''Aatma'' is a 2013 Indian
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
psychological
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between t ...
horror film
Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes.
Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...
directed by Suparn Verma and starring
Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu Singh Grover (born 7 January 1979) is an Indian actress and former model. Primarily known for her work in Hindi films, she has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and English films. Basu is the recipient of numerous accolade ...
and
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Nawazuddin Siddiqui (; born 19 May 1974) is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is an alumnus of the National School of Drama. Siddiqui's feature film debut was alongside director Prashant Bhargava in ''Patang'' (2012). He ga ...
in lead roles and
Shernaz Patel
Shernaz Patel is an Indian film and theatre actor, who works in Hindi and English films, most known for her roles in films like ''Black'' (2005) and '' Guzaarish'' (2010) and English language theatre in Mumbai. She made her theatre debut with ' ...
and Doyel Dhawan in supporting roles. ''Aatma'' released on 22 March 2013 and centers on a mother who must fight to keep her daughter safe from the ghost of her husband.
Plot
Nia Mehra (Doyel Dhawan) is the daughter of Maya Verma (
Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu Singh Grover (born 7 January 1979) is an Indian actress and former model. Primarily known for her work in Hindi films, she has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and English films. Basu is the recipient of numerous accolade ...
) and Abhay Mehra (
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Nawazuddin Siddiqui (; born 19 May 1974) is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is an alumnus of the National School of Drama. Siddiqui's feature film debut was alongside director Prashant Bhargava in ''Patang'' (2012). He ga ...
), who are divorced. Maya and Nia live with Maya's parents (
Shiv Subramaniam) and (
Shernaz Patel
Shernaz Patel is an Indian film and theatre actor, who works in Hindi and English films, most known for her roles in films like ''Black'' (2005) and '' Guzaarish'' (2010) and English language theatre in Mumbai. She made her theatre debut with ' ...
). Nia is unaware of the fact that her father is dead. Maya deliberately hides the truth from her as Nia is a sensitive child and adores her father. Things start getting bizarre when Paras, Nia's classmate who bullies her in the classroom, ends up dead. Soon after, Nia's teacher, Mrs. Sinha, who complains about Nia, is also found dead. Moreover, Nia often starts talking to her dead father.
Concerned about the absurd change in Nia's behavior, Maya takes her for counselling. It is revealed that Maya was Forced into an arranged marriage with Abhay who was a hot-tempered man. He lost his job and friends because of his frequent violent bouts of anger and also suspected Maya of having an affair with her colleague, Pankaj However, Abhay loved his daughter more than anything else. After Abhay continuously starts beating up Maya Daily, she files for divorce and gets the sole custody of Nia. Abhay cannot bear this and threatens Maya that he will take Nia away from her. Shortly after the hearing and the pronouncement of the Family court, Abhay dies in a car accident. After the session, the counsellor (
Mohan Kapoor
Mohan Kapur (born 27 October 1965) is an Indian actor, voice artist and television host who works predominantly in Hindi films and television.
Career
Mohan is famous for being the first South Asian host of the first South Asian original progra ...
) advises Maya to take Nia out for the weekend. The mother daughter duo do so but Abhay possesses Nia and Again Beat Up Maya and threatens her that he will take their daughter away with him.
Maya consults a priest (
Darshan Jariwala
Darshan Jariwala (born 29 September 1958) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films, television and stage. He won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Gandhi, My Father''. He is popular for his show in which he was seen as ...
), who tells Maya that as long as she and her daughter share a strong bond of love, Abhay won't be able to kill either of them. After the counsellor tries to convince Nia that her father is dead, the counsellor himself is found dead. Later, Abhay kills Maya's friend Aakanskha for which Maya is framed and arrested. She is admitted in a mental health facility centre in confinement for treatment. Maya's mother calls the priest home to get the home blessed from the evil spirit. Abhay kills the priest and Maya's mother too. Maya, in a desperate bid to save her daughter, kills herself in the health centre confinement, as she remembers the priest's words that no mortal can fight a spirit. Maya becomes a spirit and saves Nia just as Abhay is about to kill her by pushing her before a fast-moving local train. Abhay Beats her Again and Try to Take Nia but She also destroys Abhay's spirit, thus ensuring Nia's safety for the rest of her life.
In an epilogue, Nia is shown celebrating her 18th birthday while Maya's spirit fondly watches her.
Cast
*
Bipasha Basu Singh Grover as Mrs. Maya Mehra/ Verma : Abhay's Widow
*
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Nawazuddin Siddiqui (; born 19 May 1974) is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is an alumnus of the National School of Drama. Siddiqui's feature film debut was alongside director Prashant Bhargava in ''Patang'' (2012). He ga ...
as Abhay Mehra : Maya's Husband
*
Doyel Dhawan as Nia Mehra : Maya and Abhay's Daughter
*
Shernaz Patel
Shernaz Patel is an Indian film and theatre actor, who works in Hindi and English films, most known for her roles in films like ''Black'' (2005) and '' Guzaarish'' (2010) and English language theatre in Mumbai. She made her theatre debut with ' ...
as Ila Verma, Maya's mother
*
Jaideep Ahlawat
Jaideep Ahlawat is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films. He completed his graduation from Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune in 2008. After completing his education, he headed Mumbai, to pursue his dreams to become an act ...
