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Mysterious deaths occur in a village due to an unknown person's occult practices. The whole town is afraid, and the problems continue as they search for the one responsible. Mysterious deaths occur in a village due to an unknown person's occult practices. The whole town is afraid, and the problems continue as they search for the one responsible. Mysterious deaths occur in a village due to an unknown person's occult practices. The whole town is afraid, and the problems continue as they search for the one responsible.

• Karthik Varma Dandu
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• Sai Dharam Tej
• Samyuktha Menon
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• Trivia Sai Dharam Tej's voice in the Hindi version is dubbed by TV actor Saurabh Raj Jain .
• Soundtracks Nachavule Nachavule Music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath Lyrics by Krishna Kanth Performed by Karthik Duration: 3:42

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Virupaksha Review

Virupaksha (2023) Movie: What's Behind

Sai Dharam Tej's Virupaksha is generating immense interest among movie lovers as it marks his return to the screen after his death-defying bike accident. The film's trailer and teaser generated interest with the mystic elements. The film is directed by debutante Karthik Dandu and Sukumar provided the screenplay. The film's OTT rights have been acquired by Netflix and streaming will be after the completion of the theatrical release. Let us find what Virupaksha offered to viewers.

Virupaksha Movie: Story Review

Virupaksha's story is all about superstitions in the village set in the backdrop of the 1990s and the mysterious happenings behind it. Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) with his mother visits Rudravaram village as his mother decides to donate their property for the school. In the process, Surya gets smitten by a gorgeous girl Nandini (Samyuktha Menon), the daughter of an influential person in the village, Harischandra Prasad (Rajiv Kanakala).

Even as romance blossoms between them, Rudravaram is haunted by the mysterious death. What is the cause for the mysterious deaths, and how they are connected to Abbairaju (Sunil), Doctor (Brahmaji), Temple Priest (Sai Chand), and Guna (Ajay) from the rest of the story.

Virupaksha: Artists Review

Sai Dharam Tej toned down his mass mannerisms to come up with a realistic performance in his role for the film. He should be complimented for doing so and at times, he even took a backseat and allowed the female lead Samyuktha Menon to take the centre stage. Sai Dharam Tej impressed with his sedate performance without going overboard. He looked realistic and natural on screen and showed good emotions and expressions. It is known that Virupaksha happens to be Sai Dharam Tej's comeback film after the accident he met last year and he entertains his fans with his performance.

Samyuktha Menon got a good role to showcase her talent. Though the role resembled the routine village girl in the beginning as the story progresses, Samyuktha with her screen presence showed what she can do and offer to movie lovers with her impactful and riveting performance. She looked beautiful and traditional as a village girl in the film.

Sai Chand, Rajeev Kanakala, Ajay, Sunil, Brahmaji, Kamal Kamaraju, and Shyamala are also present in the film. Ajay makes an impact in a short role and the same is the case with Sai Chand, Kamal Kamaraju, Sunil, and others. Rajeev Kanakala played the role of a typical father.

Virupaksha: Technicians Review

The Virupaksha story readied by Karthik Dandu highlighted the evil practices in society and especially in villages where people believe in witchcraft and black magic. Karthik Dandu starts the narration in a gripping and interesting way with the happenings of the 80s and continues in the same manner as he narrates the happenings in the 90s. However, he takes his sweet time to establish the love track between the lead pair and this slowed the pace of the narration and one gets the impression that he deviated from the main plot. But, the pre-climax and the interval bang created the required impact on the viewers setting the stage for the second half.

The second half maintains the interest levels for most of the time but what Karthik Dandu missed is the twists and thrills to take it to another level. One gets a feeling that Karthik Dandu took a convenient route but once again just like he did during the interval bang, he elevated the scenes making an impact during the climax. Karthik Dandu chose an interesting story with mystic elements in it and tried to highlight the ill effects of witchcraft, black magic, and superstitions and how they are affecting the lives of the villagers. Sukumar provided the screenplay and it is racy and gripping except for the love track. Dialogues are good and decent enough to appeal to viewers.

