Dybbuk is a 2021 Indian Hindi-language supernatural horror film written and directed by Jay K, produced by T-Series and Panorama Studios. The film, starring Emraan Hashmi and Nikita Dutta in the lead role, is a remake of Jay's 2017 Malayalam film Ezra.[1] The story of the film revolves around an antique box purchased by the female protagonist, after which the couple face paranormal activities.[2] The principal photography began on 18 July 2019 in Mauritius.[3] The film premiered on 29 October 2021 on Amazon Prime Video.[4]
| Dybbuk | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Jay K |
| Written by | Jay K Chintan Gandhi (dialogues) |
| Based on | Ezra (2017) |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Sathya Ponmar |
| Edited by | Sandeep Francis |
| Music by | Amar Mohile |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Amazon Prime Video |
Release date |
|
Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Synopsis
editMahi (Nikita Dutta), a newly married woman, brings an antique Jewish box into her home. When Mahi and her husband Sam (Emraan Hashmi) begin to have paranormal experiences, they soon learn that the box contained a dybbuk, an evil spirit. The couple then seeks the help of a rabbi to unravel its mystery and in order to survive the ordeal before their child is born.
Cast
edit- Emraan Hashmi as Samuel "Sam" Isaac, an Indian Christian from Mumbai working as an executive at a nuclear waste disposal company in Mauritius.
- Nikita Dutta as Mahi Isaac (Nee'Sood), Sam's wife who is pregnant with her second child after a miscarriage . She comes in possession of an antique box (a dybbuk box) previously owned by the last Jew in Mauritius.
- Anil George as Rabbi Benyamin, rabbi at the Mumbai Chabad House, working in Réunion Island.
- Manav Kaul as Rabbi Markus, Benyamin's son, wanting to exorcise the dybbuk during Yom Kippur with the help of a hamsa locket.
- Yuri Suri as Yakub Ezra, a French Jew who came to Rodrigues Island during World War II, an expert in Kabbalah.
- Imaad Shah as Abraham Ezra, Yakub's son who falls in love with Norah, a Christian, and makes her pregnant out of wedlock. Her suicide due to the stigmatisation leads a Christian mob to attack him and his father. The attack leaves him invalid causing Yakub to turn Abraham into a dybbuk bent on destroying the island of Mauritius.
- Darshana Banik as Norah
- Gaurav Sharma as Inspector Riyaz Ahmed
- Denzil Smith as Father Gabriel[5]
- Resh Lamba as Masood
- Bijay Anand as Sanjay
- Ivan Sylvester Rodrigues as Milind Sanghvi
Production
editIn April 2019, it was officially confirmed that the Hindi remake of Malayalam film Ezra is to be produced by T-Series and Panorama Studios, featuring Emraan Hashmi in the lead role. Jay Krishnan, the director of original film to direct the remake and it will be shot in Mumbai and Mauritius.[1][2] The film titled as Dybbuk, was sold to Amazon prime video for ₹360 million.[6]
Reception
editCritical response
editRenuka Vyavahare of The Times of India gave the film 2 (out of 5) stars and said,"Special effects are decent. Only if there was some surprise element to this mundane horror drama."[8] Shubham Dwivedi of Pinkvilla gave the film 2 stars out of 5 and wrote," Dybbuk is an unenthusiastic horror tale that mends in its own mediocrity without even making an effort to rise above it. The film does not evoke any emotion out of a viewer."[9] Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5 and said,"Based on the Malayalam film Ezra, this Emraan Hashmi-Nikita Dutt-starrer plays strictly by the numbers."[10]
Tatsam Mukherjee, Author at Firstpost gave a rating of 1/5 and wrote, " Dybbuk, a Hindi remake of the Malayalam film Ezra, is riddled with amateurish 'twists' and hasty resolutions."[11] Roktim Rajpal of Deccan Herald gave a rating of 2.5/5 and stated,"Like all remakes, Dybbuk caters to those who haven't seen the original version."[12] Bollywood Hungama gave 2 stars and wrote," Dybbuk attempts to be an unconventional horror film but the not-so-scary second half and lengthy runtime spoil the show."[13] Anuj Kumar from The Hindu website wrote,"The sincerity of filmmaker Jay K in addressing the science vs. logic bit is palpable, but the predictable storyline and cliched backstory make it a long wait till the climactic twist."[14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Emraan Hashmi All Set to Star in the Hindi Remake of Malayalam Horror Film 'Ezra'". News18. Indo-Asian News Service. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Emraan Hashmi to star in the remake of Malayalam film 'Ezra'". Mid Day. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ a b Taran Adarsh [@taran_adarsh] (18 July 2019). "Emraan Hashmi starts shooting of supernatural thriller #Ezra in #Mauritius... Remake of #Malayalam film #Ezra... Directed by Jay Krishnan [he directed the original]... Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Krishan Kumar and Abhishek Pathak. https://t.co/UjKyEZwfnJ" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Emraan Hashmi's horror film 'Dybbuk - The Curse Is Real' teaser out". ANI News. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
- ^ "Actor Denzil Smith talks about working with Christopher Nolan on Tenet and Delhi Crime's Emmy win". www.indulgexpress.com. 12 December 2020.
- ^ "Emraan Hashmi's next titled Dybbuk to release digitally". Filmfare. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "Emraan Hashmi starrer 'Ezra' goes on floors". ANI News. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ Renuka Vyavahare (29 October 2021). "A STANDARD HORROR DRAMA CRUSHING HARD ON JEWISH FOLKLORE". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ Shubham Dwivedi (29 October 2021). "Dybbuk review: Emraan Hashmi, Nikita Dutta led horror is a poetic misfire, fails to evoke any thrill". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ Shubhra Gupta (29 October 2021). "Dybbuk movie review: Emraan Hashmi film is a comprehensive waste of time". The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ Tatsam Mukherjee (29 October 2021). "Dybbuk movie review: Everyone in this Emraan Hashmi film is on autopilot". Firstpost. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ Roktim Rajpal (29 October 2021). "'Dybbuk' movie review: Emraan Hashmi headlines a watchable horror-thriller". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ "Movie Review:Dybbuk". Bollywood Hungama. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ Anuj Kumar (29 October 2021). "'Dybbuk' movie review: Out of the box? Not quite!". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 October 2021.