The Bhootnii (2025) – Movie RevieW
Genre: Horror-Comedy | Language: Hindi | Director: Sidhaant Sachdev
Starring: Mouni Roy, Sanjay Dutt, Karanvir Bohra | Release Date: April 2025
User Rating: 2/5 | Reviewed by: Rahul Vidhate, The Film Aura
🧟♀️ Introduction: Bollywood’s Love Affair with Horror-Comedy
Bollywood has never been shy about experimenting with genres. In the past decade, horror-comedy has emerged as one of the industry's most surprisingly successful hybrids. With films like Stree (2018), Roohi (2021), and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) entertaining audiences, the genre has evolved into more than just jump scares and slapstick.
The Bhootnii, released in April 2025, joins this trend. Marketed as a fresh, funny, and slightly feminist take on supernatural stories, the film promised a blend of horror, romance, and satire — all wrapped in a college campus setting with a mysterious "virgin tree" at its center.
But does it deliver?
Let’s just say… if Stree was a full-course meal, The Bhootnii feels like a half-cooked snack — interesting in idea, but underwhelming in taste.
🌲 Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
- Set in a quirky Indian college where tradition meets TikTok trends, The Bhootnii revolves around a supposedly haunted virgin tree, the legend of a ghost who punishes immoral behavior, and a group of students who accidentally unleash her wrath.
- Enter Mouni Roy as the titular Bhootnii — equal parts seductive, spooky, and sorrowful. Sanjay Dutt plays a cynical professor with a dark past, while Karanvir Bohra adds youth appeal as the brave (or dumb?) student who challenges the spirit's rules.
- From Valentine’s Day chaos to bizarre debates about religion vs. science, the film throws everything at the wall — hoping something sticks.
🎭 Performances: The Good, The Ghostly, and The Gimmicky
⭐ Mouni Roy as The Bhootnii
Mouni is undoubtedly the visual and emotional anchor of the film. She glides through scenes with eerie elegance and is the only one who seems to understand the tone The Bhootnii is aiming for. Her performance adds some much-needed charisma, even when the screenplay doesn’t support her.
🌟 Sanjay Dutt as Professor Rajeev
- Sanjay Dutt brings gravitas and comic timing but is clearly underused. His chemistry with Mouni is interesting but underdeveloped. Most of his dialogues lean toward outdated dad jokes, though he manages to sell them with his signature swag.
🧒 Karanvir Bohra and Supporting Cast
- While Karanvir tries hard to be the brave-heart college hero, his character lacks depth. The supporting cast, filled with stereotypical Gen Z caricatures, often feels more annoying than amusing.
🖋️ Writing & Screenplay: Concept vs. Confusion
Sidhaant Sachdev’s story starts with a bang — a ghost story with feminist undertones, a cursed campus, and social satire on religion, gender, and college culture. But the execution leaves much to be desired.
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The script suffers from a classic case of “too many ideas, not enough focus.” One moment the ghost is punishing creeps; the next moment, she’s flirting with a teacher. There’s a subplot on Holika Dahan, commentary on communalism, and even a woke dialogue: "Kya yeh Hindu-Muslim ka time hai?"
Unfortunately, these themes never fully develop. They remain surface-level and often clash tonally with the intended horror or comedy.
🎥 Direction & Cinematic Choices
Sachdev’s direction tries to emulate Amar Kaushik’s Stree — using local legends, quirky dialogues, and a modern cast — but doesn’t have the same finesse. The film jumps between horror tropes, romantic drama, and college comedy without ever settling into a consistent rhythm.
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Cinematography: Some well-shot night scenes and Bhootnii’s slow-motion entrances deserve praise.
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Editing: Choppy at best, with jarring transitions between serious moments and punchlines.
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VFX & Makeup: Serviceable but nowhere near the standard modern horror-comedy fans expect.
🎶 Music & Sound Design
While the soundtrack is catchy in places, none of the songs feel essential to the story. The horror sequences suffer due to weak sound design — no tension-building, no chilling ambiance.
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Title track: A peppy fusion of EDM and classical, but misplaced.
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Romantic ballad: Forgettable.
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Background score: Lacks the eerie punch a ghost story demands.
🎭 Themes & Symbolism: Missed Opportunities
At its core, The Bhootnii wants to be a message-driven film. It touches on issues like:
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Toxic masculinity
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Gender policing
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Superstition vs. rationalism
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Social media culture
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Communal commentary
Yet, these themes are introduced and quickly dropped, never giving viewers time to reflect. Unlike Stree, which used humor to empower its social message, The Bhootnii feels unsure of what it wants to say.
🧩 How It Compares to Other Horror Comedies
| Film | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Stree | Satirical, smart, spooky | Slightly slow pacing |
| Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 | Mass appeal, big names | Shallow themes |
| The Bhootnii | Interesting concept, Mouni Roy | Inconsistent writing, poor horror |
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🗣️ What Critics Are Saying
Out of 8 major reviews:
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Positive (2) – Bollywood Bubble praised its “inventive concept”
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Neutral (1) – Firstpost appreciated the emotional layer
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Negative (5) – Indian Express called it “not even a film,” Filminformation labeled it “childish,” and Koimoi advised skipping it altogether.
Average rating: 2/5 stars
👨👩👧 Audience Reactions
Social media has been brutal. Here’s a quick summary:
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Twitter users: “Is this a spoof or a horror?”
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Instagram reels: Clipped Mouni’s dialogues for memes
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YouTube reviewers: Compared it unfavorably to Stree or Phone Bhoot
✅ Pros & Cons Summary
✅ What Works:
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Mouni Roy’s performance
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A few clever dialogues
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Intriguing premise
❌ What Doesn’t:
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Weak screenplay and direction
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No real scares or genuine laughs
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Tonal inconsistency
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Wasted performances
🎯 Final Verdict: Should You Watch The Bhootnii?
If you're in the mood for a light film and don’t mind logical loopholes, you might find The Bhootnii passable. But if you're expecting a smart, spooky, genre-defying film, you’re better off rewatching Stree or even Bhool Bhulaiyaa.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Watch it for: Mouni Roy and if you’re truly curious.
Skip it if: You value narrative cohesion, scares, or strong writing.
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