Ajaneesh Lokanath's background music elevated the scenes giving a new feel to movie lovers. A couple of songs are situational and well-shot. Sound mixing and DTS standout and it is of top class. The cinematography of Shamdatt Sainuddin captured the village atmosphere quite well. The night visuals are shot in an effective way. Rudravaram village has been created in an appealing manner by the art director. Navin Nooli's editing could have been better as there are few drags in the first half, as the romantic scenes dragged the pace. A couple of scenes in the second half also faced the same problem. Dialogues are good. Production values of SVCC and Sukumar Writings are good.

Virupaksha: Advantages

• Sai Dharam Tej - Samyuktha
• Interval Bang
• Cinematography

Virupaksha: Disadvantages

• Missing Strong Impact

Virupaksha Movie: Rating Analysis

Altogether, Virupaksha is a decent mystic thriller. Karthik Dandu came with an interesting story set in a village backdrop which is different and aided by Sukumar's impactful screenplay and Sai Dharam Tej's serene performance, he makes viewers sit up and watch. Much to the surprise of all, he got the optimum out of Samyuktha Menon and this will appeal to all. The twists and thrills take the film to another level increasing the interest levels of the movie lovers. Had Karthik Dandu included few more unexpected scenes trimming the romantic track and villagers woes, Virupaksha would have wowed leaving all in awe. Talking into consideration all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 3 Rating for Virupaksha .

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Home » Review » Virupaksha Review: The Sai Dharam Tej, Samyukhta Menon starrer is a well made spooky thriller »

Virupaksha Review: The Sai Dharam Tej, Samyukhta Menon starrer is a well made spooky thriller

Virupaksha Review: A pulsating thriller with great visuals and good performances

• Avad Mohammad

Last Updated: 01.10 PM, Apr 21, 2023

Surya(Sai Dharam Tej) and his mother visit their ancestral village of Rudravaram. There, Surya falls for Nandini(Smayuktha Menon). When things are going fine in his love story, a series of deaths shock the village. The temple head reveals to everyone that the village is haunted by an evil spirit and no one can enter or leave the village for eight days. In all this, Surya starts his own investigation and finds out that there is someone behind these mysterious deaths. The rest of the story is as to how Surya unravels the mystery and saves the entire village.

There is no denying the fact that Virupaksha is one of the most well made films in recent times. It is a film where every craft shines and gives their best to the audience. Be it the visuals, sound design, or the taking, everything is spot on. The film is co-produced by Pushpa director Sukumar and his screenplay during the first half is arresting as one gets drawn into the suspense right away.

Debut director Karthik Dandu creates a mystic atmosphere in the film as his interesting storyline only adds to the visual experience. He does not waste any time and takes you into the world of Virupaksha with his gripping visuals. The romantic track between the lead pair looks lethargic but the director cuts it short and engages the audience with a good twist.

In a way, the sound design and background score is one of the heroes of the film. Ajaneesh Lokntah's sound design and background score elevate the film to the next level and keeps the audience invested in the storyline. Virupaksha is devoid of regular commercial format but one does not get a chance to complain about such things as the narration keeps the audience hooked to their seats

There are so many spooky moments in the film which jolt you from your seats. The interval bang where Sai Dharan Tej unravels the mystery is showcased in a superb manner. What draws your attention in Virupaksha is the writing part which is very good. Debutante Karthik Dandu has made sure that his story has thrills, horror elements, and proper emotions. His story had enough twists for the audience to get invested into the storyline.

Yet another major plus point of the film are the performances. Every character etched by Karthik Dandu has a proper graph. Sai Dharam Tej sheds his mass image and is perfect in his lead role. The manner in which he showcases subtle emotions suited the film's tempo quite nicely. But the meaty part goes to Smayuktha Menon who shocks us with her performance. She, as the fun loving girl in the first half and with a solid twist in the second is the mainstay of the film. With Virupaksha, she will surely go to the next level in her career.

