Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s The Vvaan brings something different to the big screen. Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, the film mixes Indian folklore, fantasy, mythology, humour and emotion against the rooted backdrop of Bihar. The cast also features Anup Soni, Shweta Tiwari, Sunil Grover and Maniesh Paul in important roles. With a runtime of 2 hours and 17 minutes, the film tries to create its own world around the mysterious Van Devi and the beliefs surrounding a forbidden forest.
What makes The Vvaan interesting is that it does not follow the usual template of a Bollywood horror or fantasy film. It takes inspiration from local traditions, Chhath Puja and folklore and gives them a supernatural twist. The result is not perfect, but there is enough here to keep you invested.
The Vvaan Story
Rishi (Sidharth Malhotra) is a city bred man who lives in Mumbai with his wife Mamta (Tamannaah Bhatia). He is rational, practical and does not believe in superstition. He has stayed away from his ancestral village Devanchal for years, despite his brother repeatedly inviting him for Chhath Puja.
This time, Rishi returns to the village because of a land related issue. A road is proposed through a forest located near the village. While some people see it as a step towards development and better connectivity, the villagers strongly oppose the idea. There is an old belief that nobody should enter the forest after sunset because the Van Devi resides there. Rishi obviously doesn’t buy any of this.
He considers the villagers’ fear nothing more than blind belief. He also supports Deepak (Sunil Grover), who is involved in the road development plan. But Rishi’s own curiosity eventually takes him into the forbidden forest one night.
That’s when everything changes. Rishi accidentally breaks an ancient seal and unleashes something that has remained hidden for generations. The man who believes there is a logical explanation for everything is suddenly forced to confront something he cannot explain.
The rest of the film revolves around Rishi trying to understand the mystery of the forest and the truth behind the Van Devi. The presence of Chhath and devotional elements gives the story a distinct cultural identity. The film doesn’t simply use Bihar as a backdrop. It makes the traditions, beliefs and landscape an important part of its world.
The Vvaan Review
The biggest strength of The Vvaan is its concept. Indian folklore has enormous potential for mainstream fantasy cinema, and the film makes a genuine attempt to explore that space. The combination of folklore, mythology, comedy, emotion and fantasy gives it a flavour that feels different from the usual Bollywood fare.
Deepak Kumar Mishra keeps the world grounded. Even when the story moves into supernatural territory, the village setting and local traditions keep it connected to reality. The atmosphere around the forest works particularly well. There is a sense of mystery without the film constantly depending on conventional horror tricks.
The humour is another positive. A few jokes are silly, but several lighter moments land well. The dialogue writing is easily one of the better aspects of the film. Some conversations feel natural, while certain monologues have enough impact to give you genuine goosebumps. The writing also allows the characters to have their own personality instead of making everyone sound the same.
The first half is quite engaging. It establishes Rishi’s character, introduces the village and slowly builds the mystery around the forest. The film doesn’t rush into revealing everything. That helps create curiosity around what exactly is happening.
However, the screenplay starts losing its grip in the second half. The basic premise remains interesting, but the writing doesn’t always know how to take the story forward. Some portions feel stretched, while the fantasy elements could have been explored with greater depth. The mystery has potential, but a more tightly written second half could have made the overall experience considerably stronger.
Still, the film manages to remain entertaining because of its characters, humour and rooted setting. It also deserves credit for attempting something different instead of playing completely safe.
Music And Technical Aspects
Manu Anand’s cinematography is superb. The Bihar locations are captured beautifully and the forest sequences look particularly impressive. Even the night scenes remain clear, which is important for a film that spends considerable time inside a dark forest.
The production design also complements the setting. The village feels lived in rather than artificially created for the film. The devotional and folkloric atmosphere adds another layer to the presentation.
The music fits the world of The Vvaan. The devotional track around Chhathi Maiya works well with the film’s cultural setting, while the album also offers energetic moments. However, not every song feels organically placed. Thummak Thummak, in particular, feels unnecessary and interrupts the flow.
The background score does its job in building the supernatural atmosphere. Editing could have been tighter, especially during the portions where the narrative slows down.
The Vvaan Performances
Sidharth Malhotra does a good job as Rishi. He handles the character’s initial disbelief naturally and gradually shifts into a man dealing with something completely outside his understanding. His emotional scenes, action portions and supernatural journey are handled with sincerity. More importantly, his screen presence keeps Rishi engaging even when the screenplay doesn’t give him enough to work with.
Tamannaah Bhatia looks stunning and delivers a dependable performance. She brings warmth to Mamta and shares good chemistry with Sidharth. Her performance is one of the film’s pleasant aspects.
Sunil Grover gets to explore a darker side and makes the most of it. His casting is a smart choice because the character allows him to move away from his familiar comic image. He delivers the antagonist with conviction and makes his presence felt.
Shweta Tiwari and Anup Soni also deserve appreciation. Both actors bring authenticity to their respective characters and fit naturally into the rooted world of the film.
Maniesh Paul is an unexpected delight as VP, Rishi’s camera carrying friend. His jokes can be silly, sometimes very silly, but his comic timing and delivery manage to extract laughs from several scenes.
Sulabha Arya also gets her comic moments right. Durgesh Kumar, Milind Gunaji and Avtar Gill have limited scope, but they contribute to the world around the central characters.
Final Verdict
The Vvaan is an interesting attempt to bring Indian folklore and fantasy together with comedy, emotion and devotion. It is not a flawless film, particularly when the screenplay loses momentum in the second half. Some portions could have been tighter and the fantasy elements deserved more depth.
But there is plenty to enjoy here. The rooted Bihar setting gives the film a distinct identity. The folklore angle works. The dialogues are sharp in places, the humour lands often enough, and the performances keep the narrative moving. Sidharth Malhotra anchors the film well, while Sunil Grover, Tamannaah Bhatia, Shweta Tiwari and Anup Soni add to the experience.
Most importantly, The Vvaan feels like it is trying to create its own world. That itself makes the film refreshing.
For viewers looking for something different from the usual Bollywood action or romantic entertainer, The Vvaan is worth a watch. It may not completely realise the potential of its fascinating premise, but its blend of folklore, fantasy, humour, emotion and Chhathi Maiya makes it an entertaining theatrical experience.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
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