Mumbai, 30 October (H.S.): Horror films rely not only on fear but also on an intriguing layer of mystery to keep audiences engaged. Director Rajan Ramgopal Verma’s ‘Jhaad Phoonk’ attempts to draw viewers into an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty through this combination. Set against the hills of Uttarakhand, the film stands out for Yashpal Sharma’s enigmatic portrayal and Sumbul Touqeer Khan’s emotionally compelling performance. Revolving around superstition, the supernatural and a pregnant woman’s struggle, the film gradually unravels its central mystery.

Story

The film opens with Aastha (Sumbul Touqeer Khan) and Rajvir (Harsh Rajput) travelling through the hills of Uttarakhand. Aastha is pregnant and upset with Rajvir because he has not yet spoken to his family about their marriage. During their journey, a mysterious woman suddenly appears in front of their car. In an attempt to avoid hitting her, the car meets with an accident, leaving both occupants injured.

When Aastha regains consciousness, she finds herself in an unfamiliar house, where Mohan Thakur (Yashpal Sharma) and his wife Kamini (Padmini Kolhapure) are looking after her. She immediately asks about Rajvir, but is told that she was alone in the car at the time of the accident. The revelation leaves her stunned.

Soon, strange occurrences begin to unfold inside the house. Unexplained sounds and mysterious experiences intensify Aastha’s fear. When she questions Mohan and Kamini about these incidents, they tell her the story of a woman named Manjari. According to them, villagers had killed Manjari several years earlier while she was pregnant with a daughter. Before her death, she had allegedly vowed that no child would ever be born in the village.

Aastha gradually begins to suspect that she, too, has become entangled in this disturbing mystery. Will she manage to escape from the house? Where is Rajvir, and what will happen to her unborn child? The film moves forward by building its narrative around these unsettling questions.

Performances

Yashpal Sharma is one of the film’s biggest strengths. As Mohan Thakur, he strikes an effective balance between seriousness and mystery. His facial expressions, dialogue delivery and restrained performance make the character intriguing. In several sequences, his mere presence is enough to heighten the tension.

Sumbul Touqeer Khan delivers a convincing performance as Aastha. Trapped in an unfamiliar place after an accident and constantly worried about her unborn child, her character experiences fear, anxiety and vulnerability. Sumbul portrays these emotions with considerable naturalness, and her performance is particularly effective in the tense sequences.

Padmini Kolhapure lends the narrative gravitas through her seasoned performance as Kamini. Harsh Rajput, despite having limited screen time, makes his presence felt as Rajvir. The supporting cast also contributes to sustaining the film’s atmosphere of suspense.

Direction and Technical Aspects

Director Rajan Ramgopal Verma attempts to reveal the mystery gradually, keeping the audience curious through a series of unanswered questions surrounding the accident, the unfamiliar house, the missing companion and Manjari’s troubled past.

The isolated setting and the hills of Uttarakhand complement the narrative. Silence, sound and atmosphere play crucial roles in horror cinema, and ‘Jhaad Phoonk’ makes use of these elements to create fear and tension. The background score and sound design further enhance the impact of the mysterious sequences.

However, certain scenes could have benefited from tighter execution and more effective presentation. Nevertheless, the technical aspects largely support the film’s overall atmosphere and narrative.

Final Verdict

‘Jhaad Phoonk’ brings together horror, superstition and mystery in a story centred on a pregnant woman who finds herself in an unsettling place following a road accident. As each incident unfolds, it raises new questions and deepens the sense of uncertainty surrounding her predicament.

Yashpal Sharma’s mysterious portrayal and Sumbul Touqeer Khan’s compelling performance lend considerable strength to the film. Padmini Kolhapure and Harsh Rajput also deliver effective performances in their respective roles.

The film manages to sustain an atmosphere of fear and suspense through much of its narrative, although certain portions could have been presented with greater precision. For viewers who enjoy stories involving the supernatural, superstition and suspense, ‘Jhaad Phoonk’ makes for a worthwhile watch.

Film: Jhaad Phoonk

Cast: Yashpal Sharma, Padmini Kolhapure, Sumbul Touqeer Khan, Harsh Rajput and Apratim Singh

Director: Rajan Ramgopal Verma

Producer:Shailesh Parihaar

Co-producer: Vrunda Brahmbhatt

Genre: Horror

Platform: JioHotstar

Rating: 3.5/5

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar