Critics Review:
Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot is one of those shows where the genre itself makes you curious before the story does. A supernatural horror-comedy adventure with ghosts, folklore, an ancient mystery and an unlikely investigative duo sounds like a promising combination. But after the first few episodes, the biggest problem is not the lack of ideas. It is the lack of momentum.
The TV++ format series on JioHotstar is being released gradually over the next few months, so these are strictly first impressions. And so far, Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot is extremely slow. There is a promising genre hidden somewhere underneath all the setup, but the show takes too long to actually get there.
A Promising Idea Trapped in a Slow Beginning
Created and show run by Bhuvanesh Shrivastava, the series follows Alisha Nigam, a science-oriented woman searching for her missing archaeologist father. Her investigation takes her to Jhuliya, where the rational world she believes in begins colliding with ghosts, ancient objects and supernatural forces.
Her unlikely partner is Baba Rao Upadhyay, an eccentric small-town investigator who believes in the supernatural while Alisha approaches everything through logic and science. It is an interesting contrast and potentially a very entertaining one.
The problem is that the show spends far too much time establishing the world before giving the central mystery enough weight. The opening episodes even wander into a seemingly separate investigation involving stolen goats before eventually connecting it to the supernatural thread. Instead of creating intrigue, these detours make the already slow narrative feel slower.
Films Like Stree Has Set a Very High Bar
The horror-comedy genre has found considerable success in India, particularly after films like Stree and Bhool Bhulaiyaa demonstrated how effectively scares and humour can coexist. Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot clearly belongs to that larger wave, but it sometimes feels like it is borrowing too heavily from the familiar vocabulary of that genre rather than creating its own.
There are eccentric characters, a supernatural investigation, rural surroundings, ghosts and comic reactions to the paranormal. The ingredients are all there. What is missing is the freshness in putting them together.
This is actually a promising genre for Indian OTT because folklore and supernatural stories offer an enormous universe to explore. But for that potential to work, the horror needs to feel unsettling and the comedy needs to emerge naturally from the characters. Here, neither consistently lands.
Vishal Vashishtha Is the More Interesting Half
The performances are what keep the series watchable.
Vishal Vashishtha brings an appealing eccentricity to Baba Rao Upadhyay. He is bumbling without becoming completely cartoonish, and his equation with Alisha gives the show some much-needed energy. His character’s misplaced confidence, romantic interest in Alisha and willingness to bend rules create some of the better comic moments.
Asha Negi is dependable as Alisha, but the character currently feels underwritten. Considering that she is supposed to be the brainy yet emotional and investigative centre of the story, there needs to be more for her to do beyond reacting to the increasingly bizarre circumstances around her.
Joy Sengupta as Talwar adds an intriguing layer, while the supporting cast, including Abhay Mahajan and Mridul Das, adds to the peculiarity of this world. The ensemble clearly understands that the show is not meant to take itself too seriously, and that helps it survive some of its weaker stretches.
The Atmosphere Works Better Than the Horror
Interestingly, Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot looks more promising than it feels.
The rural setting, old-world interiors, shadows, corridors and mysterious locations create an atmosphere that suits the supernatural premise. The sound design is another positive, helping build suspense even when the actual horror does not quite deliver.
The problem is that the ghosts themselves rarely feel frightening. The series leans on familiar jump scares and recognisable supernatural imagery, but does not build enough dread around them. When you have forty ghosts in the title, you expect at least a few of them to make you uncomfortable.
A Genre Worth Exploring, But Needs More Finesse
The biggest issue with Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot is that it has a genre worth investing in but does not yet seem confident about how to use it. It wants to be spooky, funny, adventurous and mysterious all at once, but the transitions between these moods are not always seamless.
There is potential here. The folklore-inspired premise, science-versus-supernatural conflict and investigative angle could eventually develop into something much more engaging. But the first few episodes demand patience when they should ideally be creating addiction.
Final Verdict
As a first impression, Ali Baba Aur 40 Bhoot is a promising concept buried under a painfully slow beginning. The performances, particularly Vishal Vashishtha’s, and the atmospheric setting give it some life, but the borrowed-feeling horror-comedy template, inconsistent humour and lack of genuine scares hold it back. Since the series is releasing in stages, there is still room for it to find its rhythm and justify the promise of its premise.
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
By: Anushka Singhal
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