Shaitaan (2024 film)

2024 Indian supernatural horror film

7 min read

Shaitaan (transl. Devil) is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language supernatural psychological horror film directed by Vikas Bahl and produced by Devgn Films, Jio Studios, and Panorama Studios. It stars Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, Jyothika, Janki Bodiwala, and Anngad Raaj.

An adaptation of the 2023 Gujarati film Vash which also starred Bodiwala, Shaitaan revolves around a family which finds trouble when their daughter falls under the spell of black magic cast by a stranger, and they set out to stop the possession and uncover the stranger's motives. The film was officially announced in May 2023, and entirely shot within the next three months in Dehradun and London. This is Jyothika's comeback to Bollywood since her debut film Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998).

Shaitaan was theatrically released on 8 March 2024, coinciding with Maha Shivaratri, to positive reviews from critics, with particular praise going towards the performances of Devgn, Madhavan and Bodiwala. Grossing ₹211.06 crore worldwide on an estimated budget of ₹60-65 crore, the film ranks as the fifth highest-grossing Hindi film of 2024. A sequel is in the scripting stage.

Plot

Kabir Rishi, a devoted family man and successful chartered accountant from Dehradun, is looking forward to a much-needed vacation with his wife, Jyoti, and their children, Janhvi and Dhruv. Seeking peace and bonding time, the Rishi family heads to their remote farmhouse nestled in the wilderness. The atmosphere is serene, and the family begins to settle into the calm surroundings.

Their tranquility is disrupted when they encounter Vanraj Kashyap, a charismatic yet enigmatic traveler who appears stranded nearby. Vanraj offers assistance and strikes up a conversation, quickly gaining the family's trust. Despite initial hesitation, Kabir allows Vanraj into their home, seeing no reason to suspect ill intent.

However, the family's sense of security unravels when Janhvi begins exhibiting disturbing behavior. She becomes distant, aggressive, and alarmingly violent, particularly towards her younger brother, Dhruv. Jyoti and Kabir are horrified, unable to understand the sudden transformation in their daughter. They soon discover the terrifying truth: Vanraj is not an ordinary man, but a practitioner of ancient black magic, capable of hypnotic manipulation.

Vanraj reveals his plan—to use Janhvi as a vessel to spread his twisted philosophy of stripping humanity of free will. As his control over Janhvi intensifies, he isolates the Rishi family by destroying their communication devices and turning their own daughter against them. A desperate attempt to call the police ends in failure, as Vanraj threatens Janhvi's life and uses her as a puppet to enforce his dominance.

Pushed to the brink, Kabir and Jyoti are forced to surrender Janhvi to Vanraj. But Kabir refuses to give up. Driven by a father's love and fierce determination, he embarks on a perilous journey to track Vanraj's whereabouts. He eventually discovers a hidden ritual chamber deep in the forest, where Vanraj is preparing dozens of hypnotized young girls, including Janhvi, for a horrific mass possession ceremony.

In a climactic confrontation, Kabir fights Vanraj in a brutal and emotionally charged showdown. Realizing that Vanraj's power lies in his voice and the incantations he chants, Kabir seizes the opportunity to silence him permanently. In a decisive act, Kabir cuts off Vanraj's tongue, severing his control over Janhvi and the other girls. The spell is broken by him playing a piece of doctored audio using Vanraj's statements recorded and mixed together earlier, and the children are freed.

A year later, the Rishi family appears to have resumed their normal life, though the scars of their trauma remain. In a chilling final scene, Kabir is seen visiting a heavily secured underground chamber where Vanraj now mute and powerless is imprisoned. Kabir coldly reminds Vanraj that true strength lies not in the ability to control others, but in the power of love, sacrifice, and a parent's unbreakable will to protect.

Despite his defeat, Vanraj's eyes gleam with quiet fury, hinting that his dark presence may return one day.

Cast

Ajay Devgn as Kabir Rishi
R. Madhavan as Vanraj Kashyap
Jyothika as Jyoti Rishi
Janki Bodiwala as Jahnvi Rishi
Anngad Raaj as Dhruv Rishi

Production

Development

Hindi remake of the Gujarati horror film Vash (2023) was announced in May 2023 with Ajay Devgn in the lead role, to be directed by Vikas Bahl, while the title Shaitaan was confirmed in January 2024. R. Madhavan was cast as the antagonist and Jyothika as Devgn's wife, both having previously starred in Dumm Dumm Dumm (2001), Priyamaana Thozhi (2003), and Magalir Mattum (2017), along with Jyothika's return to Hindi films after 25 years. Janki Bodiwala and Anngad Raaj were signed to play the children; the former reprises her role from Vash. It marks Bodiwala's debut in Hindi cinema.

Filming

The film was shot in London, Mumbai and Mussoorie with filming taking place from June 2023 to September 2023.

Soundtrack

The music of the film is composed by Amit Trivedi and lyrics are written by Kumaar. The first single titled "Khushiyaan Bator Lo" was released on 15 February 2024. The second single titled "Aisa Main Shaitaan" was released on 29 February 2024. The third single "Shaitaan Theme" was released on 8 March 2024 during release. The fourth single "Papa Tu Hai Naa" was released on 2 April 2024 after release.

Release

Theatrical

Shaitaan was theatrically released on 8 March 2024, coinciding with Maha Shivaratri.

Home media

The film premiered on Netflix on 1 May 2024.

Reception

Box office

Shaitaan grossed ₹1.78 billion (US$21 million) in India and a further ₹331 million (US$3.9 million) in overseas markets, for a worldwide total of ₹2.11 billion (US$25 million).

Critical response

Shaitaan received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise going towards the performances of Devgn, Madhavan and Bodiwala. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 40% of 15 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.3/10.

Bollywood Hungama gave 4/5 stars and wrote "Shaitaan is a nail-biting thriller laced with superlative performances and clapworthy climax that keeps you engaged". Dhaval Roy of The Times of India gave the film 3.5/5 and wrote "Even though Shaitaan’s narrative stumbles at times, the masterful use of atmosphere and top-notch acting elevate it into an unsettling experience worth having".

Sana Farzeen of India Today gave the film 2.5/5 and wrote "Shaitaan falls short, probably cursed by a weak script and the pressure of helming a remake". Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost rated 2.5 out of 5 and opined "Shaitaan could have been a good supernatural thriller, which we haven’t seen much in Hindi cinema of late, but it turned out to be a complete mess in the process of depicting the war of good vs evil. It’s a poorly made remake and the story is just not believable. Making the hero win at the end makes the film just too predictable". Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave the film 1.5/5 and wrote "Jyothika is the only one in the cast who is able to rise a bit above the sheer absurdity of the proceedings. The two male characters and the actors playing them don't stand a chance".