Cast: Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Bhanuchander, Sijju, Shravan Reddy, Ulka Gupta, Jovika Vijaykumar, Vanitha Vijaykumar, Shreya Rani Reddy, Roshan Basheer
Crew:
Written and Directed by M.S. Raju
Cinematography by Nani Chamidisetty
Music by Rakesh Venkatapuram
Edited by Junaid Siddiqui
Produced by Kasi Visalakshi Balusu
M.S. Raju, the hitmaker who delivered massive blockbusters like Okkadu and Varsham, is back to direct the horror-mystery thriller Agadha. With good buzz from the promotional material and housefull premieres, let's discuss about the movie released today.
Plot:
At five years old, Mahadevi (Kamakshi Bhaskarla) receives a divine vision and becomes a lifelong devotee of the Goddess. Blessed with the ability to see spirits, she protects people from evil. She soon faces Agadha, a formless and powerful occult force building a dark empire with evil spirits in the Dandakaranya forest near the Andhra-Orissa border. The film focuses on the clash between the divine Mahadevi and the evil Agadha, which is tied to a rare occult eclipse occurring after 144 years.
Analysis:
The core concept of a divine force fighting an indestructible evil is engaging and fits well in the current times. However, while the basic story is strong, the execution falls flat in several scenes. The fully serious narrative could have benefited from a more gripping screenplay and better casting choices for the supporting roles to elevate the atmosphere.
Despite this, M.S. Raju shows his directorial mark in key moments. The first half builds good curiosity, and the pre-interval episode is excellent. The second half is fast-paced and never boring, with the track involving Harini and Salim standing out.
Kamakshi Bhaskarla gives a calm and measured performance that perfectly suits Mahadevi. Shravan Reddy also impresses with distinct variations in his roles. However, the film lacks the intense, chaotic energy that a subject like this demands, and the production values feel a bit inadequate.
Positives:
Strong core story
Kamakshi Bhaskarla's performance
Pre-interval episode
Fast-paced second half
Negatives:
Weak execution in a few scenes
Wrong casting choices
Lacks expected intense thrills
Bottomline:
An interesting horror concept held back by ordinary execution and casting.
Rating: 2.5/5
Disclaimer: The views/opinions expressed in this review are personal views/opinions shared by the writer and organisation does not hold a liability to them. Viewers' discretion is advised before reacting to them.
