# The Vvaan opens with promise but ends muddled, reviews say 2026-09-26T17:06:17+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia's fantasy horror film The Vvaan, directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, has received mixed reviews from critics. Hindustan Times rates the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, calling it a tale of two uneven halves with an unsatisfying finale. The review notes the film draws from folklore around Van Devi and Chhath Puja but gets distracted by comedy and songs, failing to deliver a coherent horror experience. The Times Now review explains the film's plot and ending in detail, noting it explores the conflict between ancient traditions and modernisation. The Federal describes the film as a brave attempt that keeps slipping into over-explaining everything, ultimately losing its grip on the narrative. Both reviews agree the first half builds intrigue but the second half loses its way, with Maniesh Paul's comic relief wearing thin and the finale feeling dragged out. The film stars Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia, Anup Soni, Sunil Grover, Shweta Tiwari and Maniesh Paul. It is currently playing in theatres. ## Indian Opinion Analysis All three reviews agree on the film's structural flaws: a promising first half followed by a muddled second. Hindustan Times and The Federal both criticise the overuse of songs and flat comic relief, while Times Now focuses more on explaining the plot's twists than judging the film. The Federal frames the movie as part of Bollywood's turn to ecological folklore but says it lacks bite. The consensus: The Vvaan had a strong cultural premise rooted in Bihar's Van Devi folklore but failed to execute it as a coherent horror fantasy. The film is now in theatres, and audience word-of-mouth will determine its box office run. The film is currently playing in theatres and its commercial performance will determine whether such folk-horror experiments continue in Bollywood. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Straight review format with rating, no ideological slant - timesnownews.com (neutral report) Explains plot and ending without critical judgment - thefederal.com (neutral report) Review format critical of execution but no political slant Tags: Deepak Kumar Mishra, Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia, The Vvaan Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/the-vvaan-review-sidharth-malhotra-film-gets-mixed-reviews/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/the-vvaan-review-sidharth-malhotra-film-gets-mixed-reviews/#story-in-brief