Review: ‘Hide and Seek’ is better hidden!

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: Based on a storyline similar to Hollywood hit ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, ‘Hide and Seek’ looks like an unsuccessful attempt on reminiscing the magic of the hit series from the West. Directed by debutante Shawn Arranha, ‘Hide and Seek’ is about a bunch of six friends, who have a party that ends in a tragedy for most of them. The story goes like – Om (Purab Kohli) has just been released from the mental asylum after 12 years. We flashback to the scenes of a Christmas party where Om, who is in love with Jyotika (Mrinalini Sharma), wants to gift her a miniature Taj Mahal, but Gunita (Amruta Patki) wants him to gift it to her as she too loves him. Then we jump to the present day, whereby the group of six is not in touch with each other. Om is still in love with Jyotika, but his mother strongly disapproves of their relationship, as she blames it to be the reason for Om’s disturbed mental health. On the other end, humiliated by hot-headed Gunita, Jaideep Mahajan (Arjan Bajwa) is determined to avenge himself with the help of his gutless buddy, Imran (Ayaz Khan). Envious of his younger sibling`s popularity, Om’s elder brother (Sameer Kochhar) tries to twist the events in order to get him out of his way. So now, in the present, all six begin to receive messages from an unknown source that reads `Caught You’. One night, they find themselves in the middle of a deserted mall, decorated for Christmas. The friends are horrified to see each other, relating to what happened 12 years back, and there, an invisible assassin tries to settle old scores. Purab Kohli and Mrinalini Sharma deliver good performances, but the story lacks originality. On the whole, ‘Hide and Seek’ is better hidden! Rating: One cheer for this one!