Movie: Phobia
Direction: Pawan Kripalani
Cast: Radhika Apte, Satyadeep Mishra, Ankur Vikal, Yashaswani Dayama, Nivedita Bhattacharya
Music: Daniel B George
Cinematographer: Jayakrishna Gummadi
Editor: Pooja Ladha Surti
Genre: Thriller
Rating: ∗∗∗∗
What is it about: This film is about Mehak (Radhika Apte), who after a dreadful incident gets “Agoraphobic – the irrational fear of open or public places”. How this fear affects her life forms the crux of the story directed by Pawan Kripalani from the fame of “Ragini MMS” & “Darr @ The Mall”.
Why it’s disappointing: This could stay put for this film.
What to watch out for: How many of us have irrational fear of anything at all, every one of us is scared of something and this irrational fear is based in our sub conscious. Especially when you’re home alone at night, the crazy things you think of when you walk through the living room to the kitchen for a midnight snack. A mild shadow of a broom or the unrealistic shape in the dark which you think is following you. Fear is the crux of human life, which one can be denial but it does lives in everyone.
PHOBIA brings out a fear of one such kind, which was tastefully penned and executed by the director Pawan Kirpalani. What makes this film even more convincing is the lead character which was a perfect pick by the makers. Radhika Apte, an exceptional actress, who is scoring across all the languages. Her performance in fact puts you through the fear that character is experiencing, which makes this film the most creepiest and gripping. She played it to the right note, which becomes a part of the audience who are clueless what will hit them next. Radhika Apte is one of finest gift to Bollywood.
The supporting cast Satyadeep Mishra & Yashaswani Dayama were great, they made a great ensemble in this thriller.
The film oscillates between horror and thriller, which was distributed in perfect proportions. Pawan made sure to scare the hell out of the audience, and most of all you’ll hardly expect few things to hit you. But when they do, you’re bound to jump from your seat or laugh it off to cover your fear.
The cinematography was brilliant by Jayakrishna Gummadi, he captured the fear in the creepiest way, and that was cut precisely by Pooja Ladha Surti. Background score by Karan Gour was pulsating which was designed perfectly by Vivek Sachidanand.
Verdict: Pawan Kirpalani was at his best in executing this chilling thriller, which when experienced gives you the shivers at required instances in the film. Just when you think you have cracked the mystery Pawan knocks you off, with another one. Definitely worth a watch, and if you catch this during the night, I’m definitely not responsible. I can suggest you to watch this at a good cinema hall with great sound to experience the fear in its full form.
