Bhoot Police
Director:
Pawan Kripalani
Year: 2021
Music: Sachin-Jigar
Duration: 129 minutes
Rating: 6.0
Ghost Police
A Bollywood film from this century. Unusual
for me as I have really preferred their films from the 1950's through the
70's. More charismatic actors and better music. But admittedly often overwrought
with emotion of the most manipulative kind. The New Bollywood eschews a lot
of that - less music, less emotional bang for your buck, shorter running times,
closer to Western traditions. But I get that from Western films. Still, I
am curious about the new kids on the block and want to watch a handful of
newer Bollywood films. This definitely falls into the category of New Bollywood
- no songs. Damn. I wanted a few. But zero till the end credits. A horror
comedy with the emphasis on the comedy. Unfortunately, the comedy is rather
lackluster - genial enough but bereft of any real laughs. But then the final
30-minutes of this 129 minute film is great. They hit the switch for both
horror and emotion and it works really well. I wish we didn't have to wait
so long. The horror is basic The Grudge in style but I always find that twerking
of the head and bones effective.
Two brothers - Vibhooti and Chiraunji
- make their living as tantrics. No, nothing to do with tantric sex - they
deal with the supernatural. Exorcisms, bad luck, possession, ghosts. They
are following in the footsteps of their father who left them when they were
children with nothing but a book of spells. They travel the country selling
their services in a van. The thing is they are frauds, con men with no ability
whatsoever. The older brother Vibhooti doesn't believe in spirits and so he
often is able to see through the "spirit" to realize it is human. Chiraunji
wants to believe and studies the book but there is nothing there.
A lovely young woman Kanika comes to them
for their services. She tells them that many years before their father had
come to her village and rid them of a Kichkandi. A new type of ghost for me.
"In Nepalese folklore or mythology, kichkanya also referred as Kichkandi is
a spirit of a woman that is latched to an uncremated part of her dead body.".
They of course take the job and travel to Dharamshala to her tea plantation.
If I was younger, this would be on my travel itinerary. It is spectacularly
beautiful set in the hills. This Kichkandi has been appearing at night terrifying
the villagers and the tea workers. They meet the sister Maya who is cutting
edge modernistic with her Blog and selfies and desire to move to London and
be among the social set. The brothers figure the villagers are seeing things
and take it easy. Until they find the tree where their father put the jar
with the spirit inside. Vibhooti breaks the jar to show his brother that
their father was a fake too. Not so much as it turns out and the fun begins.
They have to dig deep inside to bring out their special talents.
Vibhooti is played by Saif Ali Khan who
the last time I saw him was about 40 pounds lighter. He has bulked up. Shows
how long it has been since I saw a recent Bollywood film. His wife Kareena
Kapoor has been feeding him well. The other brother is played by Arjun Kapoor.
Yes, another Kapoor in the business because it isn't confusing enough already
keeping them straight. He is the son of Boney (producer of Mr. India and other
films) and the nephew to Anil Kapoor. The two women are both knockouts -
Kanika is Jacqueline Fernandez (Miss Sri Lanka) and Maya is played by the
wow girl Yummy - I mean Yami Gautam. And in a small comedic role is Jamie
Lever. Why mention that? Because she is the daughter of Johnny Lever, one
of the most annoying and yet at times very funny actors in Indian films for
decades. There is a Bhoot Police 2 in the works. This was reasonably entertaining
- should have had more horror. Since we got through the whole con man phase,
the sequel should be better.
