Raaz (2002)
Starring: Bipasha Basu, Dino Morea, Malini Sharma
Director: V ikram Bhatt
Music Director: Nadeem Shravan
Synopsis: Effective reworking of the What Lies Beneath scenario - stylish and chilling
Reviewed by: Faiz Khan

 

Raaz (2002)

Clearly inspired by Robert Zemeckis' What Lies Beneath, Vikram Bhatt's Raaz nevertheless manages to become something far more than a straightforward imitation. Borrowing only its central supernatural premise, Bhatt crafts an engrossing and genuinely atmospheric thriller that stands comfortably on its own merits.

After the disappointment of Kasoor, itself little more than a pale reworking of Jagged Edge, Raaz comes as a very pleasant surprise indeed.

The film opens in the mist-covered hills of Ooty, where a group of students are enjoying a picnic. During a prank, Nisha (Mink) wanders alone into a forest, only to hear the terrifying screams of an unseen woman. She is later found in a violent, seemingly possessed state before mysteriously dying. Professor Swaroop (Ashutosh Rana), a paranormal researcher convinced of the existence of spirits, believes the answers lie hidden within the forest itself.

The story then shifts to Mumbai.

Sanjana (Bipasha Basu) and her husband Aditya (Dino Morea) are trapped in a failing marriage. Hoping to save their relationship, Aditya persuades her to accompany him away for a fresh start. When asked to choose a destination, Sanjana is inexplicably drawn towards Ooty, almost as though an unseen force is calling her there.

Their isolated hill station home soon becomes the centre of increasingly disturbing events. Doors open of their own accord, light bulbs shatter, strange voices whisper Sanjana's name, blood appears where none should exist, and the ghostly figure of a woman dressed in red begins haunting the terrified young wife. Professor Swaroop gradually becomes convinced that a restless spirit is desperately trying to communicate.

Vikram Bhatt handles the material with far greater restraint than one normally associates with Bollywood horror. Rather than relying upon excessive gore or cheap shocks, he builds an atmosphere of mounting dread through sound design, clever visual effects and sustained suspense. The result is a ghost story that is consistently eerie without becoming ridiculous.

The screenplay remains tightly focused, avoiding the usual distractions of unnecessary comedy tracks or sprawling subplots. Although a couple of songs inevitably slow the momentum, the narrative rarely loses its grip on the audience.

Bhatt also demonstrates a much surer command of pacing than in his previous work, allowing tension to build naturally before delivering some genuinely effective set pieces. The haunted house itself almost becomes another character, its creaking corridors and shadowy interiors creating an unsettling atmosphere that lingers throughout the film.

Bipasha Basu carries much of the picture and gives an assured performance, particularly considering it was only her second film. She occasionally overplays the terror, but she possesses enough screen presence to hold the audience's attention throughout. Dino Morea delivers a competent performance, while Malini Sharma makes a striking impression in a relatively brief but pivotal role, lending genuine tragedy to what could easily have become a one-dimensional character. Ashutosh Rana occasionally slips into theatrical excess but remains effective as the eccentric professor.

Nadeem-Shravan's songs are pleasant without being exceptional, although the background score deserves particular praise. Along with some handsome cinematography that makes excellent use of Ooty's misty landscapes, it creates exactly the kind of unsettling mood a supernatural thriller requires.

Raaz may wear its Hollywood inspiration on its sleeve, but it succeeds because it understands that atmosphere is more important than imitation. Stylish, suspenseful and consistently engaging, it remains one of Vikram Bhatt's strongest directorial efforts and one of Bollywood's better supernatural thrillers.

Well worth a visit.