Noted actor, Ajay gets a good role after a long time and Brahmaji, Rajeek Kanakala, and Sunil are decent in their respective roles. Anchor Shyamala is very neat in her key role. Virupaksha also has its fair share of issues. As said earlier, the romantic drack is dragged for no reason and the key second half becomes a bit slow. The manner in which the director reveals the actual villain could have been shown in an arresting manner. To create more suspense for the audience director Karthik Varma adds many scenes in the climax which derails the drama a bit and makes the film look dragged for no reason.

When compared to the first half, the latter part has fewer thrills. If the second half would have been more racy the result would have been even better. Having said this, for the first time director Karthik Dandu has done a fabulous job. His narration and the way he immerses the audience into a different world with mystic thrills and gripping screenplay is worth an applause. The icing on the cake is the fabulous production design by Shamdat which holds your attention till the end.

On the whole, Virupaksha is a breath of fresh air amidst the plethora of commercial films that are made in Telugu cinema. The mytich thriller has a great storyline, spellbinding music score, and arresting narration. Barring a few issues with the pace, Virupaksha is a film that should be enjoyed on the big screen. Go for it.

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Virupaksha movie review - thrills, twists and effects.

'Virupaksha', produced by Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra and Sukumar Writings, was released in theatres today.

The story is set in a fictional hamlet named Rudravanam somewhere in Andhra. Back in 1979, a wife and a husband were burnt alive by villagers on the suspicion that they were evil. The wife's curse haunts the village 12 years later. Four shocking deaths put the entire village on the edge.

It is up to Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) to find out the reason for the unending spate of mysterious tragedies in the village. In this, his girlfriend Nandini (Samyukta Menon), the village's head priest (Sai Chand), and an occult practice have a major role.

Performances:

Sai Dharam Tej happened to say that he didn't behave like the character for the first time in his career. He had to make a conscious effort to "act" rather than behave. Despite adopting a new approach, Tej looked largely effortless in the role of a destined saviour. He is very good in an emotional scene in the last 15 minutes.

Samyukta Menon, after playing a safe lead role in 'SIR' and a damsel in distress in 'Bheemla Nayak', heightens her appeal in a wow role. Her performance in the second half is impactful despite not-so-huge screen time.

The characters played by Ajay and Sai Chand fall in a certain bracket in the universe of 'Virupaksha'. The latter outshines the former by a country mile. Sunil 's get-up does look contrived but his acting is not. Brahmaji, Rajiv Kanakala, anchor Shyamala , Soniya Singh (as Sudha, Nandini's friend), and others fit the bill.

Technical aspects:

B Ajaneesh Loknath was chosen after Vikrant Rona's music started to be taken seriously last year. He may not have 'Kantara'-fied 'Virupaksha' but his BGM definitely upholds the mood and atmospherics of the film. His BGM could well turn out to be a major reason for the film's BO success.

Cinematographer Shamdat Sainudeen of 'Uppena' fame had a challenge; he had to make the night shots look tasteful. He delivers the job. Sri Nagendra Tangala's production design enhances the Modhamamba Temple backdrop and the entire Rudravanam backdrop (the set was erected near BHEL in Hyderabad).

Post-Mortem:

The film doesn't have a regular hero-heroine trajectory. The story takes off on a spine-chilling note with the introduction of Kamal Kamaraju and Kamakshi Bhaskarla as a married couple. The prologue (the first 5 minutes or so) is terrific.

The rom-com track may look bland on the surface but it is not. You have to notice what Nandini and Surya utter in their overtly romantic interactions. The pre-interval block gives a high, although what happens immediately after it in the second half is predictable.

The second half comes with two charming twists. The writing department doesn't fool the audience with unnecessarily misleading points. Surya, the male lead, truly becomes a redeeming saviour without overdoing it.

There are a few elements that feel ultra-familiar. Some portions involving Sai Chand 's character could have been better. In the first half, the four deaths could have been narrated without relegating Sai Dharam Tej 's character to a level of passivity. The climax could have come with a shock-and-awe factor.

