Ek Thi Daayan

wogma rating: Watch but no rush (?)

quick review:

Ek Thi Daayan builds at a good pace and takes the proceedings to a great peak at mid-time. Unfortunately, it goes only down after interval. Yet, there are a few genuine scares and good performances. A casual DVD watch.

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Director: Kannan Iyer
Running time: 120 minutes
Genres: Horror, Thriller
More Movie Info

Ek Thi Daayan - Preview

Who knew that a Hindi horror film would invoke my genuine curiosity? I didn't. Of course, that Vishal Bharadwaj is associated with the film has a lot to do with the intrigue. Also, even though I didn't like his latest films as much as his earlier ones, there is faith, that the movie has a good chance of being good - either story-wise, or in treatment or it will entertain. We know it is not going to be a complete downer. And this is when he's not even directing the film.

Kannan Iyer does manage to create the right atmosphere for a horror to work in. Even if, the story might not be all that different from your regular super-natural horror, the treatment and performances look like something that could be worth the time and money by themselves.

Meanwhil, the music is a lovely Vishal Bharadwaj-Gulzar combination and I, for one, am enjoying the music.

Music Reviews:
Bollyspice - "2/5"
IBN Live - "3.5/5"
Milliblog - "Quintessential Vishal Bharadwaj-Gulzar soundtrack, this!"
Music Aloud - "8.5/10"

- meeta, a part of the audience

I wonder if a ghost/witch story is, by default, a good vs. evil (pun intended) story. Ek Thi Daayan tries to underline it further, if possible. The able cast and gripping first hour, unfortunately, can't do much for the dwindling, unwieldy second hour. Yet, it is not your typical Hindi horror film, it does manage to get you nervous a few times.

The first half has a lovely build-up indeed. It is interesting to see the creative interpretation of a child. I also loved the way it keeps you hanging between a child's imagination and that you don't want to believe it. Even so, a connect with the characters is missing. You don't know why you are supposed to feel for this cool magician who seems to be disturbed by some hallucinations. You don't know why you should care for this couple.

The backstory comes, but a little too late for you to go back and have feelings for the characters. Also, whatever emotional attachment you are made to have is more because there are children whose safety is involved. But, that doesn't last too long.

Yet, you are gripped by the situation in the backstory. Another major contributor to keeping you rooted to your seat is the cast. All the main leads from the kids to Emraan Hashmi perform well. Can't say the same about the supporting actors, especially Pawan Malhotra or Rajatava Dutta. The kids on the other hand Vishesh Tiwari who plays the young Bobo (Emraan Hashmi) and his younger sister behave like children would and that is always refreshing to see in our films.

Thankfully, there is one thing you come out with and it is Konkana Sen Sharma's haunting face. As much credit to the makeup and special effects department as it to her naturally beautiful eyes and her use of them. Emraan Hashmi gets to play the quintessential spooked out guy, in this horror film. So he gets spooked, alright. Huma Qureshi has a more or less plain role and does whatever little she can do with it. Kalki Koechlin has the smallest roles of them all, but she creates an intrigue about herself that is consistent.

The inconsistency is all reserved for the last hour of the film which comes with random songs and even worse twists. At the end of the film, there are few sub-plots that make you wonder why they found a place in the film at all. On the other hand, there are some themes that are touched upon but left half-done, like a child's dreamy world, or the struggle between good and bad or logic and faith.

And as is usual with all horror films, why don't witches and ghosts go directly for the kill, instead of trying to warm their subject up to themselves or killing random people associated with subject rather than the subject themselves.

In that sense then, Ek Thi Daayan is like any other horror film. Thankfully, it varies from them in that it tries to stay clear of the standard mechanisms of horrifying - loud background score, etc. It also does creep you every once in a while. If only, the climax was at interval point.

