Movie: The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest
Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia, Maniesh Paul, Anup Soni, Shweta Tiwari & Suniel Grover
Writers: Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Arunabh Kumar
Release Date: 25 Sep 2026
Where to watch: Movie Theaters
Run Time: 2h 45m
Ratings: 4 Stars
Some films are built around a big twist, some around spectacle, and some around a world that makes you curious enough to stay till the end. The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest belongs to the third category. It creates a mysterious world around folklore and then slowly pulls you into it.
The film begins in Mumbai with Rishi (Sidharth Malhotra), an urban man whose life takes an unexpected turn when a land-related matter brings him and his wife Mamta (Tamannaah Bhatia) to Devanchal. What initially appears to be a straightforward family and property issue soon becomes something much bigger.
Devanchal has a forest that people treat with both fear and faith. It is believed to be home to a Van Devi, and generations of stories have been built around her. But there is one rule that nobody dares to break — entering the forest after sunset is strictly forbidden.
Of course, cinema wouldn’t be cinema if that rule wasn’t eventually broken. When Rishi enters the forest at night, the film opens the door to its supernatural world. The mystery surrounding the goddess gradually takes shape, but the bigger revelation is the presence of a dark force. From here, The Vvaan becomes a battle between faith and fear, good and evil, while simultaneously exploring the stories that have been passed down through generations.
The film’s biggest win is that it doesn’t treat its folklore merely as background decoration. The mythology is actually woven into the story. The makers take time to establish the characters and their connections before bringing the larger conflict to the forefront.
Sidharth Malhotra works well as Rishi. His character starts off as an outsider to this world, which allows the audience to discover Devanchal and its secrets along with him. Sidharth shines in this folklore film that’s all about an interesting screenplay. Tamannaah Bhatia brings both warmth and strength to Mamta and fits naturally into the film’s emotional portions.
And this is where the supporting cast deserves credit. Maniesh Paul provides the comic relief without completely breaking the atmosphere of the film. Sulabha Arya is another standout, particularly because she adds more humour to her scenes than the writing itself demands. Anup Soni and Shweta Tiwari bring a strong family dynamic to the story, with Shweta adding plenty of attitude to her character. Suniel Grover gets perhaps the most intriguing character of the lot. His role comes with more than one shade, and revealing too much about it would take away from the experience.
Technically, The Vvaan is on solid ground. The cinematography gives the forest an eerie yet beautiful identity, while the background score does a good job of creating suspense. The screenplay keeps the story moving, and the editing ensures that the film doesn’t feel unnecessarily stretched despite its runtime.
There are a few rough edges. The music, while pleasant, doesn’t always blend naturally with the narrative. Some of the VFX also appear slightly underwhelming, although these moments don’t significantly affect the overall viewing experience. Then comes the climax — and this is where the film goes all out. The final confrontation delivers the expected battle between good and evil, while the ending cleverly leaves the door open for another chapter.
What makes The Vvaan work is its ability to remain accessible. It doesn’t demand that the audience understand every aspect of its mythology to enjoy the film. There is mystery for those who enjoy supernatural stories, humour for those looking for a lighter experience and enough family drama to keep the narrative grounded.
The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest may have a few technical shortcomings, but its writing, performances and rooted folklore give it enough strength to stand on its own. It is a film that blends faith, folklore, family and supernatural mystery without losing its entertainment value.
If you’re looking for a festive-weekend watch that can be enjoyed with family or friends, The Vvaan fits the bill.
