Has this sequence been omitted in recent DVD versions? When I saw it on my old-fashioned VCR, the vampire was confronted at one point with 3 coffins: one containing the Gita and the trident, another the Koran, and the last one, of course, the Bible and the Cross. He recoils with equal anguish from all 3. This is the first vampire I have seen who shows such respect for the liberal secularist religious credentials of modern India. Was there a fourth coffin with the Granth Sahib (the holy book of the Sikhs)? The Dracula make-up is fine, but how I wish they had cut out the songs! Also, the gum-chewing leopard-skin-skirt wearing sidekick of Neola (Dracula) is too good to take. Still, this is not the best Ramsay to me. I think that crown should go to their VEERANA.
7 Reviews
Bollywood Vampires.
BA_Harrison21 October 2017
In the lengthy prologue to this Bollywood horror, desperate wife Lajo (Beena Banerjee) is unable to conceive, and so, fearful of losing her husband Pratap (Vijayendra Ghatge), travels to Kali Pahadi to ask the evil vampiric demon Nevla (Anirudh Agarwal) for help: he agrees to give her a child, on the one condition that if the baby is female, she is to be handed over to him to be his slave. Of course, the baby is a girl, but the distraught mother refuses to hand over her child. A seriously miffed Nevla sends his acolyte Mahua (Aruna Irani) to poison Lajo, which leads to Pratap seeking revenge, he and his pals ransacking Nevla's Kali Pahadi hideout, and slaying the vampire.
After some incredibly gaudy credits, we cut to Lajo's daughter, Kamya (Kunickaa Sadanand), now all grown up, happily dancing in shiny lycra to the Fright Night soundtrack—but her life is not as peachy as it seems: she is in love with friend Kumar (Hashmat Khan), but he only has eyes for Sapna (Manjeet Kullar). Nevla's followers, seeing a golden opportunity to gain a new recruit, promise Kamya that, if she joins them, they will use their magic to make Kumar fall for her. It's around this point that I started to lose interest, the plot beginning to meander, starting with the first of three protracted musical interludes (Kumar and Sapna singing and dancing together in the rain).
Anyway, to cut a long story short (the film is well over two hours, and feels much longer), Nevla is resurrected, Kamya becomes his slave, quite a few people get bitten, and there's more singing, before the vampire is finally defeated in a manner that makes very little sense whatsoever. Those who stay the distance are treated to several poorly choreographed fight scenes, the same crash of thunder played countless times (ditto with the wolf howl and the cat screeching sound effects), the worst 'day for night' photography imaginable, the blatant stealing of the 'Ki ki ki ma ma ma' theme from Friday the 13th, a modicum of gore, and one hell of an ugly vampire (bulging veins on his head, massive fangs, and those eyes it's not the fact that they are bright red that is freaky, it's how far apart they are).
After some incredibly gaudy credits, we cut to Lajo's daughter, Kamya (Kunickaa Sadanand), now all grown up, happily dancing in shiny lycra to the Fright Night soundtrack—but her life is not as peachy as it seems: she is in love with friend Kumar (Hashmat Khan), but he only has eyes for Sapna (Manjeet Kullar). Nevla's followers, seeing a golden opportunity to gain a new recruit, promise Kamya that, if she joins them, they will use their magic to make Kumar fall for her. It's around this point that I started to lose interest, the plot beginning to meander, starting with the first of three protracted musical interludes (Kumar and Sapna singing and dancing together in the rain).
Anyway, to cut a long story short (the film is well over two hours, and feels much longer), Nevla is resurrected, Kamya becomes his slave, quite a few people get bitten, and there's more singing, before the vampire is finally defeated in a manner that makes very little sense whatsoever. Those who stay the distance are treated to several poorly choreographed fight scenes, the same crash of thunder played countless times (ditto with the wolf howl and the cat screeching sound effects), the worst 'day for night' photography imaginable, the blatant stealing of the 'Ki ki ki ma ma ma' theme from Friday the 13th, a modicum of gore, and one hell of an ugly vampire (bulging veins on his head, massive fangs, and those eyes it's not the fact that they are bright red that is freaky, it's how far apart they are).