- meeta, a part of the audience

44 reviewers(?) - 16 yays 22 so-so 6 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, by Naresh Kumar Deoshi, Apun Ka Choice : ... bewitching... full review

Thumbs up, by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama : ...Exceptionally novel and attention-grabbing, it's a first of its kind... full review

Thumbs up, Buzz in Town : ...Tonally rich, vibrant and sensuous, the performances including Pavan Malhotra as Hashmi's bewitched dad and Rajtava Dutta as his bewildered shrink, boost the beauty of the witches' tale .... full review

Thumbs up, by Mayank Shekhar, Daily Bhaskar : ...You do feel hungry for more chilling moments and effects that stun you into holding your breath. Sometimes the scale doesn’t match the film’s ambition. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Nikhil Arora, Desi Martini : ... genuinely scary and original. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Fatema H Kagalwala, India Entertainment : ...There are several chinks in the film, a debutante’s touch as well, but there is meat in the craft and thought in the art enough to make a lasting impression... full review

Thumbs up, by Vinayak Chakravorty, india today : ...The film is eerie overall and genuinely scary in parts without playing to the gallery.... full review

Thumbs up, by Zayden, Indicine : ... Don’t let your expectations zoom up too much and you might like ‘Ek Thi Daayan’... full review

Thumbs up, by Divya Solgama, MoviezADDA : ...The first half of this film will scare, entertain and give you one of finest cinematic experiences. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Raja Sen, Rediff : ...martly crafted and a highly original film... full review

Thumbs up, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...More fascinating than horrifying... full review

Thumbs up, by K N GUpta, SmasHits.com : ...The cinematography is excellent. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Roshmila Bhattacharya, Star Blockbuster : ...Till the interval, the daayan keeps you hooked. But post-interval, the story loosens its hold and the ‘surprise’ in the chaotic climax is hardly one.... full review

Thumbs up, by Swati Deogire, Star Blockbuster : ...enuinely frightening in parts and is definitely one of the better horror films we have seen lately. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Meena Iyer, Times of India : ...Woven beautifully between the world of magic, occult and suspense, Ek Thi Daayan, makes for compulsive viewing, providing some spine-chilling thrills at short gaps. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Rummana Ahmed, yahoo! India : ...It’s obvious that much thought was put into the writing, despite being a non-believer in the supernatural, there will be parts that will send your pulse racing.... full review

So-So, by Anna Vetticad, annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...Now if only the screenplay hadn’t lost its way in the denouement, if only it hadn’t turned so ordinarily literal and hence silly right at the end, this could have been a very nice film.... full review

So-So, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...Music in a Vishal-Gulzar film has to live up to its reputation and that’s exactly what can be said about the songs of ETD too. ... full review

So-So, by Prateeksha Khot, Bolly Spice : ...You might not end up looking over your shoulders after watching this movie but there are enough chills to shake you... full review

So-So, by Prathamesh Jadhav, Bollywood Life : ...This witch is spooky but unconvincing!... full review

So-So, by Deepa Gahlot, cinemaah : ...Wonder what Emraan Hashmi saw in this wishy-washy part; the one who claws into the role like a, errr, witch from the netherworld, is Konkona Sen Sharma. Huma Qureshi and Kalki Koechlin pass muster. ... full review

So-So, by Khalid Mohamed, Deccan Chronicle : ...The formula of ‘thodasa romance, thodasa screams and sorcery’ still has to reach the next level. Kannan Iyer’s is a commendable try, but that’s it.... full review

So-So, by Ameetbhuvan, Desi Martini : ...Uniquely Spooky ... full review

So-So, by Rony D'Costa, Desi Martini : ...Half Baked Magic ... full review

So-So, by Deepa Deosthalee, Film Impressions : ...Sadly, the script is only sure-footed as far as the flashback is concerned. ... full review

So-So, by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare : ...Kick-ass psychological thriller turns into embarrassing hodgepodge... full review

So-So, by Nupur Barua, fullhyd.com : ...The screenplay is an adaptation of a short story by Mukul Sharma, who happens to be Konkona's father. The original story may have been popular enough to be considered good literature, but the screenplay of the movie has more than its share of flaws.... full review

So-So, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...This is a very sedate Emraan we see. Iyer manages to throw in a lip-lock too for his many fans. Huma Qureshi is easy on the eyes, while Konkona Sen Sharma and Kalki Koechlin add spice to the proceedings. ... full review

