Subhash K Jha speaks about 3G

By Subhash K. Jha -

March 15, 2013 - 3:14 AM IST

Neil sees dead people. Whether dead people see him back is not known at the end of this chilling serial which starts off as a comment on the perils of intricately-manufactured cell phones and ends with a slap-in-the-face comment on the porn industry that, we are told, threatens to destroy the very foundation of our societal structure.

It certainly creates havoc in two lives out to have a fun week in azure Fiji. Here's how.

3G is not the first thriller to be located in Fiji. Just weeks ago Table No 21 attempted to chronicle the extraordinary supernatural adventures of an ordinary couple holidaying in Fiji. Here in 3G the couple on a horrific holiday is played by Neil Nitin Mukesh and the lovely Sonal Chauhan. Admittedly the two make a fetching pair and seem to share a crackling chemistry. The co-directors reserve the initial portions of the loosely-edited film to watching Ms Chauhan emerge from the oceanic depths of the Fijian waters in gravity-defying bikinis to share slurpy kisses with her co-star.

Co-directors Sheershak and Shantanu know the fundamental rules of the horror genre which they apply to this film with restrain. There are no creaky doors, banging windows and banshee-like wails and moans screams on the soundtrack. Amar Mohile's background score favours a remarkable restrain, under-scoring rather than over-emphasizing the chill quotient.

Initially the buildup of the horror is done with enthusiastic energy, with Neil's descent into demoniacal possession conveyed with throat-clutching credibility. The actor's voice, eyes and body language chart the character's journey from holiday-time fun to unexpected terror. Neil has worked hard on conveying a sense of growing anxiety within his character's devilish domain. His performance gets its pat-on-the-back moment when in a moment of satanic exhilaration he raises both his hands triumphantly in the air to mock a priest saying, "Have you forgiven yourself?"

His co-star has relatively less to do, and wear. Ms Chauhan does both with enthusiasm, and provides Neil's character with a spooky counterpoint in the tale of the man woman and the entity that enters their lives. The film depends almost completely on the couple to carry the chilling tale forward. The incidental characters are almost non-existent until the endgame when the story of another couple emerges from the folds of the inexplicable goings-on.

3G makes interesting use of the traditional horror formula. It subverts the genre to poke sardonic scary fun at technological advancement and the stronghold of gadgets and gizmos in today's times. There's a frightening message here on how the past revisits our present when we aren't looking.

Eerie and spine-tingling in spurts 3G has its moments of gripping suspense. Those who have enjoyed Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot or Vikram Bhatt's Raaz would certainly derive a trembling pleasure in 3G. A shiver giver set in the shimmering waters of Fiji, this is a well-structured though unevenly paced scare-fest that leads us into a terrifying climax. Porn intended.