WHEN A successful young couple (Shiney Ahuja and Vidya Balan) returns from the United States to meet up with its extended family in India, the reunion is marked by some mysterious incidences. The newlyweds take up residence in a nearly abandoned (and for good reason!) sprawling estate reputed to be infested with, you guessed it, things that go bump in the night. As the prospect of a real-life malevolent presence – real or imagined – takes root, the powers that be, lead by the easily-scared clan-leader Upadhayay (Paresh Rawal), decide on an exorcism that involves inviting Dr Aditya Shrivastav (Akshay Kumar), a renowned American doctor, to help solve the mystery.

With a creepiness factor that brings to mind the Manoj Kumar-Sadhana classic black-and-white horror film ‘Who Kaun Thi’ and some gravity-defying logic that plausibly reaches for the Hollywood classic ‘The Exorcist’, Priyadarshan cleverly, and without notice, transforms humorous moments into intensely suspenseful estate intrigue. Powered by the chart-topping ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ ditty and a super-hit box-office has even helped Kumar nail a record-setting five box office TKO’s in a row (Bhagam Bhag, Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Welcome).

While Kumar and Rawal infuse credibility into the story from very different angles, this is really Balan’s show. The intensity Balan brings to her role – even getting into sure-footed classic Indian dance against her usual type – is quite remarkable. Priyadarshan and Kumar get the kudos, but it’s Balan who seals this deal.