So-So, by Anupama Chopra, Hindustan Times : ...Konkona is deliciously wicked and at one point, I got so spooked that I closed my eyes.... full review

So-So, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...The disappointment begins with a mehndi-shaadi song. Why, why?... full review

So-So, by Gaurav Malani, indiatimes : ...Emraan Hashmi is earnest but has played such baffled characters so often that there isn't any novelty left in his act. ... full review

So-So, by Jaidev Hemmady, Movie Talkies : ...The child artistes who play the younger Bobo and his kid sister are damn good and give a better performance than most child artistes usually do.... full review

So-So, by Karan Anshuman, Mumbai Mirror : ...Best to read the film, then, as a drama consisting spooky elements, with suspense and songs thrown in for good measure. ... full review

So-So, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...Fear and foreboding hang heavy over this portion of the film and the jolts are delivered to great effect.... full review

So-So, by Mansha Rastogi, Now Running.com : ...Ek Thi Daayan deserves full marks for its unblemished and watertight first half. The second however is a total waste. ... full review

So-So, by Stutee Ghosh, Planet Bollywood : ... This could have been magic, black magic but ends like a cheap badly disguised act from a trickster. ... full review

So-So, by Swati Rohatgi, STARDUST : ...The let downs come in the names of Huma Qureshi and Kalki Koechlin. While the former not only appears bigger than even the male lead of the film but also manages to only put an average act, the latter gets utterly wasted courtesy the loose writing.... full review

So-So, by Gayatri Sankar, Zee News : ...Kannan Iyer as the captain of the ship is impressive. Wish he had been supported by a more intriguing story. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Baradwaj Rangan, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express : ...But the problem arises as the plot progresses and we keep trying to put the whole thing together in our heads... ...And it all doesn’t really add up... full review

Thumbs down, by Piyasree Dasgupta, FirstPost : ...more tiresome than frightening... full review

Thumbs down, Free Press Journal : ...The music is also inconsistent. The folksy north Indian tune playing at a predominantly Bengali wedding sticks out like a sore thumb... full review

Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...It nicely builds up intrigue, but leaves you wanting more in the end... full review

Thumbs down, by Sanjukta Sharma, Live Mint : ...Witches are pathetic, simplistic creatures in this spook drama that begins grippingly but fizzles out soon... full review

Thumbs down, by Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Reuters : ...Resorting to cliches about witches and the devil may work sometimes but not the way it is executed in “Ek Thi Daayan... full review

109 tweeters(?) - 58 yays 14 so-so 37 nays

vinod879: I Watch the movie Ek Thi Dayaan is supab horror.....Guys

VerifiedBeer: Watched Ek Thi Daayan y'day. Nice movie. Very scary at some parts. Konkona Sen Sharma's part was awesome. And @humasqureshi is such a beauty

Vasimsaiyad1: EK THI DAAYAN Kya movie he yaar GAZAB bnayi he. MOVIE FLOP JAYE YA HIT KOI FARK NHI PADTA HAMKO.KYU KI HASHMI BHAI KI MEHNAT BADHIYA HE

umi_reetard: Went to watch Ek thi daayan yesterday. It is quite good. Not like the usual indian horror movies.

tyroavi: Saw ek thi dayan. Much better than #oblivion. :-P .

TheFookFace: Read my review of Ek Thi Daayan and maybe inflate my ego by increasing my hits. Also I liked the film! http://blastatrumpet.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/ek-thi-daayan-review/

sumitsaurabh: If ek thi Dayan couldn't scare you then only real Dayan can scare you !

stylopeople: EK THI DAYAAN..... COOL MOVIE .. A MUST WATCH..!! AJAO STYLO LOG... TEA TIME GUPSHUP HOJAE... :) :) CHICK ;) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=570760272968882&l=e8bff91cf7

StrawberryTitz: Ek Thi Daayan was nice! ^_^

sonaholic23: I really enjoyed ek thi daayan the 2nd half could've been a lot better but omg I Almost had a heart attack in few scenes

shivom_oza: Ek Thi Daayan: such a well-made film. The shaadi number, kids waala track, @konkonas & @humasqureshi brilliance, wonderful music, bg score.

rohilbansal: Ek Thi Daayan..the best indian horror movie I've ever seen..

punjabi_vicky: Ek Thi Daayan....... paisa vasool movie............

