Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s folk horror drama has an intriguing premise but weak writing, uneven performances and unconvincing visuals keep it from reaching its potential
The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest brings together Indian folklore, mythology, Chhath traditions and supernatural mystery in a story that looks promising on paper. The concept gives the film plenty of room to build an atmospheric and rooted horror experience.
However, the execution repeatedly gets in its own way, leaving behind a film that feels far less impactful than its premise suggests. The story follows Rishi (Sidharth Malhotra) and Mamta (Tamannaah Bhatia), a couple who return to their ancestral village during Chhath Puja. Their visit soon pulls them into an old legend surrounding a forbidden forest.
The first half creates enough curiosity to keep the mystery alive. The rural setting gives the film a distinct identity while its folklore driven world adds a sense of unfamiliarity. Unfortunately, the screenplay struggles to maintain that intrigue once the film begins revealing more about its mythology.
Performances: ⭐️
Sidharth Malhotra delivers the film’s most disappointing performance. His expressions remain largely flat, particularly during the emotional portions while his dialogue delivery often lacks the intensity that the material demands.
Rishi needs to evolve as the mystery surrounding him deepens but Sidharth rarely gives the character enough emotional weight. Several important moments therefore fail to land with the impact they should have.
Tamannaah Bhatia brings sincerity to Mamta but the screenplay gives her limited material to work with. Her character’s desire to become a mother creates some of the film’s more human moments yet the writing never develops that emotional thread strongly enough.
Maniesh Paul provides the biggest surprise. His comic timing injects energy into the proceedings and gives the film some welcome lighter moments whenever he appears.
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Story & Direction: ⭐️⭐️
The film’s concept remains its strongest department. The combination of folklore, faith, a sacred forest and supernatural mythology gives The Vvaan an interesting foundation. The problem begins when the screenplay has to expand that foundation into a complete story.
Director Deepak Kumar Mishra initially establishes the atmosphere effectively, but the film gradually loses control of its mythology. The second half introduces too many explanations and backstories reducing the mystery instead of strengthening it.
The climax tries to compensate with scale and noise but it struggles to deliver the emotional payoff the first half promises.
The final 30 minutes improve the pace to some extent but the film has already lost much of its momentum by then.
Music & BGM: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The background score stands among the film’s better elements. It creates atmosphere during several supernatural sequences and adds tension to moments where the screenplay itself struggles to generate enough suspense.
The songs, however, do not work as effectively. Several dance numbers feel unnecessary and interrupt the narrative rather than supporting it. Instead of naturally blending into the story, some songs make the film feel longer and less focused.
The film also faced a pre-release controversy involving its music after vocalist Sargam Vaish alleged that his recording of Aigiri Nandini had been used without permission. The makers later acquired the required synchronisation rights after the issue came to light.
Cinematography & Visuals: ⭐️
The visual execution represents another significant weakness. The Vvaan attempts to create a large supernatural world but several CGI heavy sequences look artificial instead of immersive. The difference becomes particularly noticeable when the film shifts between its grounded village portions and its larger supernatural sequences.
The rural sections often feel more believable while the ambitious VFX moments fail to achieve the same level of realism. The film clearly aims for spectacle but the visual effects do not consistently support that ambition.
The Final Verdict:
The Vvaan has a genuinely interesting story buried inside an uneven execution. Its folklore, Chhath backdrop and forbidden forest mythology provide enough material for a memorable supernatural drama.
Unfortunately, the screenplay repeatedly loses focus while the performances and visual effects fail to match the strength of the central idea. Sidharth Malhotra’s underwhelming performance, Tamannaah Bhatia’s limited emotional material, inconsistent VFX, unnecessary songs and a messy second half ultimately hold the film back.
At the same time, the film has found some appreciation among viewers who enjoyed its folklore unpredictability and attempt to explore a less familiar supernatural setting.
The theatrical response could therefore remain more divided than completely negative.
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️/5
Verdict: The Vvaan works as a one time watch for viewers who enjoy supernatural folklore and the lead cast but its execution keeps it from becoming the theatrical experience its concept promised.
