So here comes our own Desi ‘underworld’ alike horror flick from the soap queen Ekta Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj with the concept of Daayan and Pishaach instead of Wolves and Bats . ‘Ek thi Daayan’ tries to bring something novel and original to the horror genre in the mainstream Indian cinema but as a horror flick it failed to shock you or thrilled you in whole with its hollow screenplay and half baked story esp. in the second half.
Bobbo (Emraan Hashmi) is a famous magician disturbed with his haunted past remembrances. He lost his sister and father when he was eleven years old while they were playing hide and seek game with their step mom. Bobo with his dark past believed that a Daayan was responsible for the lost of his family. As he grew up he met Tamara and both fell in love. Further they decided to adopt a child from missionary viz. Zubin who is a huge fan of Bobo – The Magician. During a magic show, a lady named Lisa Dutt assisted him in a magic trick which he believed that Daayan has returned to his life to take him back.
Written by Mukul Sharma and Mastero Vishal Bhardwaj , Ek thi Daayan undoubtedly explores a new concept in the horror genre with the tadka of RGV’s ‘Bhoot’ & Bhatt’s ‘Raaz 3’ ambience, romance, music and Myths around Daayan. But since it’s a horror regime Kannan Iyer as director failed to generate the ambience of horror required with its lousy screenplay and editing. Even the story lacks the proper imagination and the writer and director both seems lost in many places. For eg
1) Meeting of Bobo with a psychiatrist and go back to his childhood was stupid since he was already well aware of all the events happened to his childhood.
2) Daayan on return said she took 20 years to come back in her form but excuse us if Diana has come back as Tamara than how come both are existing at the same place in last.
3) Bobo getting his powers as Pischach just by folding his hands crossed is too unrealistic and unconvincing.
4) In the last scene When Zubin opened his eyes in hell despite being a child he never scared or surprised and simply knows what he has to do with the knife.
Music by Vishal Bhardwaj is a soothing relief to the movie. ‘Yaaram’ is the best track and its got a totally experimental tempo you will enjoy. The Second track ‘ Kaali Kaali Aanko Ka’ is melodious and beautifully written by Gulzar. ‘Launtungi Mein’ despite seems to be a major Daayan track never made a presence in the main movie. ‘Tote Udd Gaye’ is an average track. Cinematography by Saurabh Goswami is decent.
Regarding Performances, Konkana Sen Sharma stands out in her all avatars. Huma Qureshi is decent and Emraan Hashmi is now a champ in this genre and has nothing to do different here. Bhavesh Balchandani as Zubin is average but Vishesh Tiwari as Young Bobo and Sara Arjun as Misha are superb. Kalki Koechlin in her short but notable performance looks sweet.
The writers have left ample space for the sequel of the movie and may named it as ‘ Daayan Returns’ but considering this Daayan I would wish if they won’t target family audience for a horror flick as it would be derogatory for a filmmaker if a 10 year old child laugh at their movies instead of scaring. Next time, Please return with a serious horror thriller. And a tip please consult Bhatt Camp and RGV for a while they may help you a bit ;P
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