evil always finds a way – Movies of the Soul

Vampire Owl: This would feel like a strange way to watch a sequel.

Vampire Bat: We are watching the second part of a Gujarati film which we watched in Hindi.

Vampire Owl: It would not have been too strange if the story was not somewhat changed.

Vampire Bat: Well, it seems that Bollywood takes liberties with everything except Drishyam.

Vampire Owl: Bollywood should have wanted the same in that case too, but not allowed.

Vampire Bat: Bollywood just takes out of the best out of its essence multiple times.

Vampire Owl: Thanks to the OTTs, we still have other choices.

Vampire Bat: The choices that we make never really matter.

Vampire Owl: It matters for us.

Vampire Bat: Just what matters for immortal matters.

[Gets a pina colada and three cups of sweet tea].

What is the movie about? :: Atharva (Hitu Kanodia) has gone past the terrifying incidents which he had to face under the influence of a man practicing black magic, but the feeling never really leaves him as his daughter Aarya (Janki Bodiwala) still remains under a dark influence – even after twelve years, goes on with her life with a smile on her face, as she grows up and her body changes, but nothing else does. As she does nothing else than that particular smile, this would be more or less like a paralysis. It keeps reminding him of that supernatural grip which remains even after he had imprisoned and tortured the man responsible for her state. He hopes for a better situation and continues to care for her, but knows that future is bleak. It is during the same time that ten schoolgirls jump from the top of a school together, despite the pleas of the headmistress, teachers and security, telling them that an uncle told them to do so, and they have no option but to obey his orders without questioning.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: This leaves the headmistress Rashmika (Monal Gajjar) scarred, while parents of all students including the remaining ones as well as the police storm into the school compound while it becomes nation-wide news. But very soon, more chaos unleashes as the girls ask for one man to be found, and warns that there would be some bigger terror to be unleashed. Soon, several other girls who had food in the same canteen behave violently and manages to break out of the school campus, attacking strangers including children, destroying property, and setting vehicles and buildings on fire. Stopping the girls seem to bring more trouble as they keep attacking everyone and also themselves if restricted. Some of the parents manage to come in and try to take their children home, but the girls are not ready to leave with them, and ask for the particular man to be found before next wave of evil is unleashed. The police have no clue about what is happening, as things seem to be outside their payroll, and some of them also gets injured in the process.

And what more is to follow here as evil keeps finding its way of nowhere? :: Atharva who finds out about the situation from news, gets to the school, and declares him to be the one who has the man whom they search and can solve this particular problem. These strange incidents are revealed to be the result of certain mind control charm orchestrated by Rajnath (Hiten Kumar), the younger brother of the black magician whom Atharva had captured. Unlike his imprisoned brother, Rajnath is more after control and seeks to establish his own power through chaos that nobody can ever imagine. He considers his brother to be better than him, as he lacks one special spell which could lead to his way towards world domination. He seeks to find his brother and learn it from him, making him complete. Atharva finds the man in the canteen, as he had hidden himself before pretending to be a worried parent of one of the girls and coming straight to view. Now, the question remains if Atharva can end this evil once and all, and whether his own daughter can finally get better.

The defence of Vash Level 2 :: This is one movie that gains momentum early itself, and that scene of jumping from the top of school is further complemented by similar scenes, as this one feels more zombie-like, and with the realization that evil never ends even if goodness has a limit. The performances of Hitu Kanodia and Hiten Kumar are very much convincing, and we can see that they never really try to overdo this either, as the work is stable and even in a fantasy situation, there are enough realistic moments to keep a balance. The clash between morality and selfishness can also be seen in between. If you have enjoyed Stree, Munjya, Thamma and other folk-tale horror, you would want to keep the eyes for the full-horror experience here, as the local mode of fear also has its say in a world of The Conjuring and its unlimited membership camapign in horror. After all, black magic and witchcraft go a long way back here too, and there has been more terrifying tales ready to inspire horror-makers as long as one would feel the need for the same.

Positives and negatives :: The movie can be considered to be moving smoothly towards that classic ending, and it also leaves the viewers with the relief that evil has been nicely vanquished, and even without that grand a spectacle, there is a fine resolution that we are going to remember. There is no loss of strength for this movie in between either, and the pace is maintained well. Janki Bodiwala is restricted to a nothing role, and that is depressing because she was the strongest point of the franchise, and most people would have the same opinion about her work. Her place on the posters would make one feel like she would have a big role to play, but that never really happens here. If a comparison to the earlier movie is made, I would have to say that this one does not manage to come up with that much of a strength. The movie could have had that knock-out experience which could make it the sequel that thrives on the first; maybe the Bollywood version would have too much of it, but we would have to wait for the same. After all, mind control has no limits.

How it finishes :: Most of us have only watched the Bollywood version, Shaitaan, which was not this much dark in comparison, and we are quickly made to realize that the proceedings and ending of that particular movie was different from the Gujarati original. The movie beginning without that Bollywood overdose of things itself is a reminder of the same – we all remember how Drishyam’s Hindi versions whether original or sequel could not survive without some extra unnecessary additions or changes here and there, even though they were small and not relevant. Well, this movie had gained its power right at the beginning itself, and its remake would also have the same, as there would be a number of changes that need to be there with the Hindi edition, whenever it comes. With that movie’s ending, one can be sure that Janki Bodiwala will get a better role to play around there as the main characters had a rather positive finish with the Bollywood trying to keep its world as usual and appealing to its common audience. This movie is a fine sequel, and leaves us with hope about it too.

Release date: 27th August 2025
Running time: 103 minutes
Directed by: Krishnadev Tagnik
Starring: Janki Bodiwala, Hitu Kanodia, Hiten Kumar, Monal Gajjar