Priysandeep: Hi gd mg, watch ek thi dayaan, nice movie

princy_arora: Ek thi Daayan is easily 1 of better films of 2013. Absolutely Loved it. Emraan Hashmi was very good.

pia_mandal: Ek thi daayan was pretty good! i'd give it a 3.5 out of 5!!:) konkona sen's acting was superb, So was emraan hashmi!

pawan20tripathi: Ek thi dayan....... Watched again....... Seriously what I m doin in exams.....

PankajMarskole: Saw ek thi daayan... Impressed with the direction, screenplay and performances by emraan sir and konkana sharma

pankaj_club: Ek Thi Daayan a perfect horror movie with a perfect background music

padmasinh_rocks: Sawed ek thi daayan very horror pic very nice a superhit picture

nidvyas: One of the best concept movies from Indian directors,very gripping script and work,enjoyd every bit, kudos to entire team of #Ek thi Dayan

MySoochi: 'Ek Thi Daayan': A 'Dayaan-mic' slick, spooky offering #Ekthidaayan #emraan #konkanas #ektakapoor -- mysoochi dot com

musheer_naqvi: Ek thi Dayaan best muvi i hv ever seen <3

MumbaiyaChori: Ek Thi Dayaan.. Damn scary! Konkona Sen was the perfect Dayaan! :P

ms_misha: Ek Thi Dayaan is a really good horror bollywood movie!

meSalmanSajid: The good news is that Ek Thi Daayan managed to keep the thriller and suspense alive, unlike other #Bollywood movies.

MehulSapre: Ek thi daayan.... Must watch movie....

manusharma762: Watch ek thi dayan awesome movie with lot of fear

LvMylfe: Ek Thi Dayaan...fabulous first half 2nd half was kinda ok..overall a gud watch..!!

Lilydsouza007: Guys its Unbelievable.........!! 4/5 STARS...<3 http://watchsexymoviesonline.blogspot.com/2013/04/watch-ek-thi-daayan-movie-full-online.html

kamran_43: What an osum movie Ek thi daayan

Juheli_Mandal: watched ek thi daayan today in the theatre!! it was kinda #creepy!!

jhjani: Unlike most Bollywood horror flicks, Ek Thi Daayan goes smooth without any boring sessions in between...I'll rate it at 3 ✩

JhawarDeepika: Watched "Ek thi dayan" quite scary....but i lyked itt :D

ilakshigupta: Ek thi dayan suprb movie

IamMusicphile: Watched Ek Thi Daayan @ETDtheofficial & i must say its a awesome movie..

Iamadityakar: Yaar this ek thi daayan is really good movie,yes come judge me now

hmehta95: Ek Thi Dayaan : The only bollywood horror movie I've liked all because of @emraanhashmi

hkt3436: Super hit muvie....EK THI DAYAN...

H4RD1K_: ek thi daayan... mast movie hai.

GurvinderBhamra: 'EK THI DAYAN' amazing movie..........

emmifans: GOOD MORNING ALL..HAVENT SEE EK THI DAYAAN YET?...GO MUST WATCH IT... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=526535270726477&l=4f8eaa2e35

ChirayushB: Ek thi Daayan.............Extraordinary movie

ChetanTelke: ek thi dayan is good movie special effect is good , definetly like this movie emran is oosam.

Burnt_Prodigy: I really really liked Ek Thi Daayan. Much much better than the RGV flicks we get in the name of Horror flicks usually in Bollywood

Bin_daas: Kannan Iyer - Good Job ! Ek thi Dayaan was scary !! #movie

apurva96: #Movie Ek Thi Daayan...njoyd alot...hahaha...@karishma_15 choti katu teri? Bwahaha :P :P ROFLMAO

amit219: Ek thi daayan managed to be on my top list of movies i enjoyed fully making tees maar khan on second!! #yabadabaDoo

akshhayyyy: A nice mvi ek thi daayan...⁰More great than nautanki saala...⁰Konkana sen is too fab playin role of daayan

akhilsingh07: Ek thi daayan , mast movie

ajaymago: Ek thi dayaan..awesome

ajaykadam17: ek thi dayan was a good movie

abhishek_sinhal: watched ek thi dayan too much scary with lot of excitement.!!

abhay17299: must watch Ek Thi Dayan

abbashussain88: Just saw this creepy indian flick with the funniest name of the century 'ek thee dayan', quite engrossing and scary I must say.

aabhishektiwari: Ek thi daayan ....a awesome movie

_DjShivadelic: Ek thi daayan! Fukin insane!! Luvd it..

