The Vvaan Review: Sidharth Malhotra’s Forest Fantasy Has Heart But Loses Its Way

A sacred forest, an ancient legend, and a man forced to confront the supernatural — “The Vvaan: Force of the Forest” had all the ingredients for a gripping fantasy thriller. Unfortunately, this Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia starrer, which released in theaters on September 25, ends up a promising idea buried under too many competing tones.

Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra (best known for the grounded world of Panchayat), the film follows Rishi, a rational, atheist civil engineer played by Malhotra, who returns to his hometown Devanchal in Bihar during Chhath Puja to settle a land dispute. There, he stumbles into a forest believed to be protected by a supernatural force — one villagers are forbidden from entering after dark. What follows is a clash between faith, greed, and modern development.

The film’s biggest strength is its world-building — the Van Devi legend, the Bhutakkas, and the Bihar-Chhath Puja backdrop give it a genuinely distinctive flavor rarely seen in Hindi fantasy cinema. The first half sets up this atmosphere well, and Malhotra-Bhatia’s pairing adds emotional grounding. But the second half spirals between folklore, superhero-style action, family drama, and forced comedy without finding a consistent rhythm, leaving the forest — meant to be the film’s biggest character — strangely underused.

The Vvaan: Overview

Performance Highlights

Malhotra brings physical conviction to Rishi, though the writing limits his emotional arc. Sunil Grover pushes past his comic image as the antagonist, while veteran Sulbha Arya delivers scene-stealing lighter moments.

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