Review of Hindi Movie “Shaitaan”
“Shaitaan” (शैतान)
STORYLINE:
The storyline revolves around Kabir and his
family, who embark on a fun weekend retreat. However, their peaceful getaway
takes a nightmarish turn when they allow a friendly yet mysterious stranger
into their house. As the clock ticks, the family is forced to confront their
worst fears in this gripping, edge-of-the-seat supernatural thriller that
delves into the sinister elements of Indian Black Magic.
The film’s music is composed by Amit Trivedi,
and the cinematography and editing are handled by Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti and
Sandeep Francis Jyothika returns to Hindi films after 26 years, having made her
debut opposite Akshaye Khanna in Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998).
Shaitaan promises an intense and
spine-chilling experience, exploring the battle between good and evil in a
supernatural context. It’s released in theatres across globe on March 8, 2024.
Shaitaan (transl. Devil) is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language supernatural horror film directed
by Vikas Bahl and produced by Devgn Films, Jio Studios and Panorama Studios.
The film stars Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, Jyothika, Janki Bodiwala and Anngad
Raaj. This is the second Hindi film of Jyothika after her debut film Doli Saja
Ke Rakhna which was released in 1998. The music was composed by Amit Trivedi,
while the cinematography and editing were handled by Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti
and Sandeep Francis.
The film was officially announced in May 2023
with the title confirmed in January 2024. Principal photography began in June
2023 and ended in September 2023, proceeding in India and London. It is a
remake of the 2023 Gujarati film Vash.
Shaitaan was theatrically released on 8 March
2024, coinciding with Maha Shivaratri. It received mostly positive reviews from
critics with praise directed towards the performances and screenplay. It was a
commercial success, grossing over ₹187 crore (US$23 million) worldwide and became the fourth highest
grossing Indian film of 2024.
CAST:
Ajay Devgn as Kabir Rishi
R. Madhavan as Vanraj Kashyap
Jyothika as Jyoti Rishi, Kabir's wife
Janki Bodiwala as Janhvi Rishi, Kabir and
Jyoti's daughter
Anngad Raaj as Dhruv Rishi, Kabir and Jyoti's
son
PRODUCTION:
The film is a remake of the Gujarati horror
film Vash (2023) and was announced in May 2023, while the title Shaitaan was
announced in January 2024 through teaser. Ajay Devgn and R. Madhavan
were cast for the principal roles along with Jyothika, Anngad Raaj and Janki
Bodiwala; the latter reprises her role from the original film. This film marked
the first time Madhavan and Jyothika collaborated since their 2001 film Dumm
Dumm Dumm and 2003 film Priyamaana Thozhi. The film also marks Jyothika's
return to Bollywood after 24 years.
The film was shot in London, Mumbai and
Mussoorie with filming taking place from June 2023 to September 2023.
Box office collection:
As of 21 March 2024, Shaitaan has grossed ₹157.05 crore (US$20 million) in India, with a further ₹30.62 crore (US$3.8 million) in overseas, for a worldwide total of ₹187.67 crore (US$24 million).