Was
just
wondering
the
other
day,
why
do
[most]
Hindi
films
that
tackle
the
horror
genre
don't
really
succeed
in
their
endeavour
of
scaring
the
viewer?
I
mean,
real
stories
concerning
supernatural
forces
continue
to
make
the
rounds
to
this
date
and
make
us
break
into
a
cold
sweat,
especially
when
you
listen
to
them
in
rapt
attention
at
nights.
So
why
don't
these
stories
succeed
in
their
motive
of
scaring
us
in
the
dark
confines
of
a
cineplex?
Stories
about
ghosts,
spirits,
haunted
mansions
and
paranormal
activities
aren't
alien
for
us
Indians,
right?
Like
the
Ramsays,
director
Wilson
Louis,
known
for
spooky
films
(Ho
Sakta
Hai
Mallika,
now
Kaalo),
might
soon
have
his
name
entering
the
record
books.
From
the
current
lot
of
film-makers,
here's
one
film-maker
choosing
subjects
of
the
horror
thriller
variety;
perhaps
he
doesn't
wish
to
change
tracks.
Perhaps,
his
sole
aim
is
to
scare
the
living
daylights
of
the
viewers
and
also
take
them
on
a
mysterious
journey,
which
he
does
quite
convincingly
with
this
one.
Also,
Wilson
takes
up
the
challenge
to
make
a
'day
horror
film',
which
may
have
been
extremely
difficult
to
make
in
view
of
the
fact
that
you
can't
conceal
details
of
the
visual
effects
in
daylight.
Moreover,
to
scare
the
audience
in
broad
daylight,
without
a
single
shot
of
an
eerie
night,
is
a
rarity.
Another
important
aspect
of
Kaalo
is
that
it's
a
creature-based
movie,
not
a
ghost-based
horror.
Kaalo
has
its
share
of
pitfalls,
but
the
film
holds
your
attention
for
most
parts.
It
may
not
be
the
best
in
the
genre,
but
makes
for
interesting
viewing
for
sure.
Kaalo
was
a
witch
who
lived
in
Kulbhata
during
the
18th
century.
She
was
killed
and
buried
by
angry
villagers
for
sacrificing
young
girls
to
satisfy
her
greed
for
immortality,
but
her
fear
lived
on.
Years
later,
villagers
spoke
of
Kaalo's
sightings
yet
again.
They
claimed
she
was
even
more
angry
and
dangerous
and
she
was
back
to
finish
what
she
left
incomplete.
Kulbhata
was
vacated
overnight
by
scared
villagers.
All
roads
leading
to
Kulbhata
were
sealed
by
horrifying
tales
of
Kaalo
killing
anyone
who
dared
to
enter
Kulbhata.
Until
a
bus
carrying
a
few
passengers
on
its
way
to
Kuldevi
had
to
pass
through
Kulbhata.
One
of
the
passengers
on
the
bus
was
a
twelve-year-old
girl
named
Shona
[Swini
Khara],
who
is
traveling
alone
to
spend
her
vacation
at
her
grandmother's
house
in
the
neighboring
village.
During
the
course
of
the
journey,
Shona
and
co-passenger
Sameer
[Aditya
Shrivastav]
strike
a
rapport.
Sameer
is
traveling
with
a
bag
loaded
with
gun
powder
to
blast
a
small
hillock,
which
would
give
way
to
a
water
canal
for
his
drought-hit
village.
Badly
disfigured
and
thirsty
for
blood,
Kaalo
could
smell
the
girl
from
miles
away...
and
heads
straight
for
the
bus.
When
the
passengers
realize
they
were
staring
into
death,
everything
changes.
They
realize
Shona
is
their
reason
for
dying.
Everyone
wants
her
out
of
the
bus,
except
Sameer.
The
first
thing
that
catches
your
eye
is
the
way
the
camera
moves
in
this
film
[cinematography:
Pushpank
Gawde].
That,
very
frankly,
impressed
me
the
most
at
the
outset.
The
second
thing
I'd
like
to
make
a
mention
of
is
the
visual
effects,
which
makes
this
film
stand
out
from
the
various
films
of
its
ilk.
But
the
problem
with
Kaalo
is
that
a
few
sequences
are
stretched
unnecessarily
and
that
slackens
the
pace
of
the
film.
Besides,
the
conclusion
to
the
story
is
not
convincing
at
all.
The
creature
has
supernatural
powers,
yet
combats
Aditya
Shrivastav
like
a
mortal.
That's
one
cinematic
liberty
you
can't
digest.
Also,
though
Kaalo
belongs
to
the
horror
variety,
it
isn't
chilling,
terrifying
or
bloodcurdling,
nor
do
you
bite
your
nails
in
nervousness
while
watching
the
creature.
Director
Wilson
Louis
goes
a
step
forward
when
you
compare
it
with
Ho
Sakta
Hai
and
two
steps
forward
when
you
recall
Mallika.
His
handling
of
the
subject
and
also
the
means
and
ways
the
creature
eliminates
one
by
one
is
the
hallmark
of
the
film.
The
camerawork,
like
I
pointed
out
at
the
very
outset,
is
top
notch.
Speaking
of
performances,
Aditya
Shrivastav
does
well.
Swini
Khara
doesn't
get
ample
scope.
Amongst
the
passengers
in
the
bus,
Abhijeet
Satam,
Aditya
Lakhia
and
Raj
Arjun
register
the
maximum
impact.
Prashant
Kumar
is
alright.
Paintal
and
Sheela
Sharma
are
perfect.
Hemant
Pandey
is
adequate.
On
the
whole,
Kaalo
is
an
interesting
watch
for
fans
of
this
genre.
It
has
decent
merits,
but
few
shortcomings
too
along
the
way.
If
the
horror
genre
excites
you
then
try
this
one.
However,
the
one
factor
that
goes
against
the
film
is
that
it
has
been
released
without
much
awareness.
One
genuinely
wishes
that
sincere
attempts
like
these
were
released
with
a
little
more
hype
and
fanfare
or
else
all
the
sincerity
goes
completely
unnoticed
with
an
unsung
release.
Director:
Wilson
Louis
Cast:
Swini
Khara,
Aditya
Srivastav,
Paintal