Mangalavaaram

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!

Definitely one time good watch! A suspense thriller that keeps one completely hooked up n the entire story revolves in a small village. First half an hour goes normal n post that intensity of screenplay is too good. Direction is fantastic in the second half. A different unique storyline. The lead actress turned victim is brilliant in acting. Originally Telugu movie avilable in Hotstar in all languages. My ratings 7/10!

Definitely one time good watch! A suspense thriller that keeps one completely hooked up n the entire story revolves in a small village. First half an hour goes normal n post that intensity of screenplay is too good. Direction is fantastic in the second half. A different unique storyline. The lead actress turned victim is brilliant in acting. Originally Telugu movie avilable in Hotstar in all languages. My ratings 7/10!

Director Ajay Bhupathi skillfully blended an untold concept with thrilling elements and his work of maintaining the suspense and revealing twists at the end made the entire film very engaging & interesting...

In every sense Payal Rajput seems to be a perfect choice for the role & she owned it..Her bold & gutsy performance truly created a deep connection with the character & she nailed it... Rest of the characters too did some genuine refreshing performance making us feel that we have landed in to a deep route villages of Andhra restoring it's faith in every sense...

Technically film looks so good, BG score & Cinematography truly enhanced the Storytelling... Film's boldness genuinely contributes to the narrative, aligning seamlessly with the story...

Mental health is not a choice or a moral failing, but a crucial aspect of our wellbeing that demands empathy, awareness, and proper care...This movie also sends a strong message about the ill effects of greed and lust...also conveys a message that when truth strikes back, lies and their followers will be crushed to ashes...

Overall a neat package of thrilling elements makes this flick praise worthy...

This film unfolds with numerous twists right from the outset. While these twists offer excitement and entertainment for the average movie lover, many of them tend to be predictable. Despite their predictability, the twists manage to captivate the audience's attention and maintain engagement throughout the movie.

The narrative introduces a plethora of characters, contributing to the suspense and prompting spectators to harbor doubts about each one. However, as the plot progresses, the significance of several characters diminishes, creating a sense of confusion. The performances in the film, although not at their peak, are sufficiently competent given the complexity of the character ensemble.

For viewers opting for an Over-The-Top (OTT) platform, it is recommended to experience the film with a high-quality music system, as the background score serves as the lifeblood of the movie. Overall, it qualifies as a decent one-time watch, providing a good source of entertainment and a few unexpected turns, even though the abundance of characters may lead to some confusion in the plot.

I went in to this movie not knowing much about it and i was pleasantly surprised by the story with which we can easily connect, the presentation and times it is based on, and also the set and cinematography.. acting is spot on for the most part and the twists towards the end are unpredictable and very well placed the pace of the movie could have been a little better and they could have cut it short by about 20 minutes.

Rest everything is great about this brilliantly made movie.

REPEAT I went in to this movie not knowing much about it and i was pleasantly surprised by the story with which we can easily connect, the presentation and times it is based on, and also the set and cinematography.. acting is spot on for the most part and the twists towards the end are unpredictable and very well placed the pace of the movie could have been a little better and they could have cut it short by about 20 minutes.

Rest everything is great about this brilliantly made movie.