as Police Inspector Raza
*
Tillotama Shome
Tillotama Shome is an Indian actress. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 63rd Filmfare Awards for her role in ''A Death in the Gunj''. In 2021, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for portraying a praisewor ...
as Vaishali Sinha
*
Darshan Jariwala
Darshan Jariwala (born 29 September 1958) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films, television and stage. He won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Gandhi, My Father''. He is popular for his show in which he was seen as ...
as Sharma ji, priest
*
Shiv kumar Subramaniam
Shiv Kumar Subramaniam (23 December 1959 – 10 April 2022) was an Indian actor and screenwriter who is known for his role as the leading industrial tycoon I. M. Virani in the Indian television serial ''Mukti Bandhan'' on Colors channel. He i ...
as Pratap Verma, Maya's father
*
Mohan Kapoor
Mohan Kapur (born 27 October 1965) is an Indian actor, voice artist and television host who works predominantly in Hindi films and television.
Career
Mohan is famous for being the first South Asian host of the first South Asian original progra ...
as Dr Deepak Bhandare, Counsellor
*
Geetika Tyagi as Aakanksha
*
Padam Bhola as Pankaj
*
Lila Adib as old lady
* Rajeev Kumar as Sub-Inspector Naik
* Charu Shankar as Gita
*
Sumeet as Satish
*
Sharad
Sharad/Sarath/Sharath ( sa, शरद्)is the autumn season or ritu in the Hindu calendar. It roughly corresponds to the western months of mid-September to mid-November. Sharad is preceded by Varsha and followed by Hemant. The Hindu calendar c ...
as Rohit
*
Subhash Khadke as Maya's lawyer
*
Arvind Wahi as Judge
*
Faizan
Faizan ( ar, فائزن ''romanised: Faizan,'' bn, ফাইজান ''romanised: Faijan,'' ur, ''romanised: Faizan''), also spelt Faizan, Faydhan, Faizon, Faidhan, Faizaan, and Fayzan, a variant of Faiz, is a male given name and a surname. I ...
as Paras
*
Rakesh Vidua as Principal
*
Maanta Dewan as 18 year old Nia
*
Chirag
''Chirag'' (Hindi: चिराग; English: Light) is a 1969 Indian Bollywood film directed by Raj Khosla. The film stars Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh in lead roles. Apart from other plus points, it has the famous song "Teri Aankhon Ke Siwa" sun ...
as 18 year old Rahul, Nia's friend
Production
Verma first announced plans to direct ''Aatma'' in 2012, with a July 2012 announcement confirming that
Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu Singh Grover (born 7 January 1979) is an Indian actress and former model. Primarily known for her work in Hindi films, she has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and English films. Basu is the recipient of numerous accolade ...
would be performing in the film. Shortly after, it was also confirmed that
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Nawazuddin Siddiqui (; born 19 May 1974) is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is an alumnus of the National School of Drama. Siddiqui's feature film debut was alongside director Prashant Bhargava in ''Patang'' (2012). He ga ...
would be joining her in the film, marking the first time the two actors worked together. Basu has stated that she would "be a fool" to not star in the movie, with Siddiqui remarking that their pairing in the film was "an unusual pairing perhaps because Bipasha is taller, but we shared a beautiful chemistry. Siddiqui further commented that the film is a psychological thriller rather than a horror film, with Basu remarking that the film was "a strong human drama about a mother's maternal instinct and a father's attachment to his child".The film received a "A" certificate from the Censor Board of India.
Marketing material for ''Aatma'' was released in February 2013, with the official trailer releasing on 11 February 2013.
The promo of the film was also aired during the 6th Filmsaaz award ceremony held on 3 March 2013
Critical reception
Critical reception for ''Aatma'' has been mixed, with a reviewer for
Rediff.com
Rediff.com (stylized as ''rediff.com'') is an Indian news, information, entertainment and shopping web portal. It was founded in 1996. It is headquartered in Mumbai, with offices in Bangalore, New Delhi and New York City.
, it had more than 300 e ...
criticizing the film for lacking a "sense of mystery, the element of surprise that's essential for films in this genre".
NDTV
New Delhi Television Ltd is an Indian news media company focusing on broadcast and digital news publication. The company is considered to be a legacy brand that pioneered independent news broadcasting in India, and is credited for launching t ...
praised the film's acting, particularly that of Doyel Dhawan and especially of Bipasha's deep role, but also commented that they felt the film wasn't particularly frightening. In contrast,
India TV
India TV is a Hindi news channel based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. The channel was launched on 20 May 2004 by Rajat Sharma and wife Ritu Dhawan. The channel is a subsidiary of Independent News Service, which was co-founded by Sharma and Dha ...
stated that the movie's "thrilling parts" "succeeded in frightening
hem
A hem in sewing is a garment finishing method, where the edge of a piece of cloth is folded and sewn to prevent unravelling of the fabric and to adjust the length of the piece in garments, such as at the end of the sleeve or the bottom of the ga ...
, although they found the ending anticlimactic. Yahoo Movies Review stated,"The film’s linear narrative follows a very predictable plot trajectory that hardly delivers on the thrill quotient" and gave the movie a 2 star rating.
References
External links
*
* {{IMDb title, 2389974
Hindi-language horror films
2013 horror films
2010s Hindi-language films
2010s psychological horror films
2013 psychological thriller films
2013 films
Indian psychological thriller films
Indian psychological horror films
Indian horror thriller films
2013 horror thriller films