Forest Goddess Myth: A Couple's Faith Tested

In the village of Devanchal, a couple, Rishi and Mamta, return for Chhath Puja and a family land dispute. Their visit is overshadowed by the loss of their unborn child six years prior, impacting their faith. Devanchal adheres to a strict rule: no one enters the forest after sunset, fearing ancient supernatural entities known as phuddakke.

Local legend states a king appeased Van Devi, who then trapped these forces in the forest and created a protective boundary. A special bracelet, gifted by the goddess, allows the rightful heir to enter the forest safely after dark. Rishi, a rationalist disillusioned by loss, becomes entangled in these beliefs when he ventures into the forbidden woods, which villagers interpret as a sign of his lineage.

The narrative attempts to explore a collision between development, symbolized by a proposed road through the forest, and inherited beliefs. However, the plot shifts focus to Deepak, who murders his father to obtain the bracelet, allowing him to enter the forest and become possessed by a dark force. This transforms the film into a spectacle of good versus evil.

Despite aiming for grandeur, the film falters, becoming less intriguing as it over-explains its mythology. The forest, a crucial element, lacks genuine menace, with VFX and background scores failing to create consistent tension. The Chhath Puja sequences offer a glimpse of convincing world-building and Mamta's devotion provides Tamannaah Bhatia with strong moments.

Actors like Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia struggle to overcome a screenplay that offers insufficient space for their characters' emotional journeys and chemistry. Sunil Grover's portrayal of Deepak becomes predictable, while Anup Soni and Shweta Tiwari are underutilized. Manish Paul provides comic relief as Rishi's friend VP.

The film is a frustrating mix of compelling folklore elements—a goddess, a forbidden forest, a grieving couple—that are overshadowed by excessive plot additions. While moments of atmospheric tension and eerie folklore are visible, the story ultimately deviates from its promising, unsettling beginning into a spectacle that diminishes its initial impact.