Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and Goosebumps Entertainment’s Victoria (Marathi; UA) is a horror thriller.
Ankita (Sonalee Kulkarni) and husband Siddharth (Aashay Kulkarni) arrive at Hotel Victoria in Scotland, owned by the latter’s uncle, Adhiraj (Pushkar Jog). Ankita senses the presence of a ghost but Siddharth doesn’t take her seriously as she has experienced panic attacks in the past, and Siddharth assumes that she is imagining things. But when Ankita sees the ghost of Adhiraj’s dead wife, Renuka (Heera Sohal), the couple shifts into another cottage.
Meanwhile, Adhiraj has told Siddharth and Ankita about two ex-employees, Arjun Mathur and Julia, who are no longer working in the hotel. What is the truth about Renuka? Who was Arjun Mathur and where is he now? Who was Julia?
Omkar Gokhale and Jeet Ashok have written a story which is not convincing at all. There are several weak links in the story because of which the proceedings don’t terrify the viewers. Virajas Kulkarni’s screenplay is okay but not always believable. It is not clear to the audience as to why Siddharth chooses to stay in Hotel Victoria with his wife (who had suffered panic attacks in the past) even after he knows that there is something eerie about it. The drama has been written with the objective of frightening the daylights out of the viewers but, frankly, the horror scenes fail to thrill or chill the audience. Omkar Gokhale and Virajas Kulkarni’s dialogues are okay and should’ve been far better.
Pushkar Jog does a fine job as Adhiraj. Sonalee Kulkarni is very good in the role of Ankita. Aashay Kulkarni delivers a nice performance as Siddharth. Heera Sohal is so-so as Renuka. Others lend routine support.
Virajas Kulkarni and Jeet Ashok’s direction is not very convincing. Although they’ve made a horror film, they’ve hardly succeeded in sending chills down the viewers’ spines. Nishaad Golambare’s background music is appealing. Sopan Purandare’s cinematography is very nice. Shambhavi Satnaik’s art direction deserves special mention. Bhushan Purandare’s editing ought to have been tighter.
On the whole, Victoria is a poor fare which will flop at the ticket windows. Its biggest plus point is its impressive star cast, but even the star names will not be able to do much to improve the commercial prospects of the film.
Released on 13-1-’23 at Gem (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru White Lion Entertainment. Publicity: fair. Opening: weak.