Cert PG
152 mins
BBFC advice: Contains brief moderate violence, mild bad language
In India, there are Eid films, there are Diwali films, there are Independence Day films and there are election season films.
Can you imagine it in the UK? Michael Caine starring in a comedy drama in an attempt to lure the British people to vote?
Well, that is exactly what his equivalent, superstar Amitabh Bachchan is doing in Bhoothnath Returns - a likable movie with a serious message.
Bachchan plays Bhoothnath (Hindi for ghost) who is given a chance to return to earth after his death but can only be seen by a young boy (Parth Bhalerao).
Together they set about helping remove ghosts from haunted buildings by helping the spirits resolve family traumas which are prompting them to stir up trouble.
But as their business grows, the clearer it becomes that some unscrupulous landlords are putting lives at risk.
Our heroes establish that this is often done in collusion with local politicians and their henchmen and so the meat of the story becomes the election fight of an invisible ghost with high morals against a ruthless thug.
And the message which becomes more and more important is that people MUST vote.
Indeed, if Bachchan's plea doesn't resonate with audiences, they might appreciate the back-up from Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan who both appear in cameo roles.
Nitesh Tiwari's movie is fun and laudable at the same time. Bachchan is nicely tongue-in-cheek throughout and Bhalerao is a real find.
I watched it at Derby Odeon.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 6.5/10