What Is the Story About?
A young filmmaker from Kolkata is commissioned to make a documentary on ghosts, documenting their lives in an abandoned haveli. The team bumps into many friendly spirits that offer an uncanny peek into their interpersonal relationships, unconventional tales of their little fights, sorrows, joys, dark pasts, love, and heartbreaks, all bound by a warm yet unusual camaraderie.
Performances?
The story predominantly unfolds through Durbar Sharma’s character, who represents the curious, pessimistic viewer. As a filmmaker caught between humans and ghosts, he delivers a neat, relatable performance. Avery Singha Roy has a commanding screen presence and is well-complemented by Aishwarya Sen (whose styling is impeccable). Debraj Bhattacharya grabs a meaty role with a strong conflict; Dipanwita Sarkar conveys the heartbreak of a ghost equally well.
Analysis
Just when you think every possible plotline has been exhausted in a time-tested genre like a horror comedy, the Kannada film Su From So gave a smart spin to its tropes and breathed new life into the template. Hoichoi’s new show Bhootteriki does something similar in Bengali, steering free from tales of victimisation, revenge, or traditional jump-scares, instead adding a personal, funny touch to the genre.
Bhootteriki has a riveting premise. A production house specialising in paranormal activities decides to commission a documentary on the mundane lives of ghosts. The man who conceived the project himself drops dead in the middle of a discussion. The All Bengal Ghost Association gives its clearance for the documentary, ensuring their cooperation during the making.
As the project takes off, when the filmmaker asks a ghost to perform an action while reading a book, the woman playfully twists her head. When he requests that Razia, a dead woman from the Mughal era, do something ghostly, she gleefully disappears. They fight among themselves over clearing utensils, learn Rabindra Sangeet, celebrate wedding anniversaries, and even give training to young ghosts.
Razia, in fact, has an extramarital affair with Jayanta, a middle-aged man who’s very much alive. She wishes to experience motherhood and enters his wife’s body as the couple makes love. Kamlesh, a man presumed dead after a heartbreak, falls in love with Sukumari, a ghost who yearns for her first kiss, ironically, after her death. They end up possessing a young couple to make it happen.
A series of ghost-activists come together for a conference, fighting for their stance and echoing chants of liberation and freedom for marginalised groups. There’s a quirky little subplot about a ghost haunting a man who owes him money. A man, beheaded at the time of his death, places his head aside while talking with his female counterpart, while the kids even play with the head.
The plot, packed with wacky ideas, is treated with conviction. While stories of Kamlesh-Sukumari and Razia-Jayanta provide a solid emotional grounding, it keeps poking fun at the humanly activities of the ghosts and the hierarchies that exist within their community. Even after death, alas, there’s no unity and solace, but the tale doesn’t intend to put this ‘message’ across. Everything is light and easy.
Bhootteriki’s light-hearted treatment is its greatest asset, helping it convey poignant thoughts about love, companionship, and desire with an unmistakable breeziness. While the plot has a varied mix of characters and subplots, there’s still adequate plot progression across its crisp 30-minute episodes. It has fun with what it wants to say, and the viewer gets to enjoy it, too.
Music and Other Departments?
The songs, by Debraj Bhattacharya and Ujan Chatterjee, are integrated smartly into the narrative, enriching the backdrop with a potpourri of classical and contemporary influences. The choice to end the show with a rap number, hinting at another season, is smart. Within the limitations of the settings, the cinematography is surprisingly not redundant; the team does just enough to keep you hooked. The editing is innovative, keeping its comic-book texture alive across episodes
Highlights?
Unique premise
Funny for the most part and has depth too
Good performances
Drawbacks?
Overwhelms the viewer with the ideas, subplots
Could’ve had a more concrete plot
Did I Enjoy It?
Mostly, yes
Will You Recommend It?
If you enjoy horror comedies, give this a try.
BhootTeriki Web Series Review by Binged Bureau
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