After years of being consistently let down by the cookie-cutter, artificial action and comedy flicks churning out of Bollywood, “Bhooth Bangla” finally feels like a breath of fresh air, despite being a formulaic cookie-cutter. For someone who had almost given up on the “slapstick” generation of humor, this film is a massive surprise that recaptures the magic of the early 2000s.
Directed by Priyadarshan, the story centers on Arjun Acharya, who inherits a sprawling, dilapidated mansion in the cursed town of Mangalpur. What follows is a classic horror-comedy structure that prioritizes genuine scares and atmospheric dread over forced romance, making it feel like a spiritual successor to the original Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Despite its nearly three-hour runtime, the film actually manages to be funny and entertaining throughout. I was really impressed with the VFX that actually look like part of the environment rather than a generic green-screen afterthought.
To be honest, I walked into the theater after a long day of work, not expecting to laugh, even be impressed. My recent track record with Akshay Kumar films has been disappointing, and I was prepared to just “get through” the movie. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The comedic timing in this film is insanely on point, proving that the “OG” legends still have it. Asrani was easily my favorite part of the film; his performance was hilarious, and it’s a bittersweet joy to see him one last time on screen. Rajpal Yadav makes a massive entrance that was a total “cheer moment,” and Paresh Rawal brings that signature quirkiness that only he can deliver. Seeing the ensemble work together, with Akshay Kumar being his classic self, made the whole experience feel beautiful.
On the performance front, Wamiqa Gabbi was amazing, though she felt slightly underutilized given her talent. However, the writers did her justice with a properly established character arc and a beautiful ending. Mithila Palkar was also wonderful, though her screen presence was unfortunately quite limited. This is one consistent problem throughout the film – the characters don’t really ever feel completely there in the story until it’s their cue. It makes the world a bit less immersive.
Technically, the movie is a bit of a mixed bag. While the VFX are a high point, looking natural and integrated into the scenes, the camera work felt heavily generic and uninspired. The music was also a letdown; there isn’t a single song in the entire film worth remembering, except for the opening theme of “The Dark Knight,” which is present during the ending for god knows what reason.
But those are minor gripes when the overall structure works this well. Priyadarshan has done a good job bringing back the classic Bollywood format that actually works in a modern context. If you want to relive that 2000s energy, I would recommend watching this with a packed crowd to enhance the excitement. It’s not a masterpiece but a good attempt at being an unofficial sequel to the classic “Bhool Bhulaiya.”
