In an era when patriotic films and family socials are the order of the day, director Shripal Morakhia has dared to be different by choosing a theme that defies the stereotype. It’s indeed thorny to make a film on the supernatural since one has maintain consistency throughout.
London-based Naina (Urmila Matondkar) loses her eyesight in a car accident. Many years later, after a corneal transplant, she can see again. But Naina’s nightmare begins when she starts seeing dead bodies, ghosts, and more.
Her encounters with the supernatural lead her to believe it is somehow connected to her eye donor. Along with her friend-cum-doctor Sameer Patel (Anuj Sawhney), Naina travels to a remote village in India to discover more.
As the truth unfolds, Naina realises that there’s more to the story than meets the eye.
Naina was a supernatural thriller that took the viewer through a series of suspenseful occurrences.Unlike films of this genre, where the eerie atmosphere is introduced after the mandatory songs and clich , director comes to the point in the first reel itself.
Various sequences have been canned with utmost care. The slow camera movement, the usage of extended silences and sudden noises, and thrill-seeking moments send a chill down the spine.
The sequences between Urmila and the spirit succeed in terrifying the viewer. But after a promising first half, the pace slackens in the post-interval portions. The flashback starts off on a slow note and picks up momentum gradually. Also, the train blast was just not required and looks completely out of sync with the mood of the film.
The pace picks up again and the narrative gets absorbing when Urmila starts getting extra possessive. But the climax looks contrived and doesn’t measure up to the expectations. Although deftly executed, the end seems like too much of a cinematic liberty. Director has chosen the right story and even presented it with ?n, but he should’ve concentrated on making the second half believable. However, the execution of a few eerie sequences gives the impression that one is watching a Hollywood flick.
Cinematography is OUTSTANDING. The background score enhances the impact of several sequences. Dialogues gel well with the mood of the film.
Naina belongs to Urmila completely. She carries the film on her shoulders and delivers a striking performance. Anuj is average.
Give it a try!