Dracula (1999)

Topping Khooni Dracula was always going to be a tough ask at the very least. Still, director/writer Bhoosan Lal felt an artist’s urge to bring his interpretation of Bram Stoker’s legendary novel to the screen with one final definitive version. In 1999, Dracula was unearthed to swooning masses.

Kiran Kumar, who has surely starred in more horror films than even Raza Murad, dons the snake charmers garb as Abdullah. One fine day Abdullah stumbles upon that entity that any sane man would readily die for The Naag Mani (Mani or Money for short).

The Mani for those who aren’t well versed in such matters is a fancy bit broken off some tacky chandelier which once secured in possession allegedly works like Aladdin’s lamp. Anyway, a bunch of the most seriously dangerous and warped criminals break out and head for the forest. They have arranged to secure the Mani from Abdullah, but their plan goes awry. After Abdullah, the possessor of the Mani dies in mysterious circumstances in a Christian graveyard and the Mani is nowhere to be found. News of the missing Mani travels fast and soon, the flies swarm to the feast as a bunch of beauties arrive from the big city to achieve their dreams through the powers of the Mani.

The problem is there a lack of motels or hotels in the thick of the forest, so our bodacious Mani seekers have to seek out shelter elsewhere. The only place in town is a ramshackle old Haveli inhabited by a pockmarked Thakur who has seen better days yet is always hospitable and welcoming, especially to nubile young beauties from the city with no place to stay. When three such Naag Mani seekers ask to stay at his Haveli, he invites them in without the slightest hesitation though a test for STD’s may have been the way to go at the very least. Little did the Thakur realise those city girls are also nymphomaniacs. Come the wee hours, the girls find themselves physically capable of handling a night on their own without any carnal recreation, and so two of the three decide to make use of the decrepit old Thakur to satisfy their “animal lust”.

An unexpected yet joyous twist on the usual rape-revenge scenario occurs when the protesting Thakur is raped by the two city sirens who decide to kill the old codger after the act. And so the old Thakur, having been raped, is mercilessly killed by the tartlets before they head back to the big bad city. But now, months later, they return with a studly boyfriend who has an extreme Kevin Keegan retro 70’s hairstyle that would shame the Bay City Rollers and Ian Botham at his most inspired and is by far the most terrifying sight of this spellbinding movie.

The group make their way to the local graveyard where the Mani has supposedly been lost. Still, each time their efforts at retrieving the plastic chandelier bit are thwarted by some strange and terrible disco music accompanied by some booming laughter and cackling by the ghost of the raped and murdered Thakur re-emerging for his revenge.

Time and again, one or two scantily dressed beauties arrive at the graveyard and are tormented by lousy disco beats before finally the ghastly spectre of the Thakur, now transformed into a grinning buffoon with bloodied hands, emerges and seemingly terrifies his victim to an early grave. Eventually, he is thwarted by an escaped Taliban type who has picked up a Trishul (trident) to mask his true identity and learnt some gibberish that he spews all over the graveyard. He manages to subdue the rampaging Dracula Thakur Creature who threatens mayhem on an unprecedented scale.

Dracula is quite astoundingly atrocious film, but to give credit where due, at least we are spared the usual rubber masked antics this time around for genuine makeup. However, there are many sets of plastic fangs on display and the BBC Death and Horror Sound Effects tape is given yet another spin – those baying wolves sound familiar. One of the many highlights that this film offers is the terrific, lyrical and exuberantly sung Disco Theme song by Mohammad Aziz titled “Woh Hai Dry-Cooler (AKA Dracula)”. The song booms out each time some unsuspecting low life approaches the evil graveyard searching for the famed Naag Mani. The racy Dracula Disco Theme that accompanies the titles is also worth getting a copy of the entire soundtrack. Woh Hai Dracula is a majestic song, lovingly written, and the vocals are full of emotion. Intoxicating.

The film described on the thoroughly fetching VCD cover claims the film to be a “Sexy & Horror film”, and who is to argue against that claim. Produced and directed by Bhoosan Lal, a name to watch out for, the film is worth watching for several reasons. The classic Disco Theme, The Keegan hairstyle that is out of this world, acting and a script that mocks convention with glee and introduces the idea that Dracula is nothing but a failed Disco act. Still, the Khooni Dracula theme song remains the one to beat.