Review : Some parts of Phone Bhoot dial the ‘right numbers’!

#Horror films do have a history in #Bollywood. After a lot of attempts to scare viewers it indulged in horror-comedy genre which got appreciated. In recent times #Stree was a huge success and now a few makers do walk the path of horror-comedy genre. The recently released #PhootBhoot falls into that category and director has tried to entertain audiences with this spooky comedy. There are quite a few comedy styles which also include mad-comedy. Phone Bhoot is more of a mad comedy and less of horror. The movie unabashedly uses raw humour and entertains in parts. It’s whacky and weird at times and spooky at other times. #SharafatGayiTelLene director #GurmmeetSingh indulges in all that is odd and awkward in the occult.

Sherdil Shergill ‘Major’ (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Galileo Parthasarathy ‘Gullu’ (Ishaan Khattar) are two good for nothing youngsters on which their parents have given up. Right from their childhood they have grown up obsessed with ghosts and ghouls. One is from Punjab and the other from Tamil Nadu who have come together to become ghost busters aka bhoot busters. In comes Ragini (Katrina Kaif), a wandering soul who sells a business idea to them and asks for a favour in return. As their Phone Bhoot business is flourishing, enters Atmaram (Jackie Shroff) who is an evil ‘soul-catcher’ and finds threat to his business from Major and Gullu. He has a connection with Ragini and her lover’s death and sends his cronies to destroy them. What happens next and in-between is the crux of the story.

Phone Bhoot’s screenplay is weak but some of the dialogues collects laughter. A spectral Sutradhar who presents a voiceover narrative in the beginning, middle and end is hilarious. Also he announces a sequel too, which looks far fetched. The story indulges in whacky incidents and mad situations. Jackie Shroff’s take on his ‘Hero’ and his flute does create nostalgia. The sets are imaginatively designed and the cinematography creates perfect atmosphere. Music is passable and the film has the feel of a full-on mad hatters’ party where everything goes. Katrina Kaif looks pretty and has presents a slightly improved version of her. Siddhant Chaturvedi tries hard which results in over acting. Ishaan Khattar does well as a nerdy guy and brings both charm and spunk to his portrayal.

Phone Bhoot’s mad comedy dials, sometimes, right numbers.

Rating : **1/2