There are some movies that immediately tell you what kind of ride you are in for. Then there are films like The Vvan: Force of the Forrest, which begin by mixing folklore, family drama, fantasy, comedy, faith, and a mysterious forest, leaving you wondering where exactly the story is headed. Starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, the film takes an unusual route into supernatural territory while placing its characters inside a world where modern thinking and age-old beliefs constantly collide.
Released in sheathes on September 25, 2026, the film is directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Arunabh Kumar. The story is set around an ancestral village in Bihar and revolves around a forbidden forest, an old legend, and a supernatural force that refuses to remain buried. The film also brings together actors including Sunil Grover, Shweta Tiwari, Anup Soni, and Maniesh Paul.
The Vvan: Force of the Forrest Story
Sidharth Malhotra plays Rishi, a modern, rational man who has spent much of his life away from his ancestral village. He returns to his family roots in Bihar with his wife Mamta, played by Tamannaah Bhatia.
Rishi’s reason for returning is fairly practical. He wants to deal with his inherited property and move forward with his life. His personal circumstances also give the story an emotional layer, particularly his and Mamta’s desire to start a family.
But the village is not exactly the quiet place Rishi expects to find.
At the centre of the village is a forest surrounded by old beliefs and strict warnings. According to the local tradition, nobody should enter the forest after sunset. For the villagers, this is not some casual superstition that can be laughed off. The forest is connected to the legend of Vandevi, and the fear surrounding it has been passed down through generations.
Rishi, naturally, does not see things that way.
His practical mindset puts him at odds with people who believe the forest should be protected because of its spiritual significance. At the same time, another conflict develops around development and accessibility. Deepak, played by Sunil Grover, believes a road through the area could improve connectivity and help people in the region.
That creates an interesting foundation for the movie because the forest becomes more than just a scary location. It sits at the centre of a much bigger argument involving tradition, development, personal interests, and belief.
Then Rishi enters the forbidden forest.
And that is when the story really changes direction.
When the Forest Stops Being Just a Forest
Rishi’s decision to enter the forest leads to the breaking of an ancient seal and the awakening of a supernatural force. Suddenly, the man who has spent much of his life trusting logic has to deal with something that cannot be explained easily.
This is where The Vvan tries to combine its fantasy, folklore, and supernatural elements.
The film’s central idea has plenty of potential. A modern man who questions traditional beliefs is forced to confront something deeply connected to those very beliefs. It is a familiar conflict in Indian storytelling, but placing it inside a mysterious forest gives the idea a different flavour.
The problem, according to several reviews, is not necessarily the concept itself. It is how consistently the movie develops that concept.
The film has an intriguing premise, atmospheric qualities, and visual ambition, but some reviewers felt that rushed character development and a more conventional supernatural conflict prevent the story from reaching its full potential.
That observation sums up one of the biggest talking points around the movie. You can see what the filmmakers wanted to build. There are several ingredients that could have created a gripping fantasy adventure, but they do not always come together smoothly.
Sidharth Malhotra’s Rishi
Sidharth Malhotra gets a character who has to go through a significant emotional and ideological journey.
Rishi begins the story as someone who wants practical answers. He is not particularly interested in blindly accepting traditions simply because they have existed for generations. That makes his transformation one of the most important parts of the film.
His character is also dealing with personal pain, family complications, and the pressure of finding a way forward. So there is more happening with Rishi than simply a man walking into a haunted forest.
Sidharth plays the role with sincerity, particularly during the quieter portions of the film. However, some critics felt that the screenplay does not give the characters enough room to develop fully.
That becomes noticeable because the movie has several ideas competing for attention. Rishi’s personal journey, the forest mythology, village politics, family tension, comedy, and supernatural elements all want their own space.
Sometimes, there simply isn’t enough breathing room.
Tamannaah Bhatia Brings the Emotional Side
Tamannaah Bhatia plays Mamta, Rishi’s wife, and her character is closely connected to the emotional heart of the story.
While Rishi represents the rational side of the film’s central conflict, Mamta is more closely connected to the family’s emotional history and the consequences of their past experiences.
Her presence gives the supernatural story a personal dimension. Instead of the forest simply being a mysterious location where strange things happen, it becomes connected to the couple’s hopes, fears, and unresolved emotions.
Tamannaah brings a softer emotional quality to the film, although the screenplay could have given her character more opportunities to make a stronger impact.
Sunil Grover, Shweta Tiwari and the Supporting Cast
The supporting cast adds several different shades to the story.
Sunil Grover plays Deepak, a local character who has his own reasons for supporting development in the area. His position creates an interesting contrast with villagers who want to preserve the forest and its spiritual significance.
Shweta Tiwari plays Sushi, adding another layer of family tension to Rishi’s return to the village.
Anup Soni is also part of the central family dynamic, while Maniesh Paul provides much of the comic relief.
The comedy, however, is one area where reactions can differ. Some viewers may enjoy the lighter moments, while others may feel that the humour occasionally interrupts the darker atmosphere the movie is trying to create.
