The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest is one of the more unusual Hindi films to arrive in theatres in 2026. Starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, the movie combines Indian folklore, mythology, supernatural mystery, fantasy, romance and action. Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, with Arunabh Kumar associated with the story and screenplay, the film attempts to create a world where an ancient forest and its mysterious deity become central to a modern man’s journey.
Released in theatres on September 25, 2026, The Vvaan arrives with an interesting premise: what happens when a rational person challenges a belief that an entire community has followed for generations? The answer is a supernatural adventure that starts with an intriguing mystery but becomes increasingly complicated as the story progresses.
The Vvaan Movie Story
The story follows Rishi, played by Sidharth Malhotra, a rational and practical man who returns to his ancestral village in Bihar. Unlike the villagers, Rishi doesn’t easily accept the belief surrounding a forbidden forest.
According to the folklore explored in the film, the forest is connected to Van Devi, a powerful folk goddess. The villagers believe that the sacred forest should not be entered after sunset. Rishi, however, sees the forest differently. To him, it represents an obstacle to development rather than a supernatural force.
His decision to challenge the village’s long-standing belief sets off a chain of mysterious events. What begins as a conflict between rational thinking and traditional faith gradually develops into a much larger supernatural battle.
The story also brings in themes of land, community, faith and development. A land dispute becomes connected to the ancient folklore, while the presence of a powerful political figure adds another layer to the conflict.
Sidharth Malhotra’s Performance
Sidharth Malhotra gets a role that is quite different from some of his recent action-oriented characters. Rishi begins as someone who trusts logic over mythology, which gives the character an interesting starting point.
The central challenge for Sidharth is portraying a man whose understanding of the world gradually changes. As supernatural events become impossible to ignore, Rishi is forced to question his own assumptions.
The performance has received mixed reactions from critics. Some reviews have appreciated the film’s concept and atmosphere, while others have found the character development and emotional impact less convincing. The Vvaan ultimately depends heavily on Rishi’s transformation, so the effectiveness of the story rests on how strongly audiences connect with his journey.
Tamannaah Bhatia and the Supporting Cast
Tamannaah Bhatia plays a major role alongside Sidharth Malhotra. The film also features Sunil Grover, Shweta Tiwari, Maniesh Paul and Anup Soni in supporting roles.
The supporting cast helps establish the village environment and gives the story additional characters through which its folklore and social conflicts are explored.
Sunil Grover brings some lighter moments to a story that otherwise deals with supernatural elements and danger. The presence of comedy is part of the film’s attempt to balance its darker material with more accessible entertainment.
However, the large number of ideas sometimes creates a problem. The movie wants to explore folklore, mythology, romance, horror, fantasy, comedy and social conflict at the same time. Some critics have argued that the screenplay becomes overloaded as a result.
Folklore Is the Film’s Biggest Attraction
The most interesting aspect of The Vvaan is its use of Indian folklore.
Instead of relying entirely on familiar horror-movie mythology, the film draws from the folk story surrounding Van Devi and a sacred grove in Bihar. This gives the supernatural story a distinctly Indian cultural identity.
The film also incorporates Chhath Puja and elements of faith into its narrative. This combination gives The Vvaan a visual and cultural identity that separates it from conventional Bollywood horror thrillers.
The teaser had already attracted attention for blending folk horror, mythology and action, with critics describing its visual presentation as striking.
That atmosphere remains one of the movie’s stronger features.
Horror, Fantasy and Action
The Vvaan is difficult to place into a single genre. It moves between supernatural thriller, fantasy adventure, folk horror, romance and comedy.
There are mysterious creatures, supernatural occurrences and moments designed to create tension. At the same time, the movie doesn’t remain a pure horror film.
This mixture can be entertaining when the different elements work together. However, it can also make the tone inconsistent.
One early review described the movie as having an intriguing beginning but becoming messy because it keeps adding new ideas.
That observation captures one of the film’s central strengths and weaknesses. There is clearly plenty happening on screen, but not every idea receives enough room to develop.
Visuals and VFX
Visually, The Vvaan attempts to create a mysterious world around its forest setting.
The forbidden forest is more than just a location. It becomes an important part of the film’s identity, representing the boundary between the rational world and the supernatural world.
However, the visual effects have received criticism from some reviewers. Amar Ujala’s review specifically criticised the VFX while also arguing that the film’s attempt to combine mythology, folklore, superhero-style elements and cultural themes becomes difficult to manage.
This means that while the concept looks ambitious, the execution may not always match the scale of the ideas.
The Vvaan Movie Review: Final Verdict
The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest is an ambitious attempt to bring Indian folklore and supernatural fantasy into a mainstream Hindi movie.
Its biggest strengths are its unusual premise, cultural setting and willingness to explore a folk legend rather than relying entirely on familiar horror formulas. Sidharth Malhotra gets an interesting character arc, while Tamannaah Bhatia and the supporting cast add further layers to the story.
At the same time, the film tries to handle too many elements. The combination of mythology, fantasy, horror, romance, comedy, action and social themes sometimes makes the screenplay feel unfocused. Several reviews have also pointed to pacing problems, uneven VFX and a weaker second half.
For viewers who enjoy Indian folklore, supernatural mysteries and fantasy adventures, The Vvaan offers something different from the usual Bollywood formula. Those looking for a tightly written horror thriller may find the experience less consistent.
Overall, The Vvaan is an ambitious folklore-based fantasy thriller with an intriguing concept and atmospheric world, but its overloaded screenplay prevents all of its ideas from reaching their full potential.
The Vvaan Movie Details
Movie: The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest
Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
Story/Screenplay: Arunabh Kumar and Anandeshwar Dwivedi
Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sunil Grover, Shweta Tiwari, Maniesh Paul, Anup Soni
Genre: Fantasy, Mythological Thriller, Horror
Language: Hindi
Release Date: September 25, 2026
Runtime: Approximately 136 minutes
