The film is worth a dekko, at least for the sake of powerhouse performances

Phoonk Cast: Amruta Khanvilkar, Shrey Bawa, Jyoti Subhash, Ganesh Yadav, Lillete Dubey Director: Ram Gopal Varma Producer: Azam Khan Music: Amar Mohile Released on: August 22, 2008 Horror flicks in India have remained the same since ages and will need out-of-the-box experimentations and innovations to evolve as a different genre, altogether. Largely dependent on masks, claws and demon like men with canines jutting out of their mouths, RGV can be credited to have at least changed the 'look' of horror films, since Bhoot. Phook is a horror that deals with superstitions and people possessed by spirits. The first half makes some unnecessary sounds and camera angles, absolutely unimportant for the story. Fear is a subtle emotion and can?t be forced down the throats of viewers by trying to lodge fear through the obvious. The camera angle in the first half zooms into soft toys and objects in an attempt to create fear but fails. The second half, though, is engrossing and succeeds in making people curl up in their seats with eyes popped out, of course. The story really begins in the second half where the child artist Ahsaas Channa gets possessed and starts to behave strangely. Her father, a non believer in the super naturals, is made to question the limitations of science and medicine when he sees his own daughter being possessed by some unexplainable power. Powerful performance by Ahsaas, as the girl possessed. South actor Sudeep, as Rajeev, has done a commendable job as the father of the little girl. Ashwini Kalsekar, playing the protagonist?s mother leaves no stones unturned to irritate you in the first half. One wonders why she laughs through the first half so irritatingly without a given reason. Though, the second half of her performance is saner. The film is worth a dekko, at least for the sake of powerhouse performances delivered by Ahsaas and Sudeep and also for the brilliant background score and an engrossing second half of the movie. In comparison, Bhoot still takes the cake in sending a chill down your spine, we would say!