Mangalavaaram

Mangalavaaram (2023), directed by Ajay Bhupathi, attempts to carve a niche for itself as a rural psychological thriller, delving into themes of illicit relationships, societal hypocrisy, and a woman's struggle with a unique health condition. While ambitious in its premise and technically proficient, the film's execution often struggles to maintain a consistent tone and deliver on its intriguing setup.

The movie unfolds in the fictional village of Mahalakshmipuram in 1996, where a series of mysterious deaths occur every Tuesday, accompanied by public confessions of the deceased's secret affairs painted on village walls. This immediate sense of dread and a whodunnit mystery effectively grabs the audience's attention. The newly appointed SI Maaya investigates, unraveling a web of hidden desires, betrayals, and the dark underbelly of a seemingly peaceful community.

Where Mangalavaaram truly stands out is in its technical aspects. The cinematography, particularly the night sequences and the atmospheric village setting, is commendable, creating a visually engaging and often eerie mood. The background score by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, known for his work in Kantara and Virupaksha, is a significant strength, effectively building tension and underscoring the film's psychological elements. These technical strengths contribute significantly to whatever sense of intrigue and suspense the narrative manages to generate.

Payal Rajput, in the central role of Shailaja, delivers a brave and demanding performance. Her character, afflicted by a hormonal imbalance that heightens her sexual urges, is complex and unconventional for Indian cinema. Rajput navigates the emotional and physical toll of the character with conviction, earning empathy from the audience despite the controversial nature of her condition. The film attempts to shed light on her plight and the societal ostracization she faces, positioning her as a victim rather than a villain. Other supporting actors, particularly Ajay Ghosh, provide solid performances that contribute to the film's ensemble.

However, the film's narrative coherence proves to be its Achilles' heel. While the core concept of a village riddled with secrets and a protagonist grappling with a rare condition is compelling, the screenplay often feels scattered. The blend of a murder mystery, social commentary, and a character study of Shailaja doesn't always coalesce seamlessly. The first half, in particular, is criticized for its slow pace and a series of seemingly disconnected events, creating a sense of a build-up that doesn't quite pay off until later. Twists are introduced, some effective, some less so, and the overall pacing can be uneven. Some critics found the film's exploration of "hypersexuality" in a conservative setting to be overtly displayed, potentially overshadowing its intended message about societal issues.

The director, Ajay Bhupathi, known for RX 100, attempts a bold and unconventional story. While his vision for creating a dark, thrilling atmosphere is evident, the execution sometimes falters in balancing the various genre elements and delivering a truly impactful commentary. The film tries to be a psychological thriller, a social drama, and even hints at horror, but this genre blending can lead to a muddled experience.

In conclusion, Mangalavaaram is a film with a courageous concept and strong technical merits, particularly in its visuals and sound design. Payal Rajput's performance is noteworthy for its bravery and depth. However, its ambitious narrative occasionally gets bogged down by an inconsistent screenplay and a struggle to fully realize its complex themes, leaving audiences with a mixed but undeniably intriguing cinematic experience.

Mangalavaaram is a daring exploration of rural trauma, blending psychological mystery with a haunting atmosphere. Director Ajay Bhupathi crafts a narrative that is both engaging and unsettling, though not without its flaws.

The film's cinematography, helmed by Dasaradhi Shivendra, is a standout. Night scenes are particularly striking, with vibrant reddish-orange hues that enhance the eerie ambiance. The camera work effectively captures the rustic setting, immersing the audience in the village's tense atmosphere.

B. Ajaneesh Loknath's background score is another highlight. His music intensifies the film's mood, adding depth to the suspenseful moments. The score is both energetic and relentless, underscoring the film's dramatic beats and keeping the audience on edge.

Payal Rajput delivers a compelling performance as Sailaja, a woman grappling with a rare psychological disorder. Her portrayal is nuanced, capturing the complexity of her character's trauma and resilience. Rajput's performance adds emotional weight to the narrative, making her character's journey both poignant and engaging.

Supporting performances are solid, with Nandita Swetha and Ravindra Vijay standing out in their respective roles. Their portrayals add depth to the ensemble cast, contributing to the film's overall impact.

While Mangalavaaram offers a fresh perspective on rural narratives, it occasionally falters in pacing and narrative coherence. The film's ambition is evident, but certain elements may feel forced or underdeveloped. Despite these shortcomings, the film's atmospheric strength and strong performances make it a noteworthy entry in the thriller genre.

What a stunt! I was so impressed by the trailer and envisioned a psychological or mystical horror. Instead, it was a whodunit mystery accentuated by a strong cinematography and terrific background score. Kudos to director Ajay Bhupathi for presenting a title and trailer so artfully deceptive and this misdirection sets the stage for the film that somehow manages to meet the expectations in parts.

Coming to the story, it is a period drama centered around a string of inexplicable murders that cast a sinister shadow over the village every Tuesday. As wave of terror sweeps the inhabitants, a resolute police officer (Nanditha Sweta) takes charge and arrives to unravel the mystery that has cast a shadow over the community. Then we have a tonal shift as the narrative deftly interweaves the present with the past, introducing Shailaja portrayed by the vivacious Payal Rajput. Her life spirals into despair after falling prey to a deceiving schoolteacher. This event leads to a series of dire consequences that intertwine with the ongoing murders in the village. To uncover the happenings, the enigma of Shailaja's past and the motive behind these chilling killings is best to witness it on the big screen.

On the downside, the film's runtime is definitely overkill. Especially the first half as it progresses, it inspires little interest untill the introduction of Payal Rajput who has given it all for this film. Even the second half has speed breakers which diminishes the flow of narrative. You will also draw parallels to classic film's such as Kantara (2022), Ave Kallu (1967), Shhh! (1993), and one of the greatest series of all time Marmadesam (1996).

On the positive, the film's last few sequences and the climax makes up for the overall impact. It's good to see the director trying out something fresh, even the sex disorder angle could've been given interesting possibilities doesn't mean it is a bad idea but it will hold your attention post interval till the climax reveal. I'm sure the wild ride in the finale will make you overlook the film's earlier flaws. Fun fact for the actress fans -There's even a sequel!

Alright, fam, let me lay it down for ya on this blockbuster mess I just peeped. So, the actors were straight-up killin' it, no doubt. They had me feelin' some typa way, you know? And them locations and sets, bruh, on point! Like, I was practically living in that flick.

Now, the cinematography, fam, it was like watching art in motion. Those shots had me like, "Dang, did they hire a magician or what?" So props on that, no cap.

Now, let's talk about this script. It's like they grabbed some random words from a hat and called it a day. And the background music? It is the real killer. Direction was straight-up mediocre. It's like they lost the map to a decent film and just winged it.

Now, the lowlights, my dude. These slow sequences had me checking my watch more than the plot did. And the VFX? Man, it looked like they hired a toddler with a crayon to do that mess. Twists? More like turns into a dumpster fire.

So yeah, if you're into movies that make you question your life choices, this one's a winner. Grab your popcorn and brace yourself for a rollercoaster of "meh."

Best cinematography, awesome BGM, Superb Movie. A good entertainer. Fight scenes wonderful. Story full of twists and turns. Great music as well. All characters performed really well. Setting of this movie creates a magic. Must watch movie. Special mention about the BGM score in the movie. The BGM sets the theme. The thrill and an extra ting of sexuality add spice for the audience. The audience will definitely get impressed by the music of this movie. The story is a little slow in the beginning but maintains pace till the end. Even the comedy is part of the theme and story of the move. All in all a full entertainment.