Every so often, a Bollywood thriller arrives that grips you from its opening moments and refuses to let go. Shaitaan (2024), directed by Vikas Bahl, is one such film. Adapted from the Gujarati hit Vash, this supernatural horror-thriller brings together Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, Jyothika, and Janki Bodiwala in a tense, nerve-shredding battle between a loving family and an enigmatic, malevolent stranger. With its blend of occult horror, psychological warfare, and primal parental love, Shaitaan offers a rare, unsettling ride that lingers long after the credits roll.

Plot: When Hospitality Turns to Horror

Kabir Rishi (Ajay Devgn) is a chartered accountant living a peaceful life in Dehradun with his wife Jyoti (Jyothika) and their two children, Janhvi (Janki Bodiwala) and Dhruv. Seeking respite from routine, the family heads to their secluded farmhouse in the hills. On their way, a chance encounter at a roadside café introduces them to Vanraj Kashyap (R. Madhavan), a stranger with an unsettling calmness.

Vanraj’s initial gestures seem harmless, he offers Janhvi a laddoo and later, a packet of biscuits with the cryptic instruction to eat them at the farmhouse. But what starts as a random act of kindness soon spirals into a nightmare. Once at the farmhouse, Vanraj appears at their door, claiming his phone battery has died. Janhvi, already under his spell, lets him in.

It doesn’t take long for the family to sense something is terribly wrong. Vanraj’s influence over Janhvi grows, manifesting in disturbing ways: she endangers her younger brother, destroys all communication devices, and obeys Vanraj’s every command with robotic precision. The family’s attempts to expel Vanraj are thwarted by his supernatural grip on Janhvi, and he soon reveals his true nature practitioner of black magic who intends to use Janhvi for a sinister ritual.

The Descent: A Family Torn Apart

As Vanraj’s control deepens, the family is subjected to escalating torment. He humiliates Janhvi, forces her to slap her father, and compels her to commit increasingly violent acts against her brother. Jyoti’s desperate call to the police, using a hidden phone, only results in more terror: Vanraj threatens to have Janhvi blow up the house if the family reveals anything to the authorities.

Kabir, desperate to save his daughter, tries to negotiate with Vanraj, offering money. Vanraj, revealing his true agenda, burns the cash and declares himself a being above humanity, intent on stripping people of their free will. He forces Janhvi to dance until exhaustion, guards him with a knife, and even changes clothes in front of her family, pushing the family to their breaking point.

A violent confrontation ensues, with Kabir and Jyoti attacking Vanraj. But Vanraj, ever the puppet master, gives Janhvi a final command to laugh herself to death. Kabir, realizing that Janhvi will obey even in Vanraj’s absence, is forced to let him go. Before leaving, Vanraj commands Janhvi to kill her brother. In a horrifying sequence, she pushes Dhruv off the terrace. Miraculously, he survives, but the family is shattered.

The Ritual and the Final Showdown

With their son gravely injured and their daughter lost to Vanraj’s will, Kabir and Jyoti finally relent, giving Vanraj permission to take Janhvi. As Vanraj disappears into the night with Janhvi, Kabir’s resolve hardens. Secretly, he has planted a tracker in Vanraj’s phone and follows him to a remote lair.

There, Kabir discovers the full extent of Vanraj’s evil: 108 girls, including Janhvi, all hypnotized and awaiting sacrifice in a ritual meant to grant Vanraj the power to control anyone. As Vanraj begins the ceremony, Kabir intervenes. In a brutal fight, Kabir cuts out Vanraj’s tongue, stripping him of his power to command. But the danger isn’t over-the girls, still under Vanraj’s last command, turn on Kabir.

Thinking quickly, Kabir plays a doctored recording of Vanraj’s voice, instructing the girls to return to normal. The spell is broken. Police arrive, the girls are rescued, and Kabir’s family is reunited. Vanraj, however, vanishes without a trace.

The Aftermath: A Devil’s Justice

A year later, the true extent of Kabir’s vengeance is revealed. Vanraj, now tongueless and powerless, is imprisoned in a secret underground chamber by Kabir. The tables have turned; the tormentor becomes the tormented. Kabir, feeding Vanraj dead rats and tea leaves, taunts him, declaring that true power lies not in domination, but in the love and fury of a parent protecting their child. The film ends with Kabir promising to return the next day, leaving Vanraj to suffer in his own private hell.

