Raaz (2002 film)

Infobox Film
name = Raaz


image_size =
caption = Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea in "Raaz"
director = Vikram Bhatt
producer = Mahesh Bhatt Productions
writer =
narrator =
starring = Bipasha Basu
Dino Morea
music = Nadeem Shravan
cinematography =
editing =
distributor =
released = 2002
runtime = 2: 36: 48
country = flagicon|India India
language = Hindi
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by = Raaz 2
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0307873

"Raaz" (Hindi: राज़, Urdu: راز, translation: "secret"), directed by Vikram Bhatt, is an unofficial Bollywood adaptation of the film "What Lies Beneath". The film is based on the story of a couple who have moved to Ooty to save their failing marriage. However, what they find in their new home is more than they expected when a ghost starts haunting the place. Sanjana suddenly finds that her husband is part of the ghostly conspiracy, which she must fix in order to escape.

When filming first began in the remote areas of Ooty there were claims by the film crew that there were ghosts haunting the set.Fact|date=August 2008

It was one of the top grossing films of 2005. Bipasha Basu went on to be praised for her role in the film, and was even nominated for the Filmfare Best Actress Award. "Raaz" also marked the debut of actress Malini Sharma.

The role of Sanjana Dhanraj, which was played by Bipasha Basu, was first offered to Lisa Ray, who supposedly refused the film on the basis that she did not want to do conventional Bollywood films.

Plot

Sanjana Dhanraj(Bipasha) is a lonely wife of a businessman Aditya Dhanraj(Dino) who has no time for his wife. After an argument in a party Sanjana returns home while driving her car madly. Suddenly someone whispers her name in her ear and immediately the car faces an accident. Aditya tells Sanjana in hospital that he is sorry and wants to make up for the time that he has lost with her. Sanjana asks him to take her to Ooty, where they first started their relationship.

After coming to Ooty, Sanjana and Aditya stay in their farmhouse. There Sanjana starts facing eerie and unearthly situations. She feels more disturbed and consults her friend Priya(Shruti Ulfat). She takes her to Professor Agni Swarop (Ashutosh Rana), a parasychologist, who decides to help her. He tells her that an unquitened spirit inhabits the farmhouse and that its purpose is to destroy anybody who comes in its path. Aditya doesnot believe all these and even forbids Progfessor Swarop to trouble her wife any further. In the meantime Sanjana's servant is killed by the spirit, but Sanjana learns from the man that a murder had taken place in the house.

She learns that a girl(Malini Sharma) who was killed by her father, torments the house. She goes and meets the man and learns the truth that the girl actually committed suicide when her lover rejected her. In the meantime Aditya, who was going on an important business trip, finds the road blocked due to some calamity. He calls Sanjana to pick him up. Sanjana, who in the meantime has already learnt that the girl's lover was none other than Aditya, comes to pick him up and tells him that from that point their relationship is completely over. While in the car, Aditya tries to persuade Sanjana to forgive him. It is shown that the real Sanjana is still with the father of the girl. The woman in the car then turns her face and it is a disfigured frightening face. Immediately the car skids over a cliff with Aditya in it.

Sanjana learns of the accident and understands the spirit won't rest until she has killed Aditya. She asks for Professor Swaroop's help again. He tells her that the body of the girl (Malini), needs to be destroyed to relese the spirit. They go in the forest where teh body of the girl was buried by Aditya and the servant. They try to burn the body but several paranormal forces try to stop them but eventually they succeed in burning it. The spirit gets released and Aditya is saved.

Cast

*Bipasha Basu as Sanjana Dhanraj
*Dino Morea as Aditya Dhanraj
*Malini Sharma as Malini
*Shruti Ulfat as Priya
*Anang Desai as Ajay
*Mink Singh as Nisha (as Mink)
*Ashutosh Rana as Professor Agni Swaroop

Box Office

Raaz was released in the first half of 2002. Though not expected to be a success, 2002 was a year in Bollywood cinema when not a single movie had succeeded in box office. But Raaz was accepted gratitously and went on to become the second highest film of 2002, behind Devdas (there were only these tow movies which were super-hit in 2002). The main reason behind the movie's success was a different storyline than the usual love-stories or the action masalas. People accepted the haunting story of Raaz. Bipasha was praised for her a acting. Also the main force behind the movie's success was its music which had been a chartbuster for quite sometime before the release of the film.

Music

The music of Raaz was penned by NADEEM SHRAVAN and utilised a series of melodious tunes and bittersweet rhythms. "Aapke Pyaar Mein" sung by Alka Yagnik was a rave among the people as was "Jo Bhi Kasme" which was featured on Bipasha and Dino.

Playback Singer

* Alka Yagnik
* Abhijeet
* Udit Narayan

equel

*Mohit Suri has planned to make a sequel to the film; Raaz 2 will star Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut.Pravin madane

Awards

* 2003: Zee Cine Awards, Zee Cine Award Dynamic Duo for "Raaz"
* 2003: Zee Cine Awards, Zee Cine Award Best Female Debut for "Raaz", Malini Sharma
* 2003: Sabsey Favourite Kaun, Favourite Nayi Heroine for "Raaz", Bipasha Basu

External links

* [http://www.planetbollywood.com/Film/Raaz/ Planet Bollywood Review]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307873/ IMDB listing]