That difference is worth keeping in mind. If you go into the movie expecting a straight supernatural thriller, the comedy may feel distracting. If you are expecting a lighter fantasy adventure with humour mixed in, some of those moments may work better.
What Works in The Vvan
The strongest part of The Vvan is arguably its basic idea.
An ancestral village, a forbidden forest, an ancient supernatural force, and a protagonist who refuses to believe in the legends surrounding him — that is a setup that naturally creates curiosity.
The film also benefits from its atmosphere. The forest setting gives the movie a distinct visual identity, and the folklore-based foundation separates it from more familiar urban horror stories.
The connection with Chhath Puja and regional traditions also gives the story a specifically Indian cultural setting rather than making it feel like a generic supernatural adventure.
There are moments when the movie feels like it is about to become something much bigger. The mythology starts opening up, the mystery becomes more intense, and Rishi’s personal journey begins to intersect with the supernatural world.
Those are the moments where the film becomes genuinely intriguing.
Where The Vvan Struggles
The biggest criticism surrounding the movie is its uneven screenplay.
Several critics have pointed to the same broad issue in different ways: the film has an interesting premise, but the execution does not always match the ambition.
The movie moves between genres, and not every transition feels equally natural. A serious emotional moment may be followed by comedy that changes the mood. The mythology can feel intriguing, but the screenplay sometimes rushes through the very ideas that could have made the film more memorable.
The characters also could have benefited from more development.
Rishi’s transformation is central to the story, but the movie has so many other elements competing for attention that his emotional journey does not always receive the space it deserves.
This is particularly noticeable during the middle portion, where the film can feel like it is moving from one plot point to another without allowing certain moments to settle.
The Visual World and Supernatural Elements
A movie built around a forbidden forest has to make that forest feel like a character in its own right.
The Vvan certainly tries to create that atmosphere. Shadows, darkness, supernatural imagery, and folklore are used to make the forest feel mysterious and dangerous.
However, visual effects have also been a point of criticism in reviews. Some reviewers felt that the VFX and visual presentation were inconsistent.
This matters because the film’s biggest selling point is its supernatural world. When the visual effects work, they help create the feeling that Rishi has stepped into a world governed by rules completely different from his own.
When they do not work as well, the illusion becomes harder to maintain.
Still, the film deserves credit for attempting to create a fantasy world rooted in Indian folklore instead of simply relying on familiar horror imagery.
The Box Office Opening
Despite the mixed critical response, The Vvan: Force of the Forrest opened with a noticeable theatrical presence.
The film released on September 25, 2026. Early box-office estimates placed its India net collection at around ₹7.47 crore on Day 1, with the figure expected to increase as more shows and late-night collections were accounted for.
The later reported figure put the film’s Day 1 India net collection at around ₹8 crore. Its India gross was reported at approximately ₹9.60 crore.
The difference between the early and later numbers is a reminder that opening-day box-office figures can change as more shows and markets are accounted for.
The film reportedly recorded around 28.25% overall occupancy across Hindi 2D screenings on its first day. Night shows performed better than morning and afternoon screenings, with reported night occupancy reaching around 41.46%.
The stronger evening response suggests that the film attracted more audiences as the day progressed.
For now, the updated Day 1 India net figure stands at around ₹8 crore, based on the reports available.
What Critics Are Saying
The critical response to The Vvan has been mixed rather than universally positive or negative.
Some reviews acknowledge that the film has a fresh setting, an interesting folklore-driven concept, and moments of entertainment. The fantasy-comedy combination gives it a different flavour, even if the execution does not always remain consistent.
Other reviews have been considerably more critical, particularly about the screenplay, character development, comedy, and visual effects.
One recurring observation is that the film appears to have more ambition than its final execution can comfortably handle.
In other words, The Vvan is one of those movies where the basic concept may interest you even if the execution leaves you wanting more.
The Vvan: Force of the Forrest arrives with an idea that sounds bigger than a routine Bollywood supernatural story. It has folklore, a mysterious forest, family drama, faith, development, comedy, and a protagonist forced to question everything he thinks he knows.
That combination gives the movie personality.
At the same time, the film appears to struggle with bringing all those pieces together into one consistently satisfying experience. The screenplay moves between genres, and not every transition feels equally natural. Some characters could have benefited from more development, while some of the movie’s strongest ideas deserved more room to breathe.
Still, there is something appealing about the film’s ambition. It tries to create a distinctly Indian fantasy world rather than simply copying a familiar horror formula. The Bihar setting, village folklore, and connection with Chhath Puja give the story a cultural identity that makes it stand apart.
For viewers who enjoy supernatural stories rooted in Indian mythology and folklore, The Vvan may offer enough atmosphere and ideas to make the theatrical experience interesting. Those looking for a tightly written supernatural thriller, however, may find the uneven storytelling more noticeable.
As for the box office, the film’s updated Day 1 India net collection stands at around ₹8 crore, while early estimates had placed the figure slightly lower before the day’s final shows were counted.
Ultimately, The Vvan: Force of the Forrest is a film with an intriguing forest at its centre, but its biggest challenge is making every part of its story feel as compelling as that central mystery.