‘Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe’ to be screened in theatres in May 2022
Venkat Raman
Auckland, March 15, 2022
Santosh Tukkapuram, a New Plymouth based Cinematographer, Photographer, Producer and Director, who gave us ‘Mistake, Ek Galthi’ in June 2020, with the gruesome tale of a woman victimised by her sadistic husband, is now preparing to release his new film.
Called, ‘Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe,’ also in Hindi, is slated for release in cinema houses in Auckland and other cities in May 2022.
“This is a horror-comedy, which will not only keep viewers engaged but also entertained. We have filmed the entire film in New Zealand with all actors and members of the crew drawn from our communities. I hope that ‘Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe,’ will gain public acceptance,” he said.
https://youtu.be/0Apq5hLo6-o
Madhuri Thota has produced (for ‘My Company Productions’) the movie, which has been directed by her husband Santosh Tukkapuram (who has also written the story, screenplay and the dialogues), with music composed by Srikanth Bugaveeti and background music by Vijay Kurakula.
Bijoy Matthew is the cameraman, while Cherry Santosh has edited and produced the visual effects and digitalisation.
In the lead are Puru Bakshi (in the role of Puru), Kshetra (Varshitha), R J Bhupi (Mama).
Two Thieves, three spirits
The story revolves around Varshitha, a 20-year-old school dropout who becomes a small-time thief, looting dairies and gas stations with the help and support of her mama (uncle).
An otherwise bright and sprightly girl, Varshitha blames her incompatible parents for making their house a battleground day and night.
Taking to the lowly life of a stealer does not bother her conscience.
One night, Varshitha and her Mama rob a gas station and run away with cash, cigarettes and several other items. While they are having a party in a pub with the stolen money, they are arrested by the Police, charged and produced before a Court.
The presiding judge, who has seen them earlier, assigned them to six months’ community service. They are ordered to maintain a Haveli (an old house, often referred to as abandoned property). The Police leave them at the house with their ankles wrapped around by an electronic monitor to prevent them from attempting to escape.
Neither the two defendants nor the Police was aware that the Haveli is a house haunted by three spirits (an old couple and their servant), awaiting the arrival of their legal heir to hand over the Haveli and progress into the eternal world. As a measure of protecting the property, they scare away all intruders.
Another twist to the tail
Meanwhile, Puru, a taxi driver and Nasir, a cleaner at a restaurant are bachelor friends renting a house and living with its owner Mamatha in Auckland.
Nasir’s friend Bunty, who lives in India, is a Facebook friend of Nasir. Enamoured by the latter’s posts carrying pictures of expensive properties, luxury cars and beautiful women, sells his property and comes to Auckland on a student visa.
Puru tries to tell Bunty about the dubious nature of Nasir he does not listen.
One day Bunty gets into a fight with Mamatha, following which he is asked to vacate the office within a week. Puru takes Bunty to Nasir’s working place and shows him the reality. Frustrated, he bashes Nasir and now the three of them are looking for a new house.
Accommodation Advertisement
Back at the Haveli, Varshitha’s Mama advises her to advertise in the local papers calling for roommates. The idea is to lead a more comfortable life with the money paid as rent.
Abid, owner of the restaurant where Nasir works, sees the Accommodation Advertisement to Puru, Nasir and Bunty and recommends them to find out about the place.
Nasir googles the advertiser’s profile and learns that she is the same girl who Puru met at a pub and fell in love with. Excited, Puru decides to go to the Haveli and try his luck, accompanied by Nasir and Bunty.
Mama rents three rooms to them and collects six months’ rent in advance.
Varshitha initially fights with Puru but after seeing his behaviour and goodness starts liking him, and soon they fall in love.
Mama finds Ali in the storeroom in the Haveli and learns that he is also a thief and that he is hiding all his loot there. Mama gets confused about his weird behaviour.
Ali actually wants to tell Mama that the Haveli is a haunted house but at each attempt, they scare him out of his wits and warn him of consequences.
Mama is keen to know where Ali has kept his looted money and other items.
One day Mama decides to bring Ali to the Haveli from the storeroom. He forces him to tell about the money but Ali asks for food. Mama goes into the kitchen and at that time, Nasir and Bunty follow Mama and find out about Ali.
A fight ensures; Nasir and Bunty beat up Mama and suddenly Varshitha comes in and joins the scuffle. The spirits watch the chaos in sheer enjoyment.
Then weird things happen. The servant spirit enters Mama’s body and starts beating up Bunty and Nair; the spirit of the old lady enters the body of Varshitha and beats the other three.
At that moment, Varshitha’s father enters. The old couple are in a state of shock because he is the grandson for who they have been waiting all these years!
In the end, the spirits hand over the Haveli to Varshitha and her father and disappear.
Varshitha and Puru get married with the consent of her father and everyone lives in the Haveli happily thereafter.
Cast and Crew
Producer: Madhuri Thota; Story-Screenplay-Dialogues-Direction: Santhosh Tukkapuram; Camera: Bijoy Matthew; Music: Srikanth Bugaveeti; Background Music: Vijay Kurakula; Editing, VFX, DI: Cherry Santosh.
Cast: Puru: Puru Bakshi; Varshitha: Kshetra; Nasir: Nasir; Bunty: NV Singh; Old Lady Spirit: Jeannie Malhotra; Old Man Spirit: Ayub Khan; Servant Spirit: RJ Neil; Mama: RJ Bhupi; Ali: Ali Shaan; Father: Shaan Mishra; Police Officer: Bansi Patel; Judge: Raj Khadilkar.
Mamtha, Abdi, Vinith Shiva, Harshita Attri and Ali Shaan are also in the cast.
