‘The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest’ breaks from the routine cinema, exploring a territory not tried before, bringing folklore, mystery, and supernatural elements together in a genre that feels distinctly new for Hindi cinema. With an intriguing premise set in Devaanchal, Bihar, and rooted in the cultural sanctity of Chhath Puja, the film offers several engaging moments of brilliance, making it a complete entertainer.

The Folklore Premise

Set in the heart of Bihar, Devaanchal, the story follows Rishi (Sidharth Malhotra), a rationalist civil engineer, and his wife Mamta (Tamannaah Bhatia), a school teacher. Despite being happily married for years, they long for a child, but nothing has gone their way. After receiving a letter about ancestral property in his native village, Rishi calls his elder brother, Shashi (Anup Soni).

Shashi asks Rishi to return, but unable to forget what happened six years ago, Rishi rejects the idea immediately. Yet, fate pulls him back to Devaanchal, with Mamta viewing the journey as a divine calling to attend Chhath Puja this year.

Rishi returns to Devaanchal with Mamta and his friend VP (Maniesh Paul). Here he meets Deepak (Sunil Grover), his friend. Soon, the eerie terror of the local jungle—which locals strictly forbid entering after sunset—begins to rattle him. Restless and plagued by cryptic nightmares, Rishi is drawn into a web of suspense, local myth, and unexpected twists that keep the audience hooked from start to finish.

The film’s biggest strength is its story. Arunabh Kumar, who also handled the story and screenplay, kept the narrative gripping, telling a folklore we haven’t seen before. He smartly blended the story of the soil with fantasy, balancing the religious aspect with relevance.

Direction

Deepak Kumar Mishra masterfully constructs an eerie, spiritual world of Devaanchal. From narrating the Vaan Devi to the Bhutakkas, his direction ensures every frame feels immersive and convincing. While bringing an idea like this to paper is easy, the real game is execution—and Mishra takes the experience to the next level.

He beautifully captures the essence of Chhath with breathtaking wide-angle shots of the riverbank ghat rituals, contrasted with the deeply atmospheric, shadows-and-light cinematography of the jungle sequences.

However, the beginning of the film felt a bit slow until Rishi returns to Devaanchal. In contrast, the second half is much better, intriguing, and keeps one glued to the screen, wanting to know what’s next.

Dialogues & Nostalgia

Special mention must be made of the dialogues written by Anandeshwar Dwivedi. He made the film relatable and nostalgic while bringing fresh new dialogues. He used Anup Soni’s iconic Crime Patrol dialogue ‘Savadhan Rahe Satark Rahe’ smartly. There was also a dialogue where Shweta, during an emotional family confrontation, says, “Mai hi chudail, pishachini aur bekar hu,” to which Sidharth replies, “Nahi, aap Prerna ho,” taking fans back to when Shweta Tiwari played Prerna in Kasautii Zindagii Kay.

Cinematography, VFX, and Music

A large-scale supernatural folklore feature relies heavily on visuals, and the cinematography here delivers a grand big-screen spectacle.. The VFX narrating the story of Bhutakkas also makes the viewing interesting, making it a visually stunning cinematic experience.

From “Samjho Na” to “Chhathi Maiya” to “Thummak Thummak,” the songs blend beautifully into the film, so they don’t feel detached and add to the overall experience.

Performances

Sidharth Malhotra is phenomenal. He brilliantly navigates the internal evolution of a rigid atheist turning into Vaan’s eventual savior, and whenever Sidharth comes on screen, his charisma commands attention. The actor played his part well, and it is one of the film’s big strengths.

Tamannaah Bhatia was no exception. She looks super gorgeous throughout the film, whether in a western look or traditional—she nails it every time. She brings genuine vulnerability to the screen, convincingly portraying the emotional weight of longing for a child and her character’s deep-rooted spiritual faith. Paired with Sidharth, the two bring new chemistry, and we love it.

Sunil Grover is a surprise. Amid the strong actors, his presence stands out, with his character having a crucial part in the overall story.

Maniesh Paul carries the comic relief on his shoulders and, to be honest, never disappoints.

Shweta Tiwari and Anup Soni deliver strong performances, both playing key parts in the story. Sulabha Arya as Kaaki is hilarious.

Verdict

Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures, The Viral Fever (TVF), and 11:11 Productions, ‘The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest’ is a complete big-screen experience, bringing together folklore, mystery, spectacle, emotion, romance, action, and adventure in a visually expansive cinematic world.

Our Editorial Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars