13B Movie Review

Now this one's a neat little goosebump that keeps the chill factor on simmer, both in terms of content and charisma (read style). Generally, desi horror flicks end up low on story and crumble in the climax, relegating the suspense and gore to some mumbo-jumbo about witchcraft and voodoo. Rarely do they come up with some satisfactory explanation for all the paranormal bhoot lore on screen, before the closing reels. But that's not the case with 13B.

On the one hand, it keeps the scare element brewing through most of the film, with danger and death lurking at every twisted turn. On the other, it blends the supra-normal with the normal, to give you a plausible reason for all the strange occurrences on screen. More importantly, it makes a topical dig on the 21st century global obsession: the all-pervasive -- and prying -- influence of television which seems to have completely taken over our lives. And if that's not a strong-enough statutory warning, the innocuous idiot box may soon be replaced by the inimical mobile as a sanity-threatening device, it concludes. Experts are already stating that 53 per cent of mobile phone users are suffering from nomophobia, (no mobile phobia) a fear of being without their mobile. So there!

13B begins on a cheery note. A happy family, that happens to be a microcosm of the Great Indian Parivar, moves into a new flat that has been bought by the two brothers (Madhavan and co.) after incurring a hefty loan. The upwardly mobile brothers don't mind and begin their day on a joyous note, with the wives (Neetu Chandra and co.) merrily gossiping in the kitchen, the kids boisterously preparing for school and college and the mother (Poonam Dhillon) affably clamouring for a cable connection, since she cannot bear to miss a single episode of her saas-bahu soaps. Picture perfect, did you say? Well, almost. Just that the milk gets curdled every day, the portraits of the gods can't be hung on the impenetrable walls, the lift doesn't work only for Madhavan, his cell phone camera relentlessly distorts his face and the mysterious neighbour's dog simply refuses to enter the flat with his master.

Reason enough for rationalist Madhavan to press the panic button? Not until he chances upon a television soap that seems to be playing only in his house and the onscreen drama ends up predicting the events that gradually begin to plague the happy family. Goes without saying, the soap is extremely popular with the women in his house, till the blood begins to flow....And the only way Madhavan can protect his family is by becoming a TV addict himself and learning what's in store.

It's an interesting tale, told well, with all the mandatory twists and turns in all the right places. Adding to this, is the complete spontaneity of the ensemble cast, ably led by Madhavan who is extremely endearing as the yuppie, torn between the supernatural and the real. Watch out for some zippy cinematography, a stylised monochrome tint and some snazzy editing. Great timepass. Go for it.