Director: Mahesh V. Manjrekar
Starring: Bipasha Basu, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Dino Morea, Amrita Arora, Neha Dhupia, Yana Gupta, Himanshu Malik, Payal Rohatgi, and Abhishek Bachchan (guest appearance)
Music: Shamir Tandon, Anand Raj Anand, Blue, Naresh Sharma

the third day of this month, the box office sees clash of two supernatural films. The good news about both the films is that they try to come out of the conventional set up and break the stereotype of Bollywood.

The good news is bad news too. The directors dealing with super naturals in Hindi Cinema have still not come out of the hangover of Ramsey movies.

The scene-by-scene development is very rare in these kinds of films and most of the time the director tries to hold the secret till the end and that seems to be the only purpose for him to make a film like this.

Director Mahesh Manjrekar has ventured in a new genre with 'Rakht', produced by noted businessman Vijay Malaya along with Suniel Shetty's production house Popcorn Films.

Like the other film released this Friday, 'Rakht' too moves ahead with a woman being its main character. If it was Sandra in 'Hum Kaun Hain', it is Drishti in 'Rakht' who is the main focus.

Drishti means vision and it is the vision of all the characters involved in the story that makes 'Rakht' look like an eerie film. The film has very good visual appeal and while Manjrekar has been successful in presenting it in a realistic format, it also lacks pace and falls flat when it needs the twist.

Bipasha Basu for the first time in her career tries to show that she can act too, besides doing a body show. She plays Drishti, the pivotal role. She is a woman who can foresee future and also smell the danger.

She is a widow and lives with his son. Rahul (Sanjay Dutt), who is a school principal. He seeks her help as his fianc Natasha (Amrita Arora) has been untraceable after a night hangout. Then there is Sunny (Dino Moreo) who does not share a very good relation with his wife Rhea (Neha Dhupia).

The two stories meet at Drishti's home as Rhea too seeks her help for saving her married life. Unexpectedly Drishti advises Rhea to end her relations with Sunny.

Before she could realize the fact about Drishti saying so, enters Mohit (Suniel Shetty) who has a soft corner for Drishti and works as a car mechanic in a nearby garage. Mohit has a turbulent past.

All the characters entangle as the story progresses and every one is suspicious about the other. Inspired by Hollywood flick 'The Gift' by Sam Raimi (director of 'Spiderman 2'), 'Rakht' also draws similarity with Madhuri Dixit starrer '100 Days'.

Mahesh Manjrekar tries his luck with 'Rakht' and succeeds to some extent because of setting and story line. Tarot card reading is a new thing for rural people, and there is ample scope for the viewers in Metros.

Manjrekar sets the film in a surrounding that is not only mystic but also has an eerie setting. Manjrekar also gets great help from his technical associates. The colour scheme is very effective and to keep the story moving in modern era is not an easy task.

Sandeep Chowta givers the biggest help by his background music. One thinks why a composer like him has chosen to retain some oft- repeated sounds in most of the horror films made in India.

There are many weak points too. If the slow pace mars its overall impact, the climax takes away all the pressure built up in the film. Manjrekar also fails to sustain in characterization, the imbalance in portrayal of its protagonists cast heavily in managing the balance between the good and the evil.

Among performers it is really a Bipasha Basu film. All other characters are used as props around her. If Neha Dhupia in her miniscule role-plays the catalyst, Suniel Shetty is the main highlight.

It is he who takes the cause of on his shoulder and makes the story move forward. Bipasha for the first time has shown the capability that she can act too though still there is a lot that she has to learn.

She emotes well but when it comes to show a perfect balance between the emotions she finds herself losing the ground. Dino Moreo comes as a surprise as he has acted very well.

All the oomph shown by Amrita Arora and Yana Gupta adds to usual appeal of the film, but the music lacks the quality. There is also no haunting number, very useful in most cases in films like this.

Himanshu Malik, Payal Rohtagi, Sachin Khedekar and Shivaji Satam lend good support whereas Sanju Baba stands apart from all of them as usual. Neha Dhupia does not get much scope to act. Suniel Shetty plays his role as battered child very well. It is his role that generates a lot of curiosity in the film.

'Rakht' is another chapter in the new face of changing Bollywood as it tries to break the set norms of Hindi cinema. Since the film lacks quality in screenplay and music, its fate depends on multiplexes.

The film also does not have a positive breeze in its favor. With a tough competition from 'Hum Kaun Hain', it will not be easy for it to establish itself at the box office.