PYAASI ATMA: LITERALLY. Review on Hawa

What do you get when B-Grade substance goes slick with an art house actress, mainstream director and fabulous camera work and animation? Complete horror. Yes Hawa is a horror alright but of a different kind. First things first, it is devoid of any logic, not that dead atmaas obey any, but here we have a hapless victim almost waiting to be molested, raped and tortured by an unseen atma and one is forced to say: Puhlease move out of the damn house. Not that it would have helped since the atma is going to chase her wherever the victim goes, that alas is told way too late. And as on clue, till it really does get heavy like the loosing of the child, Tabu who incidently is playing the victim has almost got no control over the senses, brain or common sense (senses and common sense, whoa! looks like my English got affected). I for once could not fault the lady sitting next advising her to go to Hidimba Devi shrine in Manali or Buddhist Monastery since so many of those monks make an appearance.

Is the film scary? In parts it is, mostly it is repulsive. But it was going to be with its theme of sexual violence (duh! alright it deserves to be made, agreed, though I dont particularly liked it much, though I liked Jism). Last few scenes are copied from numerous horror flicks and one scene in particular derives inspiration from Poltergeist, not that rest of the film is original. It does not scare, neither thrills, is way too predictable right down till the sound effects (one could almost sense, ab bajega zor ka baja). The photography is great and element of mystique is also not there. Now that is a pity since there was a chance to introduce the mystic from Hills angle and Budhist take on life after death and good over evil. And then we also have that awful actor (dont remember his name) who acts like someone from Chidlrens film, behaving as a parapsychologist to bring back Tabus child from an absolutely amazing place the Bhoot takes her to.

So what exactly is there. For one we have a decently shot (not written or done ok!) climax, we have Tabu who shines for a while and we also have some cute children. Tabu did not need to showcase her array of stoic resilience ala Chandni bar but what ever little was demanded from her, she did well. She sure has the ability to shine through and carry a whole film on her own shoulders. Bear the rest of cast including the doctor who is as big a pain in the film as the Bhoot himself. Editing is lax and direction ranges from ordinary to good to inspired brilliance. Background score is damn routine for a film like this and does not even remotely connect the surroudings of Himachal as well. One particular scene when Tabu enjoys her sexual torture is well done and conceived and leaves you uneasy. The most horrifying scene in the film has to be when Grusha Kapoor's husband calls Tabu a Bhootni, a jad tona wali and so on....... God! it looked like for once that atma had come in him. He was damn horrifying.

Overall, a pretty dull film, but has its moments which alas is not what you expect.