Closing Remarks:

Director Karthik Dandu's story and 'Pushpa' director Sukumar 's screenplay receive a boost from the technical departments. This film is a mystical thriller minus general predictability.

Critic's Rating

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'Virupaksha' Movie Review

Virupaksha Movie Review & Rating

Cast – Sai Dharam Tej, Samyukta Menon, Soniya Singh, Ravikrishna, Sunil, Ajay, and Others Director – Karthik Varma Dandu Producer – BVSN Prasad Banner – Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra Music – Ajneesh Loknath

After a gap of two years, Sai Dharam Tej makes a comeback on the big screen with a spooky thriller, “Virupaksha,” directed by debutant Karthik Varma Dandu. The film’s trailer created a buzz among fans and genre lovers. Now, let’s see if the movie lives up to the expectations.

Story:  The story revolves around a village named Rudravaram where the villagers accuse Venkata Chalapathy of causing deaths and burn his family alive. Before dying, his wife curses the village. Twelve years later, deaths begin to occur again, and Surya (Sai Dharam Tej), who falls in love with Nandini (Samyuktha Menon), stays in the village to investigate. Will he uncover the truth? Who is responsible for the deaths? The movie follows Surya’s quest to unravel the mystery.

Performances:  Sai Dharam Tej delivers an impressive performance in his first attempt at a thriller. Samyuktha Menon gets a meaty role and does justice to it. Rajeev Kanakala, Ajay, Sai Chand, Abhinav Gomatam, Soniya Singh, Ravikrishna also performed well in their respective roles. Kamal Kamaraju, who makes an appearance on the big screen after a long time, plays his part convincingly.

Technicalities:  “Virupaksha” is a well-crafted thriller with an excellent screenplay by Sukumar. The technical aspects of the movie are noteworthy, with captivating cinematography and an apt background score by Ajneesh Loknath. The director, Karthik Varma Dandu, makes an impressive debut, keeping the pace and intensity of the movie intact.

Pros:  Impressive performances by the cast, especially Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha Menon. The screenplay and background score add to the gripping nature of the movie. The twists and unpredictability keep the audience engaged throughout the movie.

Cons:  The first half of the movie could have been paced better, with a slower love track. There are a few loose ends in the story, leaving some questions unanswered.

Analysis:  “Virupaksha” is a well-crafted supernatural thriller with a predictable plot. However, the intriguing treatment of the story keeps the audience engaged. The director’s attention to detail is commendable, and the suspense elements are well-executed. The gruesome deaths and scenes throughout the movie create a spine-chilling effect. The second half picks up pace, making it an engaging watch. The twists towards the pre-climax and climax work well in keeping the suspense alive.

Verdict:  Overall, “Virupaksha” is a must-watch for thriller genre lovers. The movie has all the right elements, and the fresh twists and horror elements make it worth watching. The movie had a solo release, and its run is expected to be strong until next week.

Rating: 3/5

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Home » entertainment » Movies » Movie Reviews » Virupaksha Movie Review: A Thrilling Investigation of Myster …

Virupaksha Movie Review: A Thrilling Investigation of Mysterious Deaths

Virupasksha Review – Virupaksha is much awaited 2023 Telugu movie starring Sai Dharam Tej. If you are also a Dharam Tej fan or Mystery genre lover, you may be waiting for a long time to watch this movie. Virupasksha movie is releasing on 21 April to cinema halls on Pan India level in multi-language including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Read the full Virupaksha Movie Review before watching  this thrilling murder mystery. 

Storyline: In a village, mysterious deaths occur as a result of an unknown person’s occult practice. The entire town is terrified of these killings. Will they track down the person responsible for the deaths? The rest of the story is about the difficulties encountered during the process. 

Virupaksha Overall Rating – 7.5/10 

Full Review – “Virupakash” is a thrilling murder mystery movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the last moment. The film delivers mind-bending twists and a captivating story with a perfect blend of action, thriller, drama, and mystery. 

The movie follows the incidents in a village where some mysterious deaths occurred recently. Then Sai Dharam Tej comes to the village and investigate the incident and suffers some unexpected events in his life. You will see how he successfully catches the real killer and save the villagers from chronological murders. 

