Bhooth Bangla REVIEW: Only A ‘Miracle’ Can Save Akshay Kumar & Priyadarshan’s More Noise, Less Horror DISASTER 

Film:
Bhooth Bangla

Director: Priyadarshan

Writers: Priyadarshan, Rohan Shankar and Abilash Nair

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi

Platform: In Theatres

Runtime: 2 hours 54 minutes

Bhooth Bangla Review

Only a miracle can save this disaster and that miracle in Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan’s case never arrives. In an era where audiences expect smarter writing and better cinematic quality, Bhooth Bangla plays like someone bringing a slingshot to a battlefield of modern weaponry.

If we talk about the storyline, this isn’t anything new we haven’t seen in horror films before. It unfolds in Mangalpur, a town haunted by a deadly curse, any woman who marries there becomes a victim of Vadhusur. (Somewhat reminds us of Stree right). After the death of Dushyant Acharya in that village, his bungalow, property, and entire legacy passed on to his grandchildren, Arjun Acharya (Akshay Kumar) and Meera Acharya (Mithila Palkar), who stays in London. Arjun decides to host her sister’s destination wedding at that same bungalow in Mangalpur, an eerie mansion rumoured to be haunted by the villagers. From that moment on, events spiral into chaos, filled with unsettling twists and disturbing surprises which never go with the plot ahead. 

However, Bhooth Bangla seems to lean so heavily on the legacy of Bhool Bhulaiyaa that it struggles to establish its own identity. The film confuses nostalgia with excess, packing every scene with gimmicks but leaving the story devoid of emotional depth and soul.

Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan’s camaraderie should have been a moment worth celebrating but instead, the horror comedy ends up feeling like a tired echo of past glory rather than a fresh cinematic experience.

What Works

Honestly, very little. The only redeeming factor is the initial wave of nostalgia when you see familiar faces. A few comic beats largely carried by seasoned performers manage to land but they are too scattered to make a lasting impact. It feels like in the time of lighters, Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla works like flinging stones. 

What Doesn’t Work

Akshay Kumar says, “Bahen dar gayi” but moreover we feel  “audience mar gayi”. The fantasy film is stuck in a loop, recycling old horror-comedy tropes without adding anything new. Instead of evolving the genre, it runs the same race with worn-out shoes. The attempt to recreate past gimmicks from character quirks to situational comedy feels forced and outdated.

The narrative tries to position itself as an extension of Bhool Bhulaiyaa, even banking on the return of Akshay Kumar as a selling point. It is tough to see actors struggling to recreate their own scenes from past films like Chup Chup Ke, Hera Pheri, Garam Masala and many more. The storyline is weak, disjointed and lacks the tight writing that made the nostalgic films memorable. It drags endlessly, making you wish for sharper editing and a much shorter runtime. Unnecessary romantic subplots further dilute the already fragile screenplay, while poor dubbing in several portions breaks immersion.

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Technical Analysis

Technically, Bhooth Bangla is the biggest letdown for all Akshay Kumar fans. The loud and often jarring background score feels mismatched with the scenes, amplifying chaos rather than tension or humour. The music offers nothing new generic tunes with no memorable quality, and it’s placed at unwanted setups. 

Where Indian cinema is steadily raising the bar with films like Brahmastra, Tumbbad, RRR and Baahubali showcasing ambitious, homegrown VFX, Ekta Kapoor’s Bhooth Bangla takes a giant step backwards. The visual effects here are underwhelming and at times, outright distracting. The fantasy horror comedy had the resources to aim higher but the execution fails to meet even basic expectations of the story. The humour feels outdated the scares are ineffective and originality is almost nonexistent.

Star Performances

Akshay Kumar as Arjun Acharya tries to recreate his iconic charm, but the spark is missing. This sadly adds to his growing list of underwhelming films at the box office. His performance feels like a shadow of what he once delivered in the past. The weak writing doesn’t help his case either and makes it worse. He should do age-appropriate roles as even the supporting cast of his age looks unmatched with the storyline.

Paresh Rawal as Jagdish, the wedding planner is the most dependable performer as always, but even he seems constrained by the lacklustre script and has no meaningful presence. 

Rajpal Yadav as Sunder brings a few laughs but his character feels repetitive almost like a rehash of roles he’s done before in Priyadarshan’s films. 

Mithila Palkar as Meera Acharya, honestly, the role can be done by anyone in the films. 

Wamiqa Gabbi has decent screen presence, but her poorly written character doesn’t leave much of an impression. Even if we think of skipping her from the entire scenario it makes no difference. 

Late Asrani as Shantaram, the caretaker of the palace, remarking on one of his last film on the silver screens, he was highly wasted too. 

Tabu’s character establishment is done mostly in the second half of the film. It’s sad to say, but she is completely underutilised. Given her calibre, it offers very little of her work. 

The supporting cast Jisshu Sengupta, Manoj Joshi, late Asrani, Rajesh Sharma, Manu Menon and Perin Malde are all wasted in roles that add little value to the narrative. 

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Conclusion

Bhooth Bangla is a classic case of nostalgia gone wrong. It tries too hard to relive the magic of Bhool Bhulaiyaa but ends up exposing how far it falls short. Sad to say, this but it feels like an end to Priyadarshan’s era. With outdated storytelling, weak technical execution and uninspired performances, the fantasy horror comedy feels like a relic in a time that demands innovation and strong scripting. 

Watch the trailer of Bhooth Bangla here:

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Manisha Karki

Manisha has established a reputation for insightful and engaging storytelling with over six years of expertise in the industry. With a deep passion for cinema, she brings a unique perspective to her coverage, making it a trusted voice in the entertainment world.