___Amrit___: Ek Thi Dayan..... Nice to watch n first time i saw a quality bollywood horror movie :)

VinayCharaniya: http://www.musicaloud.com/movie-reviews/ek-thi-daayan-movie-review/ Reviewed Ek Thi Daayan for @MusicAloud...brilliantly scary in the first half...but loses the plot in the end

vikrant_chauhan: Ek thi dayan doesn't scare much but is made well jst like Hollywood movies, Infact I can c traces of 'Supernatural' tv series. #fb

sahil1420: Ek thi daayan.first half good,second half average

Pentropy: Ek thi daayan. Predictable. Forced chill scenes. A few good moments. Mostly average. Konkana acted brilliantly. 2.5 stars. #review

PardeepThakur_: Ek thi Dayan is not must watch 2.5 What I will go with..

maggi_nnn: EK THI DAYAN.. not too scary.. but quite acceptable as overall movie :D liked it !

LizaSaha: Ek thi daayan should only be watched for Konkona and the kids. Gripping first half which turns flat at the end.

Kneeche: Go watch Ek Thi Daayan everyone.. The first half is to die(n) for! There's an amazing concept there, it's sad how the second half screws up!

jodhussain: Ek Thi Dayaan. . Its all about pressing floor 6 button thrice in elevator ;) one time watch .. 2/5 #bollywood #movies

Jatanking07: Konkana, a super horror look of daayan in the movie EK THI DAAYAN. Great acting, loved it. But the movie was not as good as expected .. !!

jahanbakshi: EK THI DAAYAN is nice till it keeps things ambiguous. Wish it stayed that way... @konkonas is killer!

iChetanC: Ek Thi Daayan! Something new and interesting. Konkona and Emran were too good. But many glitches and end pretty bad. 1½ out of 3 stars.

aknomics: Ek thi Dayaan - An average horror movie with a few interesting sequences. The kids outperform the adults in the acting department. 1/2

abhinavbajaj_94: Ek thi dayan-A good movie to watch nly till 1st half but really dnt undrstnd why a vishal bhardwaj film became a RGV movie in the 2nd half..

visualfumble: Ek thi daayan. Such a bad film.

VGLICIOUS_: Don't be fooled by reviews...Ek Thi Daayan is nothing but a sloppy and failed rip off of Insidious. | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1591095/?ref_=sr_2

vee_kuttan: Ek thi daayan - Ek thi mistake!!

upasana89: I saw so many good reviews on Ek Thi Dayaan that I was expecting a little too much from the movie. Thoroughly disappointed.

thebongbabe: Ek Thi Daayan. A good comedy.

SyedBuzz: It is shameful how critics r sold today 3/4 stars to Ek thi Dayan the film propagating superstition ..shameful

sunil_gajjar: "Ek Thi Dayan" ....Please Save Your Money And Time .." Tu Cheez Hai Badi Bekkar Daayaam".

SnehaKanaya: Why do most Hindi movies start off so well and then end so horribly? Latest disappointment: Ek thi daayan.

shriikant: Watched ek thi dayan. Totally avoidable. Most regretful decision of the weekend. But then they lure with such attractive starcast

ShivaKumarD: Ek Thi Daayan: First half was average (flashback was too good though), second half was bad. 2/5. Such a wasted effort.

Savy_Gr: Ek thi daayan...despite critics high rating its a big time bore...its a dark movi..

