Top News
‘Amavas’: Never judge a ‘bhoot’ by its ‘kabr’
By Subhash K Jha
Film: “Amavas”; Director: Bhushan Patel; Starring: Sachiin Joshi, Nargis Fakhri, Mona Singh, Asgar Ali, Vivan Bhatena; Rating: *** (3 stars)
The immovable tropes of the horror genre in Bollywood, move! Well, somewhat. For a very long time I watched “Amavas” with growing apprehension that it won’t move beyond the known terror tactics. You know, the creaky doors, clanging bells, corpses banging from down under, women in negligible negligees running for their lives.
Death is indeed a “grave” matter in Hindi horror, what with the graveyard being a favourite haunt of horror. “Amavas” doesn’t visit any graveyard but a grave plays an important part in the rites of exorcism. The film presses all the right buttons, ticks all the boxes.
Sachiin Joshi (who also produces the film) and Nargis Fakhri are a couple facing some problems because well, he hears things. You know, like a schizophrenic. But don’t panic. He is seeing a shrink. Mona Singh as the resident psychiatrist (she has only one patient, and the paycheck, if that patient is Sachiin Joshi, is enough to pay all her bills, and then some more) gives the most credible performance in a shiver giver that has more meat towards the end than the genre generally permits.
For most of the film, Joshi and Fakhri look very unhappy with one another. Before perceptive critics jump in with cries of “no chemistry”, let me hasten to point out that a crisis from the horror hemisphere comes tumbling out only when there is tension between the lead pair. Don’t ask me why. It’s just one of those ghostly things that people make up as life gets boring. For example in this film, a girl named Maya (Navneet Kaur Dhillon) who thinks it’s fun to wear masks of her friends’ faces and scare people, informs us that women should not comb their hair at night as this invites ghostly visits.
Imagine the number of women who get night visitors if that were true! “Amavas” fuses rationale with a cornucopia of cock-and-bull. The synthesis actually generates some fine horror of the skin-jump kind. If you like films where a ghoulish apparition with a face that resembles Donald Trump after he hasn’t slept for two nights hunts down cowering women trying to hide in religious shelter-zones, then this is the one for you.
Hari Om. And don’t bother to hurry home. “Amavas” shot in scenic Europe (I specially liked a romantic duet in dreamy Venice) takes its time to unravel its chilling karma.
While Nargis Fakhri’s dubbing seems to have been undertaken by the same voice that does all the Sunny Leone films (the voice that sounds like a yankee drawl drawn into a provincial brawl), Sachiin Joshi and Vivan Bhatena negotiate the “man-bann” (be a man) with a mix of sterile sternness and resonant terror.
Ali Asgar who shot to fame on the Kapil Sharma Show, provides the comic relief. Rather, his prosthetic buck-teeth are meant to bring the house down. But the in-house lady ghost beats the buck-teeth in creating distractions. She strolls around restlessly like she had just watched “Tumbbad” in loop.
The climax has Mona Singh and Nargis Fakhri speed-running towards a ghoul’s grave to burn it.
Talk about judging the bhoot by its kabr!
(Subhash K Jha can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
skj/ksk
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