Key Points of Virupaksha film review:

The director Karthik takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns, leading to a shocking and unexpected climax. The cast of Virupakash movie is superb and Sai Dharam, Sunil, and Ajay give goosebumps performances. The supporting cast also did good work. 

The direction and cinematography are everything in a thriller mystery and both are executed well by the makers. The dark tone and horror sound enhance the suspense and excitement in the movie. 

You Should Watch or Not – According to our Virupakash Movie Review Expert: “Virupaksha” is a must-watch for fans of thriller and mystery, and Sai Dharam Tej. It’s a gripping and thrilling ride so everyone will enjoy this movie. 

Other details about the movie Virupaksha review 

Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Mystery 

Duration: 2h 35m 

Director: Karthik Varma Dandu 

Writer: Sukumar 

Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Sunil, Samyuktha Menon, Brahmaji, Ajay

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Virupaksha Movie Review & Rating

• April 21, 2023 / 09:16 AM IST

Cast & Crew

• Sai Dharam Tej (Hero)
• Samyuktha Menon (Heroine)
• Sai Chand , Brahmaji (Cast)
• Karthik Dandu (Director)
• BVSN Prasad (Producer)
• B.Ajaneesh Loknath (Music)
• Shamdat Sainudeen (Cinematography)

Virupaksha starring Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha Menon as the lead pair presented by Sukumar under the Sukumar writings banner has hit the screens today. Let’s see how it fares.

Story: Ser in a mysterious village backdrop, a few visuals of a village and some mysterious deaths will be showcased. Later, Sai Dharam Tej’s character enters the village and locks horns with a few local goons. The frames are amazing with a solid backdrop that instantly grabs everyone’s attention. What is the mystery behind a series of death in the village? Why the hero enters the village? How will Sai Dharam Tej’s character crack the case, expected to be the main crux?

Performances: Sai Dharam Tej really struggles well in his role which is visible on screen. His acting is fine and he is more overlooked and focused on the role he portrayed. due to personal incidents, though. He lost charm. In his face, he somehow managed to do justice to the given character.

Though the film looks totally different from Sai Dharam Tej’s previous films, he made sure that the heart is kept in the right place with his genuine acting and brings depth to the proceedings.

Heroine Samyuktha Menon gets a meaty role as the entire film revolves around her character. She is amazing in character and brought a realistic texture to the role she portrayed.

Not to forget, other artists such as a village president among others are fine in their respective roles.

Technicalities: Music composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath is straight into the plot. His commendable sound adds a realistic texture to the proceedings and elevates key moments in the film. His instrumentation is okay but would have been better.

The photography work by Shyam Dutt registers as his rich framing and captivating lens add a realistic texture to the proceedings.

Production design work is done perfectly as the amazing as the village locations are showcased in an authentic manner.

The dialogues are written an authentic manner whoever a scene establishment is missing in the dialogue version.

Analysis: Karthik Varma Dandu directs Virupaksha. Despite the lack of an interesting love track, the storyline is engaging enough and picks up well from the pre-interval block, and carries forward with a few moments and chilling elements.

Major credit to sound mixing as it is done well and sets up a good path for the 2nd half. On an overview, Virupaksha is a decent village drama ser with a black magic backdrop.

To summarize, Virupaksha is a good village thriller with horror elements with a captivating storyline with some spine-chilling moments and nice twists. Though the love track in the 1st half is boring and the pace is uneven in parts, the screenplay engages for the most part and works out. Overall, Virupaksha is a satisfactory watch this weekend.

Verdict: Gripping Mysterious Drama!

Rating: 3/5

• #Karthik Dandu
• #Sai Dharam Tej
• #Samyuktha Menon

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సమీక్ష : ‘విరూపాక్ష’ – ఇంట్రెస్ట్ గా సాగే మిస్టరీ థ్రిల్లర్ !

