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After 'King Uncle' it's time for 'Bhoot Unkle' ("Uncle" with letter "k")! Jackie Shroff celebrates his twentyfifth year in Bollywood with this film that promises entertainment for children. Besides Jackie Shroff, the film has bunch of lovable kids playing important roles. Child fiction is one genre that has been neglected for decades but is picking up now with style, and 'Bhoot Unkle' is one such major example. Recently, there was buzz for animated films with the success of 'Hanuman' and lately with another kid loving animated 'Krishna'. However, there have been films like 'Aabra Ka Dabra' and 'Makdee' that drew adulation for being entertaining to the child audiences.

'Bhoot Unkle', the kid roller coaster ride, is presented by Ikon Pictures and WAM Motion Pictures and produced by Aneesh Arjun Dev and Krishan Chaudhry. Every week Bollywood witnesses a blend of experiments, including movies like 'Bhoot Unkle'. But how fruitful the experimentation is lies in its contents and indifferent treatment? Like many half-baked concepts it's another example where a noble concept has gone awry. The crusader "Bhoot Unkle" makes his magical appearance in the last reels of the film. Why so much hue and cry about the film to be titled as 'Bhoot Unkle'? The film glorifies extensively on one-on-one fight between kid groups and traces the path of conventional Bollywood entertainer. The kids of Gen X have grown and nurtured with latest gizmos, so why plant the concept in rural downtown with predictable storyline?

The narration has to be supplied with high class special effects and animations. It disappoints completely with ordinary SFX effects and poor animation. The magical powers on screen look too mandatory and old fashioned. The flashbacks run on animation visual works but the quality is exceptionally poor.

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Hollywood's biggest money spinners in recent years have been child fiction films that have catered to all ages of audiences. Films like adventures of 'Harry Potter', 'Lords of the Rings' and kid entertainers like 'Dunston Checks In', 'Baby's Day Out' and 'Home Alone' have written history worldwide. Unfortunately, our film industry lacks the innovative skills to create a mystical magic that encapsulates child fiction. 'Bhoot Unkle' tries to recreate the mystical charms of "Harry Potter" series but the treatment is too "run of the mill". The film loses its grounds on two major fronts - special effects and story telling. Besides, the film fails to convey any social message through the journey of kid's roller coaster ride.

The film is a mixed blend of Hollywood films like 'Harry Potter' series and 'Pirates of Caribbean'. In short, the two major characters of the film (Dev Kantawala and Jackie Shroff) are sketched from these two films.

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'Bhoot Unkle' is the story of a twelve year boy Shyam (Dev Kantawala) and his friends who accidentally resolve hundred-year old mystery and meet friendly ghost "Bhoot Unkle" played by Jackie Shroff. In this kid loving fun frolicking endeavor, Jackie Shroff dons long haired looks and wears big cap to get into the skin of the character. 'Bhoot Unkle' opens up in reclusive rural place "Hari Nagar", governed by mighty and corrupt Makhan Lal Akela alias MLA (Akhilendra Mishra). He is self styled kingpin of the land and rules by his muscle power.

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Shyam, a lovable orphan school kid, is victimized by his maternal aunty (Rasika Joshi). His uncle (Anurag Pranappa) has soft corner but bends before his wife's violent nature. Shyam has a group of friends --- Tingu(KK), Shunti (Mandaar), Geeta (Sheena Bajaj) who befriend him in pain and pleasure. Shyam has constant tussle with MLA's spoilt brat SK (Jay Kanani) and his evil friends. Geeta is adorable daughter of school principal and helps Shyam in fighting out all the injustices. The tussle between Shyam and SK takes ugly turn to the extent that MLA goons make Shyam their target.

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Traumatized Shyam finds shelter in lighthouse where he experiences mystical powers. The white light is emitted from Lord Shiva's statue and it brings out "ghost" like creature. It was friendly ghost whom all the kids call by lovable name "Bhoot Unkle" (Jackie Shroff). This lovable ghost helps Shyam from his cruel aunt and supplies him with all the luxuries and wealth. "Bhoot Unkle" has forgettable past of being dreaded pirate who stole the divine statue of Lord Shiva. He is now fighting for his "mukti" (salvation) and for this he wants the stolen statue to be reinstalled in the temple. Shyam and his friends fight with MLA for the statue and help "Bhoot Unkle" to rekindle his soul after hundred years of recluse in the light house.

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Child actor Dev Kantawala deserves all the appreciation for his brilliant performance. The cute and lovable kid is impressive, influential and competent in all phases of films. The film completely belongs to him and his acting histrionics. The rest of the kid star cast is equally efficient and plays part well. Jackie Shroff shows signs of aging and it's time for him to work in film that suits his age. Jackie's make up is sick, rustic and haggard and reminds of pirate caricature of Hollywood's actor Johnny Depp in 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Akhilendra Mishra delivers his villainous act very well. Rasik Joshi and Anurag Pranappa work mechanically according to the script's demand.

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Rajiv Aggarwal and Veeru Shahane's shoddy screenplay proves too incompetent to provide trendy entertainment for kids. C Vignesh Rao's cinematography is sub-standard and fails to evoke grounding for brilliant child fictional entertainer. Baba Sehgal's music is hardly audible. The film is restricted to one song and that comes in last stages . It may sound ridiculous as to why the rest of soundtracks in the album have not been utilized in the film? The film deserved a couple of rhythmical soundtracks that could have stirred child audiences. The final conflict is entertaining but certainly not path breaking like that of 'Koi Mil Gaya' basketball sequences.

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In recent times, films like 'Vaah Life Ho Toh Aisi' and 'Krishna' failed because they failed to collage the narrative elements and visual effects with finesse. Similarly, 'Bhoot Unkle' has its limitations that may hamper its box-office prospects. Manish Sehgal's direction looks amateurish as he relies heavily on stereotyped storytelling methods. 'Bhoot Unkle' is unfortunate to hit the marquee after months of delay and finally made it to theatres with five more releases. The film has low promotion and has been invisible to many movie buffs. It has meek chances of acceptance and even child audiences won't cherish it. In nutshell, 'Bhoot Unkle' is a forgettable "bhoot" (ghost) and will be facing torrid times at the box office. Even the magical powers of "Bhoot Unkle" can't save it from disaster.