The last week of September is here, and moviegoers have a slew of films and series to binge-watch from the comfort of their homes. But if you are someone who loves watching movies in theatres, Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia starrer The Vvaan has been released today.
Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, who is known for shows like Permanent Roommates and Panchayat, The Vvaan marks his Bollywood directorial debut. The film hit the big screens today (September 25, 2026). Its folk song based on Bihar and Uttar Pradesh during Chhath Puja has been widely loved across India, as this is one of the few times Bollywood has incorporated Chhath Puja into the storyline while showcasing the culture and significance surrounding the festival.
The film has received a mixed response from fans and critics. While some have loved its simple and family-friendly storytelling, others were left disappointed with its execution.
The movie revolves around Rishi (Sidharth Malhotra) and Mamta (Tamannaah Bhatia), who live in Mumbai and hail from a village called Devanchal. Rishi and Mamta return to Devanchal to celebrate Chhath Puja. The village has a temple dedicated to Van Devi, located deep inside a forest, and no one is allowed to enter the area after sunset. But what happens when Rishi breaks this age-old rule?
The story
The couple Rishi (Sidharth Malhotra) and Mamta (Tamannaah Bhatia), decide to return to their village as Rishi faces financial pressure and is looking to fund an IVF treatment. He travels back home during Chhath Puja with plans to sell his share of ancestral land for a high price. The land is required for a new highway project, putting Rishi in the middle of a conflict between financial needs and the beliefs of the villagers.
The planned road cuts through a sacred and forbidden forest known as Dev Van. According to local beliefs, villagers are strictly prohibited from entering the forest after sunset as it is believed to be protected by the divine entity Van Devi.
However, Rishi, who considers himself an atheist, decides to defy the age-old rule and enters the dark forest at night.
Rishi's decision sets off many supernatural events. He begins experiencing strange dreams involving King Vikramaditya, who is believed to have broken the same rule centuries ago.
As the mystery unfolds, Rishi is forced to question his own beliefs and confront the supernatural forces connected to the forest. What begins as a journey driven by financial concerns gradually turns into a fight to protect the village and its people from a greater threat.
The story of The Vvaan draws inspiration from the real-life Maa Van Devi Temple in Bihar, believed to be around 400 years old and located near Bihta, close to Patna.
According to local folklore, the shrine is associated with a devotee named Vidyanand Mishra from Raghopur, who worshipped Maa Vindhyavasini. As travelling to the temple became difficult with age, the goddess is said to have appeared in his dream and instructed him to bring a sacred portion, or pind, to a local forest. This folklore is believed to have formed the roots of the historic shrine.
Apart from age-old beliefs and the awakening of an atheist to believe in God, what impresses is the most is the way the religious aspect has been presented in the film. The entire Chhath Puja sequence has been beautifully shot. The rituals, atmosphere and celebrations add a strong cultural touch to the film and stand out as one of its better portions.
The Vvaan has received mixed reviews from netizens.
A netizen tweeted, "#TheVvaanReview A visually ambitious folklore thriller! ✨ Sidharth Malhotra shines as a sceptic caught in a supernatural forest conflict. Great visuals & regional roots, though the 2nd half gets a bit formulaic. Worth a watch for the unique concept!"
Another X user wrote, "#TheVvaanReview VERY VERY BAD #TheVvaan is a horribly executed TV serial. Acting, screenplay, music, cinematography, dir... everything ranges from BAD to WORSE. Manish Paul is ok. Sunil Grover doesn't fit the villainous role, #SidharthMalhotra's performance is painfully bad."
#VVAAN had a solid lore to explore but it is let down with such sub par execution
— ANMOL JAMWAL (@jammypants4) September 25, 2026
You never feel immersed in a jungle!
Curated sets never make you feel genuine fear.
Every flashback and visual exploring the folklore are AI prompts.
It’s just lazy at this point
One more netizen tweeted, "#THEVVAAN REVIEW South Bombay ke #SidharthMalhotra aur #TamannaahBhatia ko Bihar ke Chhath festival-based film mein kaise cast kar liya? Dono khud confused lag rahe hain, "humein kyun liya hai?" Pehli baar theatre mein baith ke serial dekhne jaisa feel hua. Bas lag raha tha 10 minute baad ad aayega aur main channel change kar dunga." (
"How did they cast these two in a Bihar Chhath festival-based film? Both of them look confused themselves, like, 'Why did they cast us?' It felt like watching a TV serial in a theatre for the first time. I was just waiting for an ad to come on after 10 minutes so I could change the channel.")
