RGV’s back to scare you and this time the theme’s black magic.
Rajeev(Sudeep) is a successful builder. He’s a nice guy who values his friends, loves his wife Aarti(Amruta Khanvilkar), adores his kids Raksha(Ahsaas Channa) and Rohan(Shrey Bawa) and patiently puts up with his mother’s (Jyothi Subhash) religious TV programmes and superstitious beliefs.
All is going nice and dandy when Rajeev discovers his freinds and business associates Anshuman(Kenny Desai) and the very weird Madhu(Ashwini Kalsekar) have been cheating him. In a fit of rage he disassociates himself from them invoking the rage of Madhu who decides to get even with Rajeev through his much adored daughter, Raksha.
And then strange stuff begins to happen leading to Raksha getting good and possessed.
Is there a rational explanation for the all strange happenings or does black magic truly exist?
The first half of the movie holds your interest, establishing the characters and setting the stage for things to come. The second half of the movie goes well and truly down the drain with a climax straight out of a bad(did they have any good ones??) Ramsey brothers movie.
Phoonk doesn’t quite scare you though there are a couple of jumpy moments. But it does feel creepy that something so unnatural can happen to a guy as regular as Rajeev 
Sarkar Raj had me believing that Ramu is getting his touch back. Nope. No such luck. He does suffer from a Sarkar Raj hangover though coz he happily borrows the clanging cymbals backgroung score for Phoonk too. And the “Govinda Govinda” chant is replaced by “Rama Rama Rama”
Sudeep puts in a wonderfully natural performance….even when battling over the top tantrik’s. His persona is immensely likable and he does wonderfully in his first hindi movie.
Amruta doesn’t have too much to do and sorta gets on your nerves as the hapless hysterical female.
Ashwini Kalsekar is at her creepiest best. Although over the top, the vibes she generates are enough to make you want to stay outta the lady’s way
Ahsaas Channa finally gets be herself and play a girl after numerous “boy” roles.
Horror is not new to her and while she did well in Vaastu Shashtra she excels in Phoonk. Her “possessed” performance outdoes Urmila’s in Bhoot.
Lillette Dubey is wasted.
All in all a time pass flick. And certainly not scary.