Performances: A Battle of Wills

Ajay Devgn as Kabir Rishi

Ajay Devgn delivers a restrained yet intense performance. As Kabir, he embodies the everyman thrust into unimaginable horror, his stoicism giving way to desperation and finally, righteous fury. Devgn’s portrayal of a father’s helplessness and resolve is both believable and moving, anchoring the film’s emotional core.

R. Madhavan as Vanraj Kashyap

Madhavan is chilling as Vanraj, blending charm, menace, and supernatural authority. His calm, almost playful sadism makes Vanraj one of the most memorable antagonists in recent Bollywood. Madhavan’s ability to switch from affable guest to demonic puppeteer is genuinely unsettling.

Jyothika and Janki Bodiwala

Jyothika, as Jyoti, brings warmth and grit to the role of a mother pushed to the edge. Janki Bodiwala, as Janhvi, delivers a standout performance, capturing the terror, confusion, and humiliation of a teenager under supernatural control. Her physicality and emotional range make Janhvi’s ordeal deeply affecting.

Supporting Cast

The supporting roles, especially the young actor playing Dhruv, add to the film’s realism and stakes. The ensemble’s chemistry makes the family’s trauma all the more palpable.

Direction, Screenplay, and Atmosphere

Director Vikas Bahl crafts a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere, making the farmhouse both a sanctuary and a prison. The screenplay is tight, escalating the horror with each act and never letting the tension flag. The use of black magic, hypnosis, and psychological manipulation is handled with a blend of realism and supernatural flair, keeping the audience guessing about the limits of Vanraj’s power.

The film’s pacing is relentless. There are no unnecessary subplots or digressions; every scene ratchets up the stakes. The dialogue is sharp, especially in the confrontations between Kabir and Vanraj, where philosophical debates about free will, evil, and parental love play out beneath the surface terror.

Cinematography, Music, and Technical Craft

The cinematography amplifies the sense of isolation and dread, with tight framing, dim lighting, and clever use of shadows. The farmhouse’s interiors become increasingly oppressive as Vanraj’s grip tightens.

The background score is haunting, using traditional instruments and eerie motifs to evoke a sense of ancient evil. Sound design is crucial, with every creak, whisper, and command adding to the film’s unnerving mood.

Themes: Free Will, Parental Sacrifice, and the Nature of Evil

Shaitaan is more than a supernatural thriller; it’s a meditation on control and resistance. Vanraj’s obsession with stripping away free will is contrasted with Kabir and Jyoti’s desperate fight to reclaim their daughter’s agency. The film explores the limits of parental love-what lines would you cross to save your child?

There’s also a subtle commentary on the seductive nature of evil. Vanraj doesn’t just control Janhvi; he tries to break the family’s spirit, testing their loyalty, morality, and sanity. The final act, where Kabir becomes Vanraj’s jailer, raises questions about the cycle of vengeance and the darkness that can take root even in the most righteous hearts.

Emotional Impact: A Relentless, Unsettling Ride

Few recent Hindi films have sustained such high tension for so long. The horror is not just in the supernatural, but in the psychological torment-the humiliation of Janhvi, the helplessness of her parents, the terror of losing control over one’s own mind and body. The film’s emotional peaks are raw and unflinching, making the moments of triumph hard-won and cathartic.

Strengths

• Outstanding performances by Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, and Janki Bodiwala.

• A taut, relentless screenplay with no wasted moments.

• Atmospheric direction that keeps the audience on edge.

• Inventive use of black magic and psychological horror.

• A powerful emotional core rooted in parental love and sacrifice.

Weaknesses

• Intensity may be overwhelming for some viewers, especially in scenes of humiliation and violence.

• Minimal backstory for Vanraj; his motivations remain largely symbolic, which may leave some viewers wanting more depth.

• Some horror tropes (isolated farmhouse, cut-off communication) are familiar, though executed with fresh energy.

Conclusion: A New Benchmark for Bollywood Horror-Thrillers

Shaitaan is a rare Bollywood horror-thriller that delivers both supernatural chills and genuine emotional stakes. It’s a story about the darkness that can invade even the safest spaces- and the fierce, sometimes monstrous love that drives parents to fight back. With stellar performances, a razor-sharp script, and a director unafraid to push boundaries, Shaitaan stands as one of the most gripping and unsettling Hindi films in recent memory.

If you’re looking for a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat, challenge your notions of good and evil, and leave you haunted long after it ends, Shaitaan is a must-watch.