
Review of the horror film “Shaitaan”: R Madhavan gives a strong performance as the cruel monster opposite Ajay Devgn.
A family vacation takes a horrific turn when the teen daughter’s body is taken by an intruder, leaving her vulnerable to his ever-more-darkening orders.
Director: Vikas Bahl
Writers: Aamil Keeyan KhanKrishnadev Yagnik
Stars: Ajay DevgnMadhavanJyotika

Daddy-saving-daughter narratives keep a lot of elderly action heroes competitive in the box office worldwide. This is the third consecutive movie, following Drishyam and Bholaa, in which Ajay Devgn plays an overbearing father who is racing against time to save his beloved from a monster. The action star’s invincibility was undeniable in Bholaa, but in Shaitaan, like in Drishyam, he faces an intimidating wall named R. Madhavan, which makes the competition much more equal and hence interesting.
It’s interesting to note that Shaitaan’s plot is adapted from a regional movie, just as Drishyam. With different degrees of success, director Vikas Bahl is tackling a new genre with each film, and in Vash, the Gujarati film, he has created a frenzied sensory experience. Even though it is difficult to sell a supernatural event in 2024, Vikas succeeds in making an emotional connection with an unconvinced audience, much like Ram Gopal Varma did in the past.
Shaitaan Trailer | Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan, Jyotika | Jio Studios, Devgn Films, Panorama Studios