Cast: Aadhi Pinisetty, Lakshmi Menon, Simran, Laila, MS Bhaskar, Rajiv Menon, Redin Kingsley

Crew: 
Music by S Thaman
Cinematography by Arun Bathmanabhan 
Editing by V.J. Sabu Joseph 
Writing & Direction by Arivazhagan 
Produced by 7G Siva, Bhanupriya Siva

Aadhi Pinisetty has a good name among Tamil and Telugu movie lovers for his good performances in films like Sarrainodu, Rangasthalam, Ninnu Kori and his leading man films like Eeram/ Vaishali, Maragadha Naanayam/ Maragadhamani have created a recognition for him. After 16 years, Eeram/ Vaishali combination has come together for another horror thriller based on sound, Sabdham. Let's discuss about the film in detail. 

Plot: 
Vyoma (Aadhi Pinisetty) is a certified paranormal investigator and one of the best in his job. He stays in Mumbai but he gets hired to investigate mysterious suicides in St. Angels Medical College, Munnar. As he starts investigating, he understands that sound waves are key in paranormal activity. He starts to befriend, Neuropsychology Ph. D student and professor, Avanthika (Lakshmi Menon). 

He understands that she has been surrounded by spirits and tries to investigate further through her in an old library which was a Church, previously. His investigation is cut short by 42 ghosts and he tries to understand their anger against the people dead. He finds out that it is all linked to Diana (Simran), Daniel's wife and further investigations reveal that she has been in coma for 34 years. Why? What is her connection with 42 ghosts and how did Vyoma help them cross-over? Watch the film to know more. 

Analysis :

Aadhi Pinisetty, once again delivered a believable performance. He is so confident in this role with apt body language that we can believe him to be a real paranormal investigator. Lakshmi Menon looks a little bit off while her performance is good. Simran, Laila characters don't really resonate or register with us. Redin Kingsley one-liners irritate at times and other actors have done a fine job. 

Arivazhagan is a thinking and talented director with innovative ideas. But his inventiveness in writing comes across well in first hour but the final 20 minutes go haywire as he tries to bring in black magic and science and every known sound therapy, experiments. 

He should have been able to control his over writing towards the finale and even the execution falls flat in the all important minutes. The writing feels like information dump rather than convincing us. Even Laila's overdramatic look, performance did not help his cause. 

He could have sticked to paranormal science than bringing in real science and music therapy. He tried to complete few loops but they did not get satisfactory pay-offs. The last minute suspense revelation did not work for this film as we couldn't emotionally invest in characters. 

Technically, movie is good as sound design is proper and extraordinary in the first hour. Even a few elevated sound effects are cleverly infused. But the final 20 minutes again has too much going on with sound and S Thaman's loud score also did not mix in at places at audible level. It creates irritation and agitation towards the final scene rather than a heightened comfort feel of reaching to a climax. Overall, movie is technically sound but falters in execution towards the end making it feel clumsy. 

TeluguOne Perspective :

Movie has right intention and innovation but pushes to inaudible level decibels in the climax faltering to impress.