Dahaan – The Evil Within marks a significant shift in the way horror is being attempted in Odia cinema, actor Partha Sarathi Ray said, describing the recently released film as a distinctly gothic, out-and-out horror experience.
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“The styling is very gothic, so it has that international feel,” Ray said. Unlike horror-comedies and films built around supernatural elements, Dahaan does not depend on songs, dance sequences or a romantic track. “It’s pure horror. An out-and-out horror movie,” he said.
Ray, who had not watched the film before its theatrical release, said he was impressed by the audience response when he eventually saw it in a theatre. According to him, the film takes time to build before making a major turn around the half-hour mark, after which the pace picks up and remains steady until the climax.
“The interval got so many whistles and claps. After the interval, the film goes to a different level,” he said. Ray added that audiences appeared to enjoy the horror even though the film does not rely heavily on conventional jump scares. He said the industry should support filmmakers willing to experiment with genres and storytelling. Ray said Dahaan is not copied from any particular work, though similarities between horror stories are inevitable. He said director-writer Anupam Patnaik’s long-standing interest in the genre has shaped the film’s treatment.
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Positive feedback from contacts in Mumbai, he added, has made him proud to be part of a film he believes can reach audiences beyond Odisha and internationally.
(By Afreen Firdaus)
