A two-minute and 44-second trailer for the film 'Don: Power of the Forest,' featuring Siddharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, has been released. The film is positioned as a blend of folklore, fantasy, horror, and religious motifs. The plot revolves around a mysterious forest, a forest goddess, and dark forces known as 'Bhuttaka.' The film is scheduled for release on September 25th in cinemas.
However, after watching the trailer, a question arises about the format of the picture: is it a large-budget feature film or an extended episode of a television series? The issue is not that the film was made under the aegis of Balaji Studio, but rather its visual design and the work done on special effects (VFX). Although there is action in some scenes, there is no reaction to it. Upon close examination, the VFX show animation flaws that diminish the atmosphere in the mysterious and frightening environment the film is supposed to create.
The main focus of the trailer is on Siddharth Malhotra. His character is portrayed as an atheist who plans a trip to Goa during a holiday associated with the Chhath festival but is forced to return to his village for work. There, he falls into the trap of a forbidden forest, a forest goddess, and strange forces. The narrative also hints at connections to past lives or reincarnation. Flashbacks shown featuring Siddharth suggest that some important secret is hidden in this forest from the past.
Nevertheless, despite changes in appearance, viewers do not feel significant changes in Siddharth's character. He looks more like a typical 'chocolate hero' than a mysterious figure. Moreover, the changed look of Sunil Grover attracts more attention. Tamanna's presence is also noticeable, but she is given few opportunities to speak. Despite the apparent importance of her role in the plot, Siddharth's dominance on screen causes Tamanna to remain in the shadows.
The most controversial aspect is the depiction of the Chhath festival. Chhath is a very important folk festival from Bihar and Purvanchal, involving both women and men in fasts and rituals. The creators tried to give this event scale, but in many places, it looks overly cinematic. While wearing a red sari itself is not a mistake, within the context of the Chhath festival, the color yellow holds a special spiritual and religious significance, as it symbolizes energy, radiance, and the life-giving rays of the Sun. However, presenting the entire crowd in a single glamorous style strips the festival of its true diversity.
An important aspect is also missed: Chhath is not just a women's festival; men also observe the fast, and the entire community participates in the celebration. This is the specialty of Chhath. The Government of Bihar and tourism sources call it a four-day community festival during which offerings are made to both the rising and setting sun.
Following films like 'Tumbbad,' 'Kantara,' and 'Brahmayugam,' expectations for folklore-based cinema have increased. It is interesting to see how director Panchayat, Dipak Kumar Mishra, decided to turn to the genre of folk-horror. Nevertheless, the trailer for 'The Vvaan' is remembered more for its weak visual effects and the feeling that it is a series, rather than for the plot itself. The mystery of the forest is intriguing, but the trailer does not convince that this secret will be as powerful on the big screen.
Of course, one cannot judge the quality of the entire film based solely on the trailer. However, it will be interesting to see what twists and unexpected events await the audience in the story itself, beyond the trailer. The film will be released in theaters on September 25th.