విడుదల తేదీ : ఏప్రిల్ 21, 2023

123తెలుగు.కామ్ రేటింగ్ : 3.25/5

నటీనటులు: సాయి ధరమ్ తేజ్, సంయుక్త మీనన్, బ్రహ్మాజీ, రాజీవ్ కనకాల, అజయ్, సునీల్ తదితరులు

దర్శకులు : కార్తీక్ దండు

నిర్మాతలు: బివిఎస్ఎన్ ప్రసాద్

సంగీత దర్శకులు: అజనీష్ లోక్‌నాథ్

సినిమాటోగ్రఫీ: శామ్‌దత్ సైనుద్దీన్

ఎడిటర్: నవీన్ నూలి

సంబంధిత లింక్స్ : ట్రైలర్

సుప్రీం హీరో సాయి ధరమ్ తేజ్ హీరోగా సంయుక్త మీనన్ హీరోయిన్ గా కార్తీక్ దండు తెరకెక్కించిన ఇంట్రెస్టింగ్ థ్రిల్లర్ “విరూపాక్ష”. కాగా ఈ చిత్రం ఈ రోజే విడుదల అయింది. మరి ప్రేక్షకులును ఏ మేరకు మెప్పించిందో సమీక్షలోకి వెళ్లి తెలుసుకుందాం !

  రుద్రవనం అనే ఊరిలో క్షుద్రపూజలు చేస్తున్నారని ఒక కుటుంబాన్ని ఆ ఊరి ప్రజలు చంపేస్తారు. ఆ జంట కుమారుడ్ని ఆ ఊరు నుంచి పంపించేస్తారు. ఇది జరిగిన పుష్కర కాలం తర్వాత సూర్య (సాయి ధరమ్ తేజ్) తన తల్లితో పాటు రుద్రవనం ఊరు వస్తాడు. రుద్రవనం తన తల్లి ఊరు కావడంతో.. ఆ ఊరుతో సూర్యకి బంధం ఉంటుంది. ఈ క్రమంలో జరిగిన నాటకీయ పరిణామాల మధ్య నందిని (సంయుక్త మీనన్)తో సూర్య, ప్రేమలో పడతాడు. ఆమె ప్రేమ పొందటం కోసం సూర్య ప్రయత్నం చేస్తూ ఉంటాడు. అయితే, మరోవైపు రుద్రవనం గ్రామంలో వరుసగా మనుషులు చనిపోతూ ఉంటారు. దాంతో ఆ ఊరు మొత్తం భయంతో వణికపోతుంది. అసలు ఎందుకు మనుషులు చనిపోతున్నారు ?, వారి చావుల వెనుక ఉన్న రహస్యం ఏమిటి ?, ఈ మిస్టరీని సూర్య ఎలా సాల్వ్ చేశాడు ?, చివరకు ఏం జరిగింది? అనేది మిగిలిన కథ.

ప్లస్ పాయింట్స్ :

ఈ సినిమాకి బిగ్గెస్ట్ ప్లస్ పాయింట్ దర్శకుడు కార్తీక్ దండు రాసుకున్న కథ. పైగా కార్తీక్ దండు ఈ కథను తెరపై అద్భుతంగా చూపించాడు. నటీనటుల విషయానికి వస్తే.. సాయి ధరమ్ తేజ్ పాత్ర చాలా బాగుంది. సూర్య పాత్రలో సాయి ధరమ్ తేజ్ కూడా చాలా చక్కగా నటించాడు. కొన్ని థ్రిల్లర్ సన్నివేశాల్లో తన రియలిస్టిక్ యాక్టింగ్ తో ఆకట్టుకున్నాడు. ముఖ్యంగా సెకెండ్ హాఫ్ లో సాగే కొన్ని యాక్షన్ సన్నివేశాల్లో అలాగే ప్రీ క్లైమాక్స్ లో వచ్చే కీలక సీన్స్ లో కూడా సాయి తేజ్ నటన చాలా బాగుంది.