RoshniLad7: got to say that ek thi dayaan is a massive flop! horror? a load of coblets!!!! @nehar_ullah

Reems_J: Ek thi daayan! No no no! #Torture

Oxawma: ^Ek thi Dayaan :@ Bakwas Movie! :( Bh0ol gya tha kay Indian Horror Kesa hota hai .-.

nisa369: Ek thi daayan is 1 of the WORST movie I have watched #timewaste mOvie

NeoMonk: ek thi daayan was funny... unintentionally... don't recommend it!

mytakeonflicks: Ek Thi Daayan - So disappointed. ^AG

MayankBharti_: Don't waste your money on Ek Thi Dayan ..I repeat...Don't .. Buy a beer instead.

majhisunilk: Its Sunday. Fun day. Saw Ek Thi Daayan. Good acting. Bogus Story.

Lil_Hippie_Me: Ek thi Dayan is anything but a horror movie.

KulbhushaanR: Ek Thi Daayan gandi picture kabhi mat jaana.

karthikacr: saw ek thi daayan.. Wth ma frnd.. Ws it supposd to b a horror flm? I flt itz a comic one.. Omg.. So outrageously horrible nd pathetic..

JayShrivastav: Ek thi dayan is bad movie

hippiebaba: Ek thi daayan is more of comedy than horror film

HarshSabale: Watch Ek Thi Daayan for a sliver of 20 mins before the interval. The rest of the movie is an insult to ones intelligence & money.

gbhimani: Is horrible an adjective for horror? Then Ek Thi Dayan succeeded. Horrible film! Like three scary moments. The rest ridiculous. Pity.

DiveshIdnani: Ek thi Daayan has been watched and not liked. #CantBelieveIHaveYetToWatchTheCroods

devsingh911: Ek thi Daayan is funny

CAtLarge: Ek thi daayan spoiler - IT IS ACTUALLY A COMEDY MOVIE!! \O/

BhopaliLad: Big time disappointed with Ek Thi Daayan.. Has got Such a terrific first half...but it's all downhill from there...

beingarhaan: Saw ek thi daayan ....not convincing .

ashivam: Ek thi Dayan was fucking crap. 700 rupaiye paani me

arnab822: If you are reading this, DO NOT watch Ek Thi Daayan. Or if you must, WALK OUT at the interval. The second half is intolerable.

anilbajao1: just saw ek thi dayaan, people said it was scary, i did not get any chills.

anchalarneja: Watched ek thi dayan. Hahha. Not all scary. Feeling like a dayan who wants to kill the story writter.

ameyadalvi: Ek Thi Daayan shud be co-sponsored by Dabur Amla kesh tel n Godrej Shikakai soap. Too much hair in movie but not many hair-raising moments

aksh2467: Ek thi Dayan **... Bakwasss..!! @humasqureshi #bollywood

4 readers - 3 yays 1 so-so 0 nays

Not Interested in Watching, by Chet

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Anup : horror lovers should watch on big screen ,, other on dvd

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Kunal Chauhan : Movie is superb everybody must watch as it worth it

Yay! Thumbs Up, by prashant

So-So, by james : Good luck to Emraan Hashmi as he turns director for Ek Thi Daayan

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Plot Summary

A magician with many tricks up his sleeve (Emraan Hashmi) often gets distracted by a little girl calling out to him. Is she his hallucination or is she visiting him from the other side?

Side note: It is a shame that the makers have to so many disclaimers before they can get on with the film. Just so the next group of people doesn't get offended.

What Worked

  • The opening shot. Created a nice spooky feel. Unfortunately, it didn't stay for too long.
  • Scenes where there was no background music. Few, but worked well.
  • The sound of waves in the background, in a couple of scenes.
  • Lizards don't scare me, but I can just imagine the advantage the film has over people who are creeped out by lizards.
  • The concept of hell and how one gets there.
  • Konkana Sen Sharma's first look! The first time you see her on screen and you are spooked.
  • The fake happy look by Vishesh Tiwari.
  • The similarity between a lizard's tail and a witch's braid.
  • The Voldemort-style decomposition of the evil spirit.
  • That Bobo (Emraan Hashmi) goes after random women's braids.

