Watch Shaitaan Haveli

Shaitaan Haveli is a horror-comedy that released on streaming platform Amazon Prime Video in 2018, produced by OML (Only Much Louder) and directed by Ajay Singh. The show combines classic Bollywood horror tropes with contemporary humor, making for a fresh and exciting watch.

The premise of the show revolves around the fictional horror filmmaker Hariman who, in his heyday, created infamous horror movies such as "Raat Mein Dhoka" and "Neend Se Mohabbat". However, after his last movie "Shaitaan Haveli" flopped at the box office, he disappeared from the industry. Years later, the producer that funded his last film is looking to revive Hariman's career, which is where our story picks up.

The show has a unique framing device, with the action taking place both in the present day and within the scenes of Hariman's horror movie. The scenes of the movie-within-the-show are shot in black and white, with exaggerated sound effects and music, and are meant to be over-the-top and ridiculous, poking fun at the horror movies of yesteryear. The present-day scenes are in color and feature Bhupesh Singh as a struggling filmmaker named Sammy who has been tasked with restoring Hariman's old film reels.

Varun Thakur plays Sattu, an aspiring actor who gets roped into the production of Shaitaan Haveli by Hariman's former producer. The rest of the cast includes a motley crew of characters who end up staying in the titular haunted mansion during filming. There's the washed-up actress who is hoping for a comeback, the earnest assistant director, and the cynical scriptwriter who provides most of the show's humor.

As the cast and crew set up camp in the decrepit haveli, strange things begin to happen. The haveli seems to be alive, shifting its layout and trapping people within its walls. The crew members start to disappear one by one, and it becomes clear that the ghosts of the past are coming back to haunt Hariman and his crew.

One of the standout features of the show is its witty writing. The humor is clever and self-aware, poking fun at the horror genre while still managing to create genuinely tense moments. The show also makes excellent use of Bollywood music and cinematography, with some scenes emphasizing the dramatic and cheesy aspects of horror movies in a way that is both hilarious and nostalgic.

Bhupesh Singh and Varun Thakur are both excellent in their roles, bringing a sense of authenticity to their characters that grounds the zaniness of the plot. Singh's Sammy is a likable and relatable protagonist, while Thakur's Sattu provides some of the show's funniest moments.

Despite its horror elements, the show is not particularly scary, and may even be too silly for some viewers. However, for fans of horror-comedy, Shaitaan Haveli is a must-watch. It manages to strike a balance between genuine scares and laugh-out-loud humor, creating a show that is both entertaining and memorable.

Overall, Shaitaan Haveli is a great addition to the horror-comedy subgenre, offering a fresh take on classic Bollywood horror movies. With a talented cast, witty writing, and excellent use of music and cinematography, the show is an excellent watch for fans of the genre.

Shaitaan Haveli is a series that ran for 1 seasons (15 episodes) between January 5, 2018 and on OML