Tantiram

Tantiram, a 2023 Telugu fantasy drama, tells the story of Balachandran, a reformed man with a troubled past who finds love and redemption with Alagini. However, their happiness is disrupted by the arrival of a supernatural entity known as the Jinn. The Jinn, a malevolent spirit, possesses Balachandran, leading him down a path of paranoia and self-destruction.

The film explores themes of love, loss, and the destructive power of fear. It delves into the psychological impact of trauma and the lengths to which people will go to protect those they love. The Jinn's influence on Balachandran serves as a metaphor for the internal struggles we face when confronted with our deepest fears and insecurities.

Tantiram is a visually stunning film, with rich colors and intricate set designs that create a captivating atmosphere. The performances are strong, particularly from the lead actors who convey the emotional turmoil of their characters with depth and nuance. The film's soundtrack is also noteworthy, adding to the overall mood and enhancing the viewing experience.

While Tantiram is a visually impressive and emotionally resonant film, it does have its shortcomings. The pacing can be slow at times, and the supernatural elements may not be fully developed for some viewers. Additionally, the film's ending may leave some viewers wanting more closure.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Tantiram is a unique and thought-provoking film that explores complex themes with sensitivity and artistry. It is a visual feast that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll.

Having always been a fan of supernatural horror movies, I was intrigued by the premise of "Tantiram," a film revolving around a ghostly jinn. Unfortunately, this film turned out to be one of the worst cinematic experiences I have had to endure. Despite its potential to deliver a chilling tale, "Tantiram" falls flat on every conceivable front, making it a full waste of time.

From the beginning, it was clear that "Tantiram" suffers from a severe lack of coherent storytelling. The movie attempts to weave a narrative about a vengeful jinn, but it fails to establish a solid foundation. Characters are introduced without any backstory or development, making it difficult to connect with them or understand their motivations. The film jumps from one scene to another without any logical progression, leaving the audience confused and disengaged.

The plot, or lack thereof, is a major disappointment. There's no clear direction, and the story meanders aimlessly. It's as if the filmmakers cobbled together a series of random scenes without any thought to how they fit together. Key elements of the story are either glossed over or completely ignored, resulting in numerous plot holes. The supposed central conflict involving the jinn is never fully explained or explored, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.

A horror movie's primary objective is to create an atmosphere of suspense and fear, but "Tantiram" fails miserably in this regard. The film is devoid of any genuine scares or tense moments. The jinn, which should have been a menacing and terrifying presence, comes across as a poorly conceived and executed entity. The special effects used to depict the jinn are laughably bad, further diminishing any potential fear factor.

The film relies heavily on clichéd jump scares that are predictable and ineffective. Instead of building tension and delivering spine-chilling moments, "Tantiram" resorts to cheap tactics that fall flat. The atmosphere, which is crucial in a horror film, is sorely lacking. There's no sense of dread or impending doom, and the movie fails to create any lasting impact.

The characters in "Tantiram" are one-dimensional and forgettable. They lack depth, and their actions often make little sense. The protagonist, who is supposed to lead the audience through this supernatural ordeal, is bland and uninspiring. The supporting characters fare no better, with their motivations and behaviors remaining a mystery throughout the film.

The performances are equally lackluster. The actors seem disinterested, delivering wooden and unconvincing portrayals. There's no chemistry between the cast members, and their interactions feel forced and unnatural. This lack of believable performances further hampers the film's ability to engage the audience.

"Tantiram" is riddled with technical flaws that make it difficult to watch. The cinematography is uninspired, with poorly framed shots and lackluster visuals. The editing is choppy, contributing to the disjointed narrative. Scenes abruptly cut to one another without any smooth transitions, adding to the overall sense of confusion.

The sound design is equally problematic. The film's score is generic and forgettable, failing to enhance the mood or create tension. The sound effects, particularly during the supposed scare scenes, are overused and ineffective. Instead of adding to the horror, they become a distraction.

In conclusion, "Tantiram" is a colossal disappointment. It fails to deliver on its promise of a spine-chilling tale about a ghostly jinn. The lack of a coherent story, poorly developed characters, absence of suspense, and numerous technical flaws make this film a painful experience to endure. As a fan of the horror genre, I found "Tantiram" to be one of the worst movies I have seen to date. It is a complete waste of time, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a genuinely frightening and engaging horror movie.

Tantiram is a unique fantasy drama packed with few thrills, some romance and beautiful visuals. The slow paced narration in the beginning is a flaw but it kept aside the movie picks its pace in the second half with a top notch climax which brings in a feeling of satisfaction within you. Tantiram is a well executed story line with great visuals. The makers tried to convey an important message by picking up a socially sensitive topic and delivered it beautifully through the screenplay. This is a must watch. Tantiram is a gripping experience with a few bumps here and there but overall it's a good watch. The concept Jinn is something new to me which Piqued my interest to watch this movie and trust me it delivered. Though its narration was a bit slow in the beginning it made sure I hooked up to the screen in the later half. And in the open end climax made me curious and I am eagerly waiting for the next part. Tantiram is a good watch and highly recommended to young girls. I went in to watch this movie with zero expectations and the initial portion of it kept me hooked as the narrator explained about a supernatural entity Jinn but the slow paced narration put me off track and I thought this is it I booked a bad one but the later half of the film put me back on track and the actual plot started and in the end I was so satisfied that I wanted to recommend this one to all the woman out there who are married and to the ones who are planning to get married.

"Time Trap" is a spectacular letdown, wasting precious hours on an aimless plot that offers zero horror and even less coherence. The story meanders through clichés and bizarre twists, failing to provide any thrills or excitement. Characters are flat, and the dialogue is cringe-worthy. The supposed adventure turns into a tedious drag, with every scene more pointless than the last. It's a frustratingly dull experience, devoid of any redeeming quality, leaving viewers feeling like they've waded through a dumpster of nonsensical garbage. Save your time and sanity-skip this mess. It is a disappointing, time-wasting experience better left unwatched. Save your time and skip this garbage.

I don't watch many Indian movies, so of course I was not familiar with this 2023 horror mystery titled "Tantiram" prior to sitting down to watch it. I happened to come across the movie by random chance, and actually found the synopsis to prove interesting enough.

However, writers Wineeth Ponnuru and M. S. Shabaz put together a script and storyline that turned out to be rather generic and predictable. And it was, in fact, not really a particularly scary movie at all. So that was a bit of a disappointment. Maybe if you are Indian and have an insight into the culture there, then the movie would be more enjoyable.

The acting performances in the movie were fair. Needless to say that I wasn't familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list.

Visually then "Tantiram" didn't offer much, as it wasn't a movie that used a lot of special effects. In fact, you don't ever get to properly see the Djinn that is lurking in the shadows. And that was a shame, because the movie would have benefitted from that.

Not a great movie, nor a movie that I would recommend horror fans to rush out and get to watch. I can cross it off of my watched-movies-list now, and I know that I will never return to watch it a second time.

My rating of director Muthyala Meher Deepak's 2023 movie "Tantiram" lands on a three out of ten stars.