The Vvaan Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sunil Grover, Maniesh Paul, Shweta Tiwari, Anup Soni
Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
What’s Good: The absolute sincerity with which Indian folklore, regional rituals, and spiritual devotion are handled.
What’s Bad: A slight dip in the narrative of the first half, and the comic relief!
Loo Break: Strictly in the interval
Watch or Not? Yes, because you rarely get to see mythology and folklore done right.
Language: Hindi
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 2 hours and 17 minutes
User Rating:
There is a moment in The Vvaan where Tamannaah Bhatia, portraying a metropolitan woman, attempts to explain faith to her young niece. She recites, “Jug Sahastra Yojan Par Bhanu, Leelyo Taahi Madhur Phal Jaanu,” illustrating how the exact distance between the Sun and the Earth is recorded in the Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Tamannaah’s character, Mamta, goes on to explain that science and faith consistently walk side by side. This sequence immediately establishes the tone for The Vvaan—a picture that discovers the roots of belief without challenging scientific progress or development.
Bollywood has long attempted to blend folklore and fantasy, trying to decode the blueprint for a successful feature. While projects like Brahmastra and Maa saw mixed results, Chhathi Maiya appears to have granted the right formula this time around, yielding an ideal fusion of folklore and fantasy in Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s film, helmed by Deepak Mishra and produced by Balaji Motion Pictures alongside TVF.
Does The Vvaan represent a completely flawless foray into the folklore genre? Not yet. But does it satisfyingly deliver the right blend of folklore and fantasy? Absolutely. It stands as that rare, large-scale mythological venture that places enough trust in its own belief system to make it the central focus rather than mere background dressing. That is precisely where the movie inspires optimism. Functioning as a commercially entertaining feature just past the two-hour mark, it speaks to a broad target demographic: the family audience. It offers something for everyone, making it a solid watch.
The Vvaan Movie Review: Script Analysis
The plot unfolds gradually throughout the opening half. Rishi (Sidharth Malhotra) is an architect based in Mumbai alongside his wife Mamta (Tamannaah Bhatia). Mamta wishes to travel to their ancestral village after a six-year absence during Chhath Pooja to offer prayers to Chhathi Maiya. Rishi is initially reluctant, but circumstances shift when his brother calls from the village to discuss matters concerning their ancestral property.
Upon Rishi’s arrival in the fictional village of Devanchal, the narrative introduces the local lore surrounding Vvaan Devi and a forbidden forest that is impeding regional development. Rishi initially brushes off his own family’s superstitions, only for the forbidden forest at the village perimeter to prove him resoundingly mistaken. What begins as local gossip regarding an ancient curse quickly escalates into something ancient and divine.
Is Rishi the chosen individual destined to stand between his people and a dark lord, equipped only with the blessings of Vvaan Devi? The narrative slowly unfurls, diving deep into traditions, spirituality, mythology, fantasy, and folklore to weave an impressive tale.
The Vvaan Movie Review: Star Performance
Sidharth Malhotra navigates the transition from disbelief to devotion with greater conviction than anticipated, stepping up to anchor the mythological confrontations rather than getting overshadowed by them. Certain flashback sequences could have been structured better, which is where his performance occasionally feels slightly disconnected. Tamannaah Bhatia, marking her first feature opposite Sidharth, serves as the true anchor of the film. Though she does not lead from the front, she holds the narrative together through her portrayal of faith and devotion.
Sunil Grover takes on the antagonist role without offering major surprises—not due to any lack of skill, but because audiences are already well aware that there are few theatrical styles this actor cannot master.
The supporting ensemble—featuring Shweta Tiwari, Maniesh Paul, and Anup Soni—carries the primary plot and backstories brilliantly. Sulbha Arya’s comic relief could easily have been omitted, and her talent might have been better utilized in a more substantial role. Meanwhile, Milind Gunaji’s appearance as the village pandit leaves very little impact.
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The Vvaan Movie Review: Direction, Music
Deepak Mishra constructs The Vvaan within familiar territory—a transformation story moving from skepticism to belief—yet the picture earns strong marks as an effective devotional feature. The mythology surrounding the forest is integrated with authentic details rather than being treated as mere superstition. By the time the goddess is revealed, viewers are emotionally invested rather than simply waiting for visual effects to validate themselves. Deepak Mishra and Arunabh Kumar clearly did their homework regarding devotional cinema and folklore. The aesthetic gradually evokes a vibe reminiscent of Panchatantra meeting Amar Chitra Katha, and after a slightly tentative first half, the production delivers strongly in the second. Additionally, Anandeshwar Dwivedi’s dialogue writing prevents the project from becoming preachy for even a single scene, an achievement deserving of praise. The mythological backstories are clearly articulated, and full credit goes to the writing department.
The temple settings appear exceptionally authentic, believable, and powerful thanks to a raw, rustic atmosphere. The grandeur is achieved not through constructed sets, but via traditional chants, shlokas, and divine moments that treat the folklore with profound sincerity and conviction, avoiding any descent into camp. While the villain and dark forces could easily have been overly glorified or caricatured, the storytelling exercises restraint. This decision to hold back on explicit exposition and leave room for the audience to feel and believe pays dividends.
While the comic relief may not resonate with everyone personally, it serves to engage younger viewers, thereby broadening the target audience scope. Deepak Mishra demonstrates a clear command over his material, knowing precisely when to pause and allow a scene to breathe.
Tanishk Bagchi, Vishal Mishra, Sandeep Shirodkar, Amit Trivedi, and Sam CD execute a stellar job with the soundtrack. The devotional compositions land remarkably well within the soundscape, featuring pieces like Aigiri Nandini and the Shiva Tandav Stotra. The musical arrangement accompanying the Shiva Stotra—featuring a bull arriving to rescue the protagonist as he calls upon Lord Nandi—is particularly effective, elevated significantly by the background score.
The Vvaan Movie Review: The Last Word
The Vvaan stands as Bollywood’s most confident endeavor yet within the folklore-fantasy sphere. It respects its subject matter, exhibits visual ambition, maintains loyalty to its narrative core, and is anchored by a lead pair possessing genuine on-screen chemistry. Although it stumbles momentarily during comedic beats or when the antagonist arc falls slightly flat, it never loses sight of its message concerning faith, home, and the tales we dismiss until they intervene on our behalf. It delivers a true Panchatantra and Amar Chitra Katha sensibility packaged with heart, remaining firmly rooted in tradition and morals. The blessings of Chhathi Maiya are palpable in spirit. While one might wish the creative team had invested slightly more effort into the overall craft to make it a masterpiece, it remains a notable achievement.
3.5 stars!
The Vvaan Trailer
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