ఈ సినిమాలో మరో ప్రధాన పాత్రలో నటించిన హీరోయిన్ సంయుక్త మీనన్ కూడా తన నటనతో ఆకట్టుకుంది. కొన్ని హారర్ సన్నివేశాల్లో ఆమె తన పెర్ఫార్మెన్స్ తో మెప్పించింది. మరో కీలక పాత్రలో నటించిన రాజీవ్ కనకాల బాగా నటించారు. అలాగే బ్రహ్మాజీ, అజయ్, సునీల్ మరియు మిగిలిన నటీనటులు కూడా తమ పాత్రల్లో మెప్పించారు. దర్శకుడు కార్తీక్ కథలో ఉన్న సస్పెన్స్ ని బాగా మెయింటైన్ చేసాడు. పైగా హారర్ సీన్స్ ను కూడా చాలా బాగా పిక్చరైజ్ చేసాడు.

అన్నిటికీ మించి పీరియాడిక్ యాక్షన్ థ్రిల్లర్ నేపథ్యంలో రూపొందంటమే ఈ సినిమాకు ప్రధాన బలం. అలాగే దర్శకుడు రాసుకున్న కొన్ని కీలక సన్నివేశాలు కూడా ప్రత్యేక ఆకర్షణగా నిలుస్తాయి. ఈ సినిమాలోని విజువల్స్ అండ్ సౌండ్ ఎఫెక్ట్స్ చాలా బాగున్నాయి. ప్రీ ఇంటర్వెల్ నుంచి కథ ఊహించని టర్న్ తీసుకోవడం, మెయిన్ విలన్ ను ఎవరూ ఊహించని విధంగా డిజైన్ చేయడం బాగుంది.

మైనస్ పాయింట్స్ :

ఈ సినిమాలోని ప్రేమ సన్నివేశాలు ఇంకా బెటర్ గా ఉండి ఉంటే బాగుండేది. చాలా లాజికల్ పాయింట్స్ ని పర్ఫెక్ట్ గా రివీల్ చేసిన డైరెక్టర్ కొన్నిటిని మాత్రం ఇన్ డైరెక్ట్ గా చాలా సింపుల్ గా చూపించి వదిలేశాడు. అలాగే కీలకమైన సన్నివేశాలను బాగా రాసుకున్నప్పటికీ.. మిగిలిన సన్నివేశాల్లో ముఖ్యంగా సెకండ్ హాఫ్ మధ్యలో వచ్చే కొన్ని సీన్స్ ను ఇంకా ఆసక్తికరంగా మలిచి ఉంటే బాగుండేది.

సినిమా చూస్తున్నంతసేపు తర్వాత ఏం జరుగుతుంది ?, హీరో ఆ చావుల రహస్యాన్ని ఎలా కనిపెడతాడు?, ఆ ఊరుని ఎలా కాపాడతాడు ? అనే ఉత్కంఠ ప్రేక్షకుల్లో బాగానే కలిగించారు. కాకపోతే.. క్లైమాక్స్ కి ముందు వచ్చే సీక్వెన్స్ లను ఇంకా బెటర్ గా చూపించే స్కోప్ ఉంది. అలాగే ఇంకా క్లారిటీగా చూపించి ఉండాల్సింది. అదే విధంగా హీరోయిన్ పాత్రకు – రాజీవ్ కనకాల పాత్రకు మధ్య ట్రాక్ ను కూడా ఇంకా బలంగా రాసుకోవాల్సింది.

సాంకేతిక విభాగం :

మంచి కథా నేపధ్యాన్ని తీసుకోవడంలో సక్సెస్ అయిన దర్శకుడు కార్తీక్ దండు, కొన్ని చోట్ల ఉత్కంఠభరితమైన సీన్స్ రాసుకోవడంలో మాత్రం కొన్ని చోట్ల తడబడ్డాడు. కానీ ఆయన రూపొందించిన సన్నివేశాలు ఆకట్టుకున్నాయి. సంగీత దర్శకుడు అజనీష్ లోక్‌నాథ్ సంగీతం బాగుంది. సినిమాటోగ్రఫీ వర్క్