Previously on Zombos Closet of Horror:
Zombos, IL and Glenor discovered a rather large hole in Zombos' closet. Apparently caused by an equally large mouth with sharp teeth. The exterminator has been summoned. While Zombos and IL polish off their second bottle of a delightfully delicate claret while waiting for the exterminator, serious questions still remain. What took a big bite out of Zombos closet? Will the exterminator arrive before they have to break open the case of Olorosa cream sherry? Can a Bollywood-horror film actually be successful without singing and dancing? And why is Iloz Zoc, Zombos' astute valet, writing this in the third person?
It took a few attempts to get Shripal Morakhia's Naina into the DVD player. After the first bottle of claret, my coordination deteriorated rapidly. I finally loaded the disc, and we were soon watching this intriguing Bollywood-horror remake of The Eye.
With a matter-of-fact tagline that reads, 'Twenty years of darkness, seven days of hell, no one could survive it, SHE DID,' we did not have very high expectations. But the claret made us stronger and more daring. I was also sorely, disappointed that there were no documentaries, commentaries, or any extras on the DVD.
Then there are the cultural differences: How would a Hindi version of The Eye fit in with the melodramatic and religious aspects of Bollywood cinema?
"Bring on the dancing and singing Gopis," hiccuped Zombos. "If I could stand it in Rocky Horror, I can stand it here."
"There were no Gopis in The Rocky Horror Picture Show," I told him.
"Not dressed as such, but the premise is the same."
"Point taken," I conceded. "But there are no Gopis, nor singing or dancing in this film."
"What? Impossible! I thought that was a contractual requirement for every Bollywood film?"
"Apparently horror films are excluded from that requirement." I concluded. I started the film.
The opening sequence shows the accident that leaves the young Naina blind, intercut with a bloody cesarean-section that reveals a still-born baby girl who suddenly comes back to life as Naina's parents are killed in the accident, and an eclipse of the sun. We are then brought some years later to a point where Naina is ready to undergo a cornea transplant operation.
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