13 B: Is an intelligent thriller
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 Manohar (Madhavan) with his wife (Neetu Chandra) shifts to a new
address with his entire joint family comprising of his brother and his
wife, their two kids, mom (Poonam Dhillon) and a college going younger
sister. All the female folks in the family are hooked on to watching
daily Saas Bahu soaps on TV. But bizarre things start happening to
Manohar after shifting to this new address – 13B like the lift never
working whenever he boards it alone, his mobile phone clicking
distorted images of his self, his bathroom bulb being constantly lit up
despite him putting it off and him not being able to hammer a simple
nail in the room of his house walls.
While he is experiencing such
weird things, the opposite is happening to his family members who are
having personal gains in all possible ways. Just around that time the
female folk in his house start following a new daily TV Soap called Sab
Khairiyat. The show comes daily at 1300 hours at channel number 13 in
his 13 B flat only. Manohar soon realizes that the things happening in
the TV series are ditto happening in his own family life as well. It is
almost as if, his life’s daily events are being dictated by the TV
series. This drives Manohar literally mad as he tries finding answers
to it. He takes help of an old friend, Shiva (Murli Sharma) and what
unfolds next forms the rest part of this shocking thriller.
An innovative plot that steers clear of typical Bollywood horror cinema
clichés like a Tantric Baba, Sanskrit shlokas, and badly made up
ghosts, 13 B scores on many counts. The setting is very relatable to
anyone staying in urban cities and the script makes good use of daily
every day life happenings. Even things as simple as a lift and mobile
phone are smartly used as a prop to scare you. It’s a tough job scaring
the daylights out of the audience by showing things taking place on
screen in broad daylight but 13 B succeeds very well in doing so. First
timer director Vikram K. Kumar who is also the film’s story-screenplay
and dialogue writer deserves full marks for all inventive efforts in
making a gripping thriller that has you on the edge of the seat most of
the time. Also, the back story which reveals the suspense behind the
weird experiences Madhavan is experiencing appears very convincing.
Vikram has also made good use of camera by employing lot of handheld
camera moments which give you just the right feel of the character’s
helplessness. The only thing that is a downer is the film’s running
time which is 2 and a half hour. Also, the need for sensous dream song
between Madhavan and Neetu was just not needed especially when
sufficient time had been given for their bedroom act just few minutes
before it. The background music by Tubby-Parik succeeds in elevating
the tension.
The film is a must see for Madhavan’s superb act. He brilliantly
conveys the dilemma that he faces and his vulnerability in handling the
bizarre situations around him. Neetu Chandra in a less make up look
gives him able support. Murli Sharma employing a lot of black humour is
superb and gets some really good lines to give you that much needed
comic relief. Poonam Dhillon making a comeback of sorts after over a
decade is good too. Sachin Khedekar as the family’s trusted doctor does
a fine job. In a small part, Deepak Dobriyal impresses a lot.
Just don’t miss 13 B, it not only engages you but also gives you the
right chills and thrills just when you don’t expect them. It is one of
the most intelligently made thriller in recent times in Bollywood. Go
watch it.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5*
Starring: R. Madhavan, Neetu Chandra, Dhritman Chatterjee, Poonam Dhillon, Murli Sharma and Sachin Khedekar.
Director: Vikram K. Kumar
Sampurn Media
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