Amitabh was down and out before this movie with some bad performances and some bad movies. Many
among us lost hopes on him but people who knew the capability of Amitabh will never ever write him off.
So is bhootnath a come back for Amitabh. Well, BO will come later but in terms of performance BIG B is back.
Seeing Amitabh Bachchan in those tattered clothes, ruffled hair and smudged face does delude you for a second into thinking that he is the bhatakti atmaa of Babban Singh (God forbid) from Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag , but the scary delusion is thankfully dispelled as you notice the wickedly funny streak in the ragged ghost of ‘Bhoothnath’. Yes, the spook makes you smile more than he scares. He also makes you moist eyed – at times a bit more than needed.

Bhootnath is the story of Banku- the son of Juhi Chawla and Shah Rukh Khan who shift to Goa to stay in Nath Villa, A house owned by Amitabh Bachchan before he dies. Amitabh Is Kailash Nath in the movie. He is haunting spirit after his death bcuz of some incomplete rituals that ae followed in Hindu culture after a person’s death.

He totally is averse on someone staying in his house which he has a lot of emotional attachment with. Everyone who comes there is scared to run away from there and never to turn and look back.

The ghost has the plan of scaring the family away. But he runs into the notorious nine-year-old Banku who mistakes the ghost as an angel and befriends him.
Thereby begin the funny antics of Banku and Bhoothnath. With a mere flick of his finger, Bhoothnath is able to do magical feats, and more so willingly at Banku’s command.

The story seems to go in circles as the film focuses on the adventures of the kid and the ghost until Bhoothnath’s past catches up with him. Thereon, the tongue-in-cheek humour of the film wisps out of the plot and melodrama comes in, and the movie becomes a tearjerker, though just partly effective.

‘Bhoothnath’ works mainly in the first half, when it’s funny. Writer-director Vivek Sharma fumbles in the second half, when he obviously feels a necessity to give a definite direction to the plot and veers the story into heavy melodrama reminiscent of films like Baghban .

However, the ever-reliable shoulders of Amitabh Bachchan carry ‘Bhoothnath’ above its deficiencies for the most part. Though there is nothing exceptional about the performance from Big B’s set standards, his charming persona and his comic timing wins you over yet again for the umpteenth time.

Child artist Aman Sidiqqui is no Darsheel Safary but the chubby kid does manage to hold his place opposite the Big B. Juhi Chawla is delightful even when she is over the top. Shah Rukh Khan is good except when he is dramatic and teary-eyed. Priyanshu Chatterjee , as Kedarnath’s estranged son, gets his few moments of acting as well.

The Sharma family does it for Bhootnath and his some also comes there realising his mistake, and finally the dissatisfied soul of Kailash Nath is freed, however he returns for Banku ending the film with a TO BE CONTINUED note.

Bhootnath is a good story, actually a very simple story said in a very simple way and that makes this film work. Bhootnath gathers pace from Big B’s entry and generates enough funny moments and intersting moments to keep the audience glued to thier seats.

Aman Siddiqui is a revelation. He too has given a great performance. Kids are doing well these days. The Chemistry between Him and Amitabh in the movie is top class.

Juhi is adequate and does well as always. Priyanshu is good in whatever it has been given to him. Rajpal Yadav is funny. SRK is irritating.

Categories: Bhootnath, Movie Review
Tags: Amitabh Bachchan, Juhi Chawla