Grab a huge pot of what’sinit something , drop a handful of twin girls, two brainless and foolish cops, a knife wielding but kind hearted butcher chasing innocent children, a head on shoulders school headmaster and tons of fat and juicy hens. Put a wicked wicked witch on top and set it brewing. Lo behold, out comes a concoction that is Makdee, a children’s film that is like a witch’s brew, weird and strange but with a dash of humor and a hint of fun.

If this is something you think you can digest, then rent this movie from your favorite movie place. The film made its presence felt in five international film festivals at Frankfurt, Tehran, Norway, Cairo and Chicago - the biggest children's film festival, where Makdee acquired the second position. Completed in a record 24 days, it was extensively shot in Goa and Alibaugh. The lyrics has been penned by Gulzar

In a mansion said to be haunted lies the legend of a witch called Makdee (played by versatile actor Shabana Azmi). The legend has it that whoever wanders into the mansion comes out as an animal. No one dares to go there but the village children have always been curious about this place as any child should be. Two of these children are the twin sisters Chunni and Munni, one naughty and full of pranks and the other docile and obedient. Things go out of hand when one day Chunni pulls a fast one on her sister. As a result, Munni her docile sister enters the mansion and is turned into a hen.

Chunni is hysterical. She runs from pillar to post seeking help but her credibility is all time low because of her pranks and no one believes her. Terrified she enters the mansion and finds the witch waiting for her. When Chunni pleads for her sister’s life – the witch throws her a challenge – and makes a deal. Will it work and rescue her sister. What happens next is what I will leave viewers to find out themselves if your curiosity is aroused by now.

From the music composer in "Maachis" who enthralled the audience with his score, Vishal Bharadwaj, directorial venture is passable. The movie fails to keep your attention at times and although the suspense builds up in the earlier part of the film, it falls flat as it moves along. Shabana’s make up is awesome although her gnarled fingernails looked decidedly artificial and so did the mansion she dwell's in. There were two delightful songs in the film one of them sung by the village butcher Kallu, talented Makrand Deshpande who also played an impressive role.

Overall, the film was a mixed bag. My children were not enthralled at all, So, I leave it to the viewer to make their own choice.

This film review is sponsored by Raja and Rana, Indian grocery Store at Burlington

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