Kalinga

The Telugu film 'Kalinga' is quite the mixed experience! Directed by Dhruva Vaayu, it's a fantasy action horror that seems to be reaching for too much. Starring Dhruva Vaayu and Pragya Nayan in the main roles, it occasionally comes off as a bit self-indulgent. Dhruva Vaayu is trying to be the center of the story and sometimes feels that all he wants!

The cinematography is top-notch, but the CGI leaves a lot to be desired. There's a heavy dose of religious Hindu-themed animation, the acting is just okay, and the songs? Not great either. Honestly, that pretty much sums up my hour and 56 minutes with it.

Imagine you hear about a hotel that serves delicious biryani. You get your expectations up. You visit the place, and the smell is nice. They serve you the biryani. It even looks nice. You inhale the aroma and get your hands full for a bite. As soon as you eat it, you find pebbles on it. However, you endure it and eat everything, hoping for the pebble-free biryani on your upcoming bites. But it's the same. This is exactly what I experienced. While watching Kalinga directed by Dhruva Vaayu.

The number of expositions in the film, the consecutive scenes having no interconnection, the editing, the dubbing, and nothing are in the right place.

"Kalinga" is a bold attempt by director and lead actor Dhruva Vaayu, showcasing his passion for horror cinema despite the constraints of a limited budget. The film revolves around a protagonist's unsettling experiences as he delves into a sinister mystery that unfolds in a rural backdrop.

What Worked: Vaayu's effort to create a captivating narrative with limited resources is commendable. The film has a few chilling sequences that effectively build tension, particularly in the first half. The background score, though clearly inspired by well-known horror motifs, manages to elevate the atmosphere in crucial scenes. The cinematography deserves praise for capturing the eerie essence of the locations, adding depth and visual appeal to the film.

Pragya Nayan, who plays the female lead, brings a strong presence to the screen. With the right choice of scripts in the future, she has the potential to make a mark in the industry.

What Could Have Been Better: However, Kalinga falls short in several areas. The demon makeup is unfortunately subpar, often breaking the immersion when it appears on screen. The screenplay lacks coherence, feeling more like a collection of disjointed scenes rather than a unified story. Some of the best moments seem like snippets borrowed from other films or short films, leading to an overall lack of originality and depth.

The film also struggles with connecting its plot points, leaving several threads unexplained or unresolved by the end. This absence of a strong conclusion diminishes the impact of the mystery that Kalinga tries to build. The background score, while effective at times, is noticeably influenced by other works, which detracts from its authenticity.

Final Thoughts: Overall, Kalinga is an average horror flick that has its moments but fails to live up to its potential. Vaayu's direction shows promise, but the film is ultimately let down by its poor execution in makeup and storytelling. For horror enthusiasts, it might be worth a watch for its atmosphere and a few standout scenes, but don't go in expecting a cohesive and groundbreaking experience.

With better scripts and a more refined approach, the cast and crew have the potential to deliver more compelling films in the future.

You don't expect to be disappointed with a movie with a 9.0 IMDb rating but this was an exception. Lot of people out there calling this movie "super" or "hit" and it baffles me.

It's a very long movie and for 1.5hrs it goes absolutely nowhere. When the creature finally appears, it gets killed in 5 mins!!!

They've tried to mix in so many elements that nothing shines through. There's the horror element, the mythology element, then there is romance angle to develop the character (but it's so half assed you feel nothing), then there is Linga's backstory which is supposed to be the thriller element and finally the story about the treasure.

The background music in the climax had me scratching my head, I've never seen a movie that uses such an elaborate background score for the creature's entry and fight scene, yous generally want to use minimal background score to keep the focus on the creature, it was the exact opposite here.

Overall, cheap wannabe movie with poor acting and a very mixed up story. Rather than watching the movie, go outside for a walk.

Kalinga is a prime example of a film that misses the mark on every level. From its lackluster performances to its nonsensical plot, this movie is a complete waste of time.

The acting is over-the-top and cringe-worthy, with actors hamming it up at every opportunity. The unnecessary songs disrupt the flow of the narrative and add nothing to the story. The action sequences are poorly choreographed and executed, making them laughable rather than thrilling.

The editing is sloppy and amateurish, with jarring cuts and transitions. The overall pacing of the film is uneven, with some scenes dragging on while others feel rushed.

In short, Kalinga is a cinematic disaster that should be avoided at all costs.