Not a Perfect Ramsay dish
chetanlakum430 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This film is not a perfect Ramsay dish because its too long and hard to digest,see the film title is Bandh darwaza but you never find a darwaza in the film you find the Kali pahadi so they could change the title and name KAALI PAHADI just like there other film VEERANA,
The cast is good Vijay ghatge, Hashmat khan and manjit culler were did there job but best part of film is monster Ajay Agrawal,again he was superb, Kunika was looks hot but not like Jasmin in Verena,the Plot of Kaali Pahadi was also good part of film but as i said too long for horror fans, I am a die hard fan of Ramsay bros. for me it same like other Ramsay movie but for other i doubt whether they like or not.
The cast is good Vijay ghatge, Hashmat khan and manjit culler were did there job but best part of film is monster Ajay Agrawal,again he was superb, Kunika was looks hot but not like Jasmin in Verena,the Plot of Kaali Pahadi was also good part of film but as i said too long for horror fans, I am a die hard fan of Ramsay bros. for me it same like other Ramsay movie but for other i doubt whether they like or not.
good because its bad
devil_may_cry_ldk_dante_sparda11 December 2003
I loved this movie because of its cheapness! I mean I laughed my butt off the whole way! I actually avoid bollywood horror movies of today cause they are not of Ramsay's anymore. All they do is remake stories verbatim of american movies. Ramsay took a general idea and made it his own.
Bad movie . . . very, very bad movie
randy_lejeune26 June 2001
Well, this is it folks . . . Bollywood's answer to third rate B-Movies. This is a pathetic little farce about vampyres in India. The chief vampyre looks like he is wearing a Halloween mask, the whole movie is cheap and dark looking, and basically looks like it was shot in someone's back yard. If you can't find it in your local video store, don't bother. They don't get any worse than this.
Seriously Scary Vampire, seriously long film.
SheliakBob27 September 2004
"BANDH DARWAZA" may well be my personal favorite of the Ramsay Brothers horror flicks. It is in some ways the most approachable for non-Indian viewers. It's monster is a standard black cape wearing, fanged Vampire and the plot is fairly easy to follow, even without subtitles. The best part of the film is it's monster. There is nothing "suave" or "seductive" about this vampire. He's a MONSTER, plain and simple. Appearance wise, the vampire here sort of reminds me of Rondo Hatton with fangs and a cape. He's kind of a nightmare version of a cartoon Dracula, complete with black silk cape with high collar, very white fangs, and a fright-mask like face. But he's SCARY! Let me tell ya'! I'm a jaded horror film fan and this is one of the just plain nasty scariest vampires committed to film! His dialog consists mostly of "Gnaaaaarrrrghh-sssss", usually shouted while smashing through a wall or a door, or just stalking relentlessly toward the frightened protagonists. The closest American counterpart I can think of is the vampire from "THE NIGHT STALKER", all predatory beast with not a drop of Lugosi to speak of. But, at 2 1/2 hours long, the movie will try the patience of all but the most dedicated fan, and will probably send casual viewers running for their remotes. If you can stick it out through the song and dance numbers and the lengthy conversations, BANDH DARWAZA delivers with the chills!
Is it Radu?nope...Its "neola" Indian Dracula like vampire
dhanish-7344713 August 2016
You guys wondering what the hell i am talking about and who is Radu? Radu is horror Dracula vampire from the movie called subspecies and any one has watched it will know my point of view,In fact band darwaza was released in 1990 before subspecies released in 1991,
Despite of both characters similarity,i regret to say this neola triumphs with his unforgiving devilish performance,blood sucker even sucks the life of the audiences.There are jokes in the movie but that won't ease your blood pressure to normal level,iniquitous,uncanny is at its best,what i would call this vampire as one of the seven chief devils and the tempter of Faust.
I am warning you guys This is non nonsense movie,Young girls and heart patient don't watch this movie or else neola is watching you from the window.
Despite of both characters similarity,i regret to say this neola triumphs with his unforgiving devilish performance,blood sucker even sucks the life of the audiences.There are jokes in the movie but that won't ease your blood pressure to normal level,iniquitous,uncanny is at its best,what i would call this vampire as one of the seven chief devils and the tempter of Faust.
I am warning you guys This is non nonsense movie,Young girls and heart patient don't watch this movie or else neola is watching you from the window.
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