Ever since the Hollywood classic 'Inception' hit the silver screens, one would always wonder when would Bollywood have its own take on it. Well, here it is.

Though this 'Inception' inspiration borders on the ridiculous in terms of the story, one must credit Vikram Bhatt for making a good screenplay out of a ridiculously ridiculous plot. Yes, the story is a nice watch even though Vikram has ensured that he doesn't become a 'bhatakti atma' when it comes to cinematic cliches.

In this film, Vikram has stuck to the same formula that has paid him rich dividends in the past. So, after watching this film, we wouldn't call it an inspiration of the Hollywood classic but a 'transcreation' of the same film. But make no mistake, whatever be the storyboard, its been transformed well on celluloid. For an average movie-goer, specially for the single screen audience, this movie is ekdum paisa wasool.

1. The dream world of Inception becomes a pretatma-world in Raaz3

In Inception, the characters are 'connected' with each other and then put to sleep so that they can go into the same dream world. Here, Vikram Bhatt changes the conception wee bit. In Raaz3 the characters are joined with a dhaaga on their wrists and they have to hold hands and lo! They land up in pretatma land together where only souls reside. Like there is an elaborate way for people to go into a dream together, the Bhatts have also ensured that there are pre-conditions of entering into the Pretatma 'world'. You have to be there at a place where the living meets the dead (like burial ground, hospital morgue etc) and start 'dreaming' when day meets night. What thinking! We are impressed! Yes, also ditto like the mother film, the characters close their eyes and start dreaming to enter the other 'world'.

2. The two worlds correspond with each other

Like in Inception, the two worlds correspond with each other in Raaz3. So, when Emraan Hashmi is hit on his face there, the blood will spill here. Also, the alternate reality changes with every 'dream'. Like the mother film, Emraan Hashmi travels to the alternate reality of evil spirits to free the atma of Esha, who has been imprisoned in that world by an evil spirit let loose by Bipasha. As you can guess, the whole film becomes the story of how Emran Hashmi manages to free Esha from the clutches of the evil spirit after travelling into this alternate reality.

3. Vikram Bhatt has an original plot too

Just to give Vikram Bhatt his due credit, we must mention that there is also a story weaved around his own version of Inception. He pits two half-sisters against each other, makes Bipasha the sexy vamp and makes both of them fall in love with the hero.  When Emraan Hashmi falls in love, he smooches his leading ladies to glory. So here too, the smooching scenes are extended to ensure maximum mileage. If you think this was original, then Vikram puts in some more additions like divine intervention in the climax to make the film stick to the formulaes. At one point, even a doctor comes on screen to talk about kaala jaadu and its side-effects. During those scenes, it gives you a feeling that the doctor (played by Mohan Joshi) might suddenly whip out a tabeez from his side-pocket and say 'yeh hai tele-shopping network aur main aapko kaala jadu ke baare mein batana chahta hoon'. The poor doctor loses his life to propagate kaala jaadu and we suggest that Mohan Agashe (oh sorry, he's Joshi. We tend to forget his name often)  do more such roles in future because he shows promise in these roles. He can be a role-model as a doctor practicing the para-normal.

4. The Ramsay bhoot returns to haunt

The review will be incomplete without a mention of the lusty bhoot who aspires to have sex with film heroines. Yes, this is the only thing that sets this bhoot apart from the Ramsay Brothers ones because those poor souls only used to scare the scatily clad heroines. But this one is outright lusty and he wants to sleep with them. The prescription is simple, have kinky and dirty sex with him if you want to do kaala jadu on someone. Naughty and dirty bhoot this one, na? Except this brilliant character certificate, this bhooth looks, speaks and walks like all those Ramsay bhooths. Oh! Wait, wait! The bhooth has also one more uncharacteristic feature-- he is anti-Dracula in nature. What is anti-Dracula? Let me explain. Like Dracula would be visible in real life but invisible through a mirror? This lusty one is just the opposite -- unless you hold a mirror, you might miss his presence. So, this bhoot is a real 'item' in Bollywood who breaks all pre-conceived notions about Bollywood bhoots unlike the rest of the film.

5. Bipasha, Esha and Emraan have done a good job

Bipasha looks smoking hot, Esha looks scaringly hot and Emraan looks stunned most of the times. Inspite of what they look, the three actors have put up a good show which is actually a saving grace in the film. Esha Gupta who couldn't act in her earlier outing with Emraan Hashmi, manages to put up a better show this time. Bipasha looks good in her jealous-but-still- sexy vamp  avatar. The film actually 'travels' without a hitch because Bipasha and Emraan have managed their part really well. This is another classic example of a film sailing past the marquee because of the lead actors and not the script. Anybody else in the film as lead actors and this film might have been a complete disaster. The three lead actors have made this film watchable.

What you should do...
When did we bother ourselves about originality or the finer points of filmmaking in Bollywood? Don't care about what the film pundits have to say, you go and watch this film because it's full-on entertainment, Bollywood ishtyle.

in.com rating: 2.5/5

For more reviews, photos, videos and music of the film, go here.

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