Directed by: Kannan Iyer
IMDb link: Ek Thi Daayan (2013)
(Spoilers Ahead…)
In this Ek Thi Daayan review, I explore how director Kannan Iyer tries to deliver a great horror movie. He is on the right track until the curse of the second half brings the film down.
Ek Thi Daayan Plot: A Magician’s Haunted Past
Bejoy, also known as Bobo (Emraan Hashmi), is a famous and successful magician. But his life is not as perfect as it looks. He is haunted by scary dreams from his childhood. His doctor helps him remember his past, where we meet his father and a mysterious woman named Diana (Konkona Sen Sharma).
Bobo believes Diana is a real witch, or a ‘daayan,’ who ruined his family. As a grown-up, Bobo has a loving girlfriend named Tamara (Huma Qureshi). But when a new, mysterious woman named Lisa (Kalki Koechlin) enters his life, Bobo fears that the witch has returned.
A Very Strong First Half
I loved the story the moment I read about it, and I was very curious to watch the film. Up to the first half, everything went right.
Konkona is very scary. The way she delivers her dialogues, her eye expressions, and her movements are all great. In one second-half scene, she goes a bit over the top, but the director is to blame there. Her first entry scene, the hide-and-seek game, and the way her voice changes when she counts were my favorite parts.
The first half is great, except for a dream sequence that felt unwanted. But then again, you cannot make a horror film without one. The interval gives you a feeling of suspense about what will happen next. It keeps you interested. The director plays with the story of Bobo’s past life when he was haunted by the daayan, instead of just showing typical horror scares.
Why the Second Half Disappointed Me
But in the second half, the screenplay goes all over the place. Even the good songs like “Totey Udh Gaye” and “Yaaram” create less impact. Kalki’s entry happens a bit too late, and her character should have been written better.
The final ending is where the director uses the same old formula. A human fights evil in a dramatic way, which ignores all the logic the movie built up until then. There is a particular twist that I guessed before watching the movie, and it falls flat when you think about the whole story. I wonder why the daayan had to wait so long to return.
Also, there was an overdose of the hair braid idea (that a witch’s power is hidden in her hair). If I was the director, I would use it only twice: once in favor of the witch, and once against her. That is it.
Great Acting by the Cast
Emraan Hashmi does a commendable job once more. I liked the way he handles the scenes where he feels haunted by his past. His first magic act and the scene with Kalki were his best moments. Huma Qureshi is good, and I especially loved her dance steps in “Totey Udh Gaye” (just like I loved her in “O Womaniya”). Kalki is okay.
A special mention goes to Vishesh Tiwari and Sara Arjun, who play young Bobo and his little sister Misha. They were super good, cute, and funny.
Ek Thi Daayan Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, Ek Thi Daayan had the chance to be one of the best horror and supernatural movies. The director, Kannan Iyer, does extremely well in giving a dark feel to the movie and keeping the suspense high until the interval. But a weak second half spoils everything.
My Rating: 6/10
(In case you missed out, check out my review of Oppenheimer here).
