Hathya

A couple of days ago, still in India, I was getting bored sitting at home. I was casually browsing BookMyShow and found this new Telugu movie called Hathya. As this was the only movie I hadn't watched in all of BookMyShow's now running catalog and the fact that this is directed by a woman filmmaker, I decided to give it a go. Also the title Hathya (Murder) led me to believe that this was an investigative thriller. I neither watched the trailer nor read the synopsis. I just showed up. What could go wrong? I will lose 150 rupees which is no biggie.

I must say that Hathya is among the finest investigative thrillers from the Telugu language in recent memory. Written and directed by Srividya Basawa, Hathya is a documentation of the murder and the subsequent and still ongoing investigation of the famous YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case that happened in Andhra Pradesh on the morning of March 15, 2019. Hear me out, I've been living in the US for about 20 years now and I've heard about this murder. He was the brother of a popular political figure YS Rajashekhara Reddy of the Indian National Congress party and a big shot in the region. So it is obvious that almost all of the Telugu diaspora must've heard about the murder. But I had no interest in knowing all the details and never really cared about it. Until I watched this movie.

Going in with a blank slate, I treated this as any other investigative thriller. It was just another movie for me. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. Srividya Basawa's screenplay was riveting. The entire movie is an investigation and the movie skips timelines multiple times. But the writer's command of the story and the characters is evident. Some slick editing by Haresh Chaudhary helped here as well, although I did think he could've removed a few unnecessary scenes especially during the climax.

Ravi Verma as Dharmendra Reddy fit his character like a glove aided by terrific performance by Pooja Ramachandran as Salima. Dhanya Balakrishna as the investigating officer Sudha Rao did a commendable job for the most part although I felt she went a little overboard especially in scenes where she needed to evoke inspiration and anger.

It was hard for me to not draw real life comparisons due to the topic but even if you don't care, like me, about what had happened in real life, this is a solid thriller. If you are a fan of this genre like I am, then I am sure you will love this one. This one's a solid watch.

-YT/@CinephileIndia2023.

A movie woth an ending is a movie not worth watching. No ending long hours and so predictable and how was the police compromised ? Who was the mastermind behind? And what exactly was the reason ?

Very very poor story like and screenplay.. felt like wasted 1.5 hrs .. could have done it in a better way... wouldn't recommend.also nothing special or different or mysterious, very thing is like a normal movie ... damm i felt so bad, i tout it cld be nice but very sad, and unwanted storied in btwn , y ?! And. Also how was the murderer put on suck high level, so many questions after watching and no answers .

Didn't like it at all! I wonder why they had to make this film. The only thing I found here that was decent was Dhanya Balakrishna's acting. Maybe she too wasn't that good, but when you see everything bad in a movie and see a slight good in something, that gets a degree upper score. The actor in the leader's role acted below average and made this film even pathetic. The music was too loud and seemed quite unnecessary. A murder mystery can be more intense without making it a loud drama. A disappointment in 2025.

I do not know why everyone is praising this mediocre making. I admit that you can count this film as an average film, but it could have done better. Not recommending.

"Hathya" attempts to grip viewers with its suspenseful narrative, but unfortunately, it falls prey to propaganda, overshadowing its potential. The screenplay is poorly crafted, meandering through a plodding pace that tests viewers' patience.

The film's slow tempo makes it feel like a chore to watch, with scenes dragging on unnecessarily. The lackluster storytelling and uninspired direction further diminish the viewing experience.

Overall, "Hathya" is a skippable film. Despite its intriguing premise, the movie's heavy-handed propaganda and sluggish pacing make it a tedious watch. Unless you're a die-hard fan of suspense thrillers, there's little reason to invest time in this underwhelming film.

I rarely watch Telugu movies, as I've been disappointed by popular blockbuster recommendations from friends. Over the years, I've gradually distanced myself from Indian cinema, with a few select exceptions. However, while watching Hathya, my skepticism quickly faded. The propulsive storyline, well-balanced performances, evocative music, and other elements made for a fulfilling cinematic experience.

After sharing with my host that I enjoyed the film, she informed me that the characters in Hathya were based on real-life individuals. She then proceeded to give me a brief history of the murder of Y. S. Vivek Reddy. I found the details utterly ghastly. Curious whether this was the only film made about the murder, I asked my host, and she directed me to another film. She cautioned me, saying, "It's sure to disappoint you. People far less picky than you about movies have denounced and rubbished it." This piqued my interest, and I urged her to tell me the name.

"Viveka," she replied.

As a gracious host, she managed to find the film on a streaming platform, and the following evening, we sat down to watch it, popcorn and sodas in hand. Within minutes, it became clear that my friend's warning about the film's quality was valid.

By this point, I was already familiar with the storyline and had spent the day researching the gruesome murder, the tragic demise of Vivek's older brother, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (a medical doctor turned politician), and the resulting turmoil in the state of Andhra Pradesh after his untimely death. With this backdrop in mind, I watched Viveka.

Suffice it to say, the film was justifiably criticized by my friend. Beyond its poor quality, what struck me was the audacity with which the filmmakers misrepresented the facts. The lawlessness of invoking the real names, images, and details of key figures in the story was utterly irresponsible. I am surprised no one has pursued legal action against the filmmakers for libel. To fabricate such wildly inaccurate characters, while demonizing and deifying them with fervor, ignoring the facts, and distorting both events and real individuals, should not only be condemned but also punished. It just made viewing Hathya that much more of a superior experience!