Madhavan's character, Vanraj Kashyap, targeted this girl, hypnotised her, and sought to take her with him. Yet, despite the palpable sense of menace, the film falls short with a half-baked script.