I had some wonderful moments and a story attached to this film. I was in 3rd standard and the year was 2004. My mother bought two films of Salman Khan as a birthday gift. The other was Sanam Bewafaa and the second VCD was this film called Suryavanshi. We watched it together, brother, aunt, granny and I had a restless night after watching it. The whole night I couldn't sleep because of the haunted archaeology site "Sangramghad", the witch "Suryalekha" and that sketch of "Blue Eye" which bites "Vick" at the start of the film.
Now, I had watched this film more than 8 times and each time I discover a new layer to think about it. 2 hours and 41 minutes are nostalgic, music, background score, story, locations and dialogues everything reconnects me to my childhood days
When the first time I searched about the fate of this film at the box office, I was disappointed and these ratings on IMDB makes me more frustrated. Honestly, this is the best film of Indian cinema in the genre of "Fantasy", "Adventure" and "Horror" particularly producing in those times was really an effort. I had watched all kind of cinema British, American, Pakistani and Turkish but this film has a kind of narrative style of bedtime horror stories which we used to listen as kids from our grandparents.
Salman Khan is the main attraction of this film. He nailed both of his characters. Suryavanshi Vikram Singh was good to experiment at the earliest phase of his carrier. The character became laughable among so-called critics but it was spectacular to me being a kid. He was our own Asian "Conan" or "Hercules"
Vicky was a contrast from S.Vikram Singh. A modern man of 1990s who vowed to live his life exploring adventures. Khan mastered both the characters. Salman Khan never played negative shade characters but he was under the skin of such character for a brief sequence when he was under the spell of Surylekha "Amrita Singh" to kill Sonia "Sheeba" and he nailed it. I am desperately waiting to see him in a full-fledged negative character.
Amrita Singh as Suryalekha scared the hell out of me when I was a kid but right now she's a gorgeous witch and she has nothing to do than a beautiful portrait with heavy jewelry.
Sheeba as Sonia was passable but she got an attractive voice, a layer of innocence and erotica.
Kader Khan as Baba was phenomenal. His portrayal makes me very sad about normal old age people. The severity of life implicated on them.
Ajit Vaichani, Saeed Jaffery, and Abhinav Chautervedi are loveable in their respective characters. Puneet Isaar entertained a lot as Mahesh in his short role. Tom Alter has a great cameo.
Rakesh Kumar did a commendable job as a director to explore this genre of fantasy and horror. He hinted about a sequel in the film but the tag of a flop at the box office I think altered the sequel. I would love to see the next adventure of "Vicky" to pass that deadliest lake.
Music of Anand Millind was memorable and melodious. "Goodbye Namaste Salam" and "Main Nahi Kehta" are my favorites.
I am not satisfied with the recent choices of Salman Khan. I want him to make memorable films like that again. I want him to explore this genre of fantasy and horror which was never presented truly in the Indian cinema.
This film is a true reflection of the horror bedtime stories we listened from our grandparents.
Watched this film if you wanted to revisit the 1990's and Dynasty of Suryavanshi. Watch it for Salman Khan and a wonderful narrative style.
10/10