What did not

Note: This section simply lists the things that I did not like in this movie. This is not the overall impression about this movie. Please read the full review here

  • Bobo! What kind of a name is that?!
  • How does Tamara fall off the balcony? Not that I am asking for detailed explanation, but even half an explanation that would make me speculate on behalf of the write, would have been good enough.
  • Hypnosis was used to just as a medium to go for a flashback. Wish it was used as therapy.
  • The angle between Bobo's dad (Pawan Malhotra) and Diana (Konkona Sen Sharma).
  • Sudden good humor that we find Bobo in, when he meets Tamara at the hospital.
  • The wedding song!
  • Found it hilarious that Bobo's house had the typical psychiatrist 'S' chair as a part of the furniture.
  • Whatever happened to Lisa's obsession? What about the promise Bobo makes to her?
  • Why is Tamara wanting to sell Bobo's flat?
  • The logic that only an innocent soul should be cutting the witch's braid off is contradicted in the film, itself.
  • Lisa's lame story to explain where she was when the entire action was on.
  • A few more holes in the story which give the twist away.

Nitty-Gritty

This section lists things that I think are not important to the overall impact of the movie. In most cases, it could be explained away by something like, "we noticed the glitch after the scene was shot and there were schedule/budget issues and thus we could not re-shoot it". I like giving the makers the benefit of doubt, but I am amused nevertheless. Hopefully, they will tickle you too.

  • Why was a child dressed in full-sleeved shirts and trousers, even at night? I think I saw him casual wear which was a night suite, only once.

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: Yep, a witch gets pretty violent and scary.
  • Language: Clean
  • Nudity & Sexual content: One love-making scene.
  • Concept: That of witch and wizards.
  • General Look and Feel: Half-spooky, half plain-and-regular.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction:
Story:
Lead Actors:
Character Artists:
Dialogues:
Screenplay:
Music Director:
Lyrics:

Ek Thi Daayan - Cast, crew, links

Director:
Cinematography:
Music Director:
Lyrics:
Costume Designer:
Running time:
120 minutes
Reviewer:
Language:
Country:
Genres:

Comments (8)

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Anil

I really hope that is a good horror movie. I feel sad looking at the regular so called horror movies which are either just sleazy, ugly, gory or just run of the mill Ramsay brothers (or the likes).. With such wonderful new filmmakers trying different subjects, it's high time we make some good horror movies as well.

I would love to pay to get scared :)

@Anil agree completely! Except for love to be scared. I don't like that creepy feeling. But, I'm game for a movie well made. :D

This movie is directed by Vishal Bharadwaj so we can hope it might be a watch-able movie. music from this movie is also great.. specially "Yaaram" sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, Clinton Cerejo

@james well, it's not directed by Vishal Bharadwaj, he's the producer.

The movie seems to have beautiful story along with the horror tale

Anuj

@Meetu : Finally a good supernatural thriller coming from b-town? I haven't watched it but i guess its not exactly "horror".

Anup

Its good,,,,and a small relief to the horror genre,,,,with some diffrent topic as compared to other horror movies in bollywood ,,,, credit goes to some goose bump horror sequence,,great acting by konkana sen ,, superb makeup of konkana,,a slightly different story by vishal,,and the melody yaaram,,,,but the climax dissappoints,,,,but its a
one time watch for sure

prashant

AWESOME MOVIE...IT IS THE BEST HORROR MOVIE OF BOLLYWOOD AND EVEN CAN COMPETE WITH MANY OF THE "SO CALLED" HORROR MOVIES OF HOLLYWOOD..
THE SCREENPLAY, THE DIRECTION, THE ACTING, THE DIALOGUES,BACKGROUND SCORE, EVERYTHING IS THE BEST EVER IN INDIAN CINEMA...
MORE THAN HORROR IT IS A DARK SUPERNATURAL FILM...EMRAAN HASHMI, KONKANA,,,AND YOUNG BOBO (VISHESH TIWARI),WERE OUTSTANDING..THEY DESREVE ALL AWRDS AVAILABLE THIS YEAR...
JUST GO AND SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL A HORROR-SUPERNATURAL MOVIE CAN BE MADE...IT HAS SIGNATURE OF VB ALL OVER..CHEERS VB!!!
WAITING DEPERATELY FOR PART2

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