Shaitaan

"Shaitaan (2024)" initially captivates audiences with promising natural performances, particularly from Aadhav. However, as the film progresses, it falters in its execution, particularly in the last third. Despite commendable acting, notably from Madhavan, Ajay Devgn's lackluster portrayal detracts from the overall experience. The film's direction suffers from evident low effort and budget constraints, leading to technical and editing issues, which ultimately hinder the film's coherence. The drawn-out climax further exacerbates these flaws, diluting the essence of the movie's fitness narrative. While "Shaitaan" shows potential, especially in its early stages, its inability to deliver a cohesive and satisfying conclusion leaves much to be desired.

The plot was good. The middle part (torture part) of the movie was stretched too long. It was boring and people were yawning. Audience enjoys horror NOT torture. Ajay Devgan films didn't realise that. Despite being a great actor Madhavan was not fitting for the role of that Tantric.

Rest of the actors' acting was good.

Villian could have been serious. The climax could have been shown with much more screen time. But they kept on showing how the girl was tortured and how she tortured the family for long. People lost interest then.

Audience were expecting more horror which was not there at all....

This film was incredibly frustrating to watch. The characters consistently displayed a lack of common sense, which made it difficult to connect with the story. It failed to fit into any discernible genre, lacking both the tension of a thriller and the scares of a horror film. Instead, it felt like a mundane narrative filled with contrived plot points and nonsensical actions.

What was particularly disappointing was the apparent lack of effort put into developing the characters or exploring any meaningful themes. It's as if the filmmakers relied solely on tired clichés and tropes to drive the story forward, without injecting any originality or creativity.

Despite the shortcomings of the script, Madhavan's acting managed to shine through. He brought depth and authenticity to his character, elevating the material and providing a much-needed anchor for the audience. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rest of the cast, who struggled to make their poorly written characters relatable or engaging.

From a technical standpoint, the film also left much to be desired. The cinematography was uninspired, the editing felt choppy and disjointed, and the soundtrack failed to leave any lasting impression. It's clear that no amount of technical expertise could salvage a film that was fundamentally flawed at its core.

In the end, this movie was a missed opportunity. With a more competent script and a director willing to take risks, it could have been something truly memorable. Instead, it's destined to fade into obscurity, overshadowed by far superior films.

In conclusion, I would strongly advise against wasting your time or money on this film. It offers little in the way of entertainment or substance and is unlikely to leave any lasting impression. Save yourself the frustration and seek out something more deserving of your attention.

Watch it for Madhavan's brilliant performance. And ofcourse, the initial suspense the film is successful in creating. Because the screenplay and story in the 2nd half doesn't do the concept any justice.

Some excellent acting Ajay Devgan, Jyothika and especially Janki Bodiwala, the actress from the original Gujrati film. Though the movie takes its time to establish the characters, the family dynamic (sometimes a bit too Bollywood and over the top) and to build the intrigue around what motivates Madhavan's character, they fail to deliver on it. The climax sequences had me yawning. The ending was unexpected, but ruined again by unnecessary over-the-top dialogues. All in all, it was a pretty forgettable Thriller.

A family outing takes a terrifying turn when an intruder takes over the body of the teenage daughter, putting her at the mercy of increasingly sinister orders.

Performances are good from each member of the star cast. The best comes from R. Madhavan and Janki Bodiwala. Both have played their roles exceptionally well. Ajay Devgn, Jyothika, and Anngad Raaj also have played their roles really well.

The first half of the film does a good job in initially building the family dynamic so that when R. Madhavan enters we feel for each member of the family. After the good first half the second half starts off a bit slow as not much happens. However it does eventually become fine leading to a good second half of the film.

Overall a good enjoyable film and I recommend it.