Common Sense Media Review
By Sakhi Thirani
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Indian horror-comedy has jump scares, bloody violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bhool Bhulaiyaa
What's the Story?
In BHOOL BHULAIYAA, Siddharth (Shiney Ahuja) and Avni (Vidya Balan) return to India from the United States to live in their ancestral home. This is despite warnings from relatives that the place is haunted by the spirit of Manjulika. However, when things start going awry and the pair start to experience supernatural events, Siddharth calls his friend, Aditya (Akshay Kumar), a renowned psychiatrist. Will Aditya be able to save them all before it gets too late?
Is It Any Good?
This Indian horror-comedy is an entertaining labyrinthine of a mystery that has earned a cult following. Bhool Bhulaiyaa's victory relies heavily on Balan's brilliant performance that shows careful nuance and sends chills even on repeat viewing. Kumar's character, however, often gets creepy and annoying. While comedy is a central element of the film, the humor is farcical and a littering of misogynistic remarks is disappointing. Yet despite these concerns, there's enough to keep the viewer invested, with Pritam's spectacular music and singers KK and Shreya Ghoshal's soothing voices adding to the enjoyment. Generating a debate between the supernatural and the scientific, while the film leans toward the latter, there is arguably enough ambiguity to leave the film open to interpretation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Bhool Bhulaiyaa. How did it affect you? How much violence is actually shown? Do some types of media violence have different impact than others?
Was the movie scary? What's the appeal of horror movies? Why is it sometimes fun to be scared?
Which characters displayed courage, curiosity, and teamwork? Why are these so important? When have you shown these life skills in your own life?
Did you believe that Avni was actually possessed by the spirit of Manjulika or was it a psychological disorder?
What do you look forward to in the sequel, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 12, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : November 20, 2007
- Cast : Vidya Balan , Akshay Kumar , Shiney Ahuja
- Director : Priyadarshan
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Eros Worldwide
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Teamwork
- Run time : 159 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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