Ghabadkund Review: Worth watching for supernatural folklore fans
Rating: 3.5/5 Suyog Zore
We rarely see treasure hunt movies in Marathi cinema, and the biggest reason for this is usually the budget. Making a good adventure film requires a lot of money for special effects, locations, and a grand scale. Because of these financial limits, I was quite doubtful when I first heard about director Pritam SK Patil's 'Ghabadkund'. I just wasn't sure if the film could pull off such an ambitious idea. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it turned out. 'Ghabadkund' is a highly entertaining mix of a treasure hunt, a supernatural thriller, and a comedy. The filmmakers did a fantastic job making it feel exciting. Even though the movie has a few noticeable flaws, the story moves quickly and keeps you genuinely hooked all the way until the final climax.
'Ghabadkund' is a supernatural treasure hunt film about a mysterious and haunted well which is believed to contain a huge ancient gold treasure known locally as Ghabad. Many years ago few outlaws decide to attack a rich landlord and steal his gold. Their intention- steal the gold and desstribute it to poor. But one of them couldn't control his greed and tries to flee with the gold, only to end up dying in a well with all the gold. Many fortune hunters have come over the years and tried to find this hidden treasure, only to be driven away or destroyed by the well's evil, unseen forces.
Decades later, a desperate new faction joins forces to defeat the curse. The uneasy alliance is between a ruthless gang leader Khangari (Devdatta Nage) sinister tantrik (Shashank Shende), a cunning schemer (Kushal Badrike) who also makes sure to make us laugh with his terrific comic timing along with a woman Rangi (Smita Anjute) and her daughter (Arohi Bhoir). They decide to take the help of a poor farmer Dilya (Sandeep Pathak), who stays in his brother-in-law's house and is always humiliated by his wife Soni (Prajakta Hanamghar). Will he help them find the gold? And what's hidden in the well along with a gold? You will find the answer to these questions when you watch the film.
SK Patil cleverly creates a very spooky and eerie atmosphere in ‘Ghabadkund’. The plot from the beginning weaves an interesting web of secrets about the haunted well and the audience is trying to guess what will happen next. The creepy dread and puzzle-like suspense is expertly sustained, making for a very immersive overall viewing experience. The first high octane fight sequence is one of the most memorable scenes in the film. The director is clearly inspired by the large scale action blockbusters with a scene filled with stylised choreography and strong stunts. It’s a great, adrenaline-pumping start that grabs your attention right away and sets the tone for the rest of the movie.
The final climax is an absolute standout and easily one of the strongest parts of the movie. It is executed with such intense tension and suspense that it genuinely gives you goosebumps. The stakes feel incredibly high, and the pacing keeps you completely glued to the screen, ensuring that the audience is thoroughly thrilled right up until the final frame.
The visual storytelling, particularly during the scenes set inside the well, is highly impressive. The cinematographer Yogesh Koli utilizes some innovative camera angles and lighting to make the well feel like a menacing character in itself rather than just a location. These sequences are beautifully shot, capturing both the natural, lush greenery outside the well and the dark, supernatural terror inside the well perfectly. Another major plus point of this film is the BGM. The BGM works beautifully to elevate every single emotion on screen, whether it is adding weight to the high-energy action, maximizing the impact of the jump scares, or building intense suspense during the quieter moments.
While 'Ghabadkund' is largely engaging, it does suffer from occasional pacing issues where the narrative momentum slows down significantly. There are certain stretches, particularly in the middle portion, where the story seems to lose its sharp focus and stalls, keeping the audience waiting a bit too long for the next major plot progression. A few scenes in the movie feel unnecessarily dragged out and could have benefited from tighter editing. Instead of moving the plot forward or adding value to the narrative, these sequences linger for too long, which occasionally tests the viewer's patience and dilutes the tension that the film otherwise builds up so well.
Lead actors Sandeep Pathak, portraying the farmer, and Prajakta Hanamghar, playing his wife, have delivered wonderful performances. While Pathak is widely known for his comedy, here he brilliantly portrays the raw frustration of a husband struggling under financial burden, followed by a gripping depiction of fear when his character finds himself stuck in a well. They are well-supported by Devdatta Nage as Khangri, Kushal Badrike in a comedic role as the Superintendent Police Patil and Shashank Shende as Tantrik, all of whom have done complete justice to their respective characters. Smita Anjute’s performance stands out remarkably due to the various emotional shades and depth her character possesses. Overall, every member of the cast has executed their role brilliantly, making it a well-rounded collective effort.
Ultimately director Pritam SK Patil's 'Ghabadkund' is a commendable attempt at bringing a fresh concept to Marathi cinema by merging traditional folklore with the horror-thriller genre. Balancing a classic treasure hunt with supernatural mystery and subtle humor, the film explores a theme that is seldom seen in Marathi movies. If you are a fan of folklore-driven mysteries, suspense, and adventure, 'Ghabadkund' is worth a watch.
Cast: Sandeep Pathak, Kushal Badrike, Devdatta Nage, Prajakta Hanamghar, Smita Anjute
Writer: Pritam SK Patil
Director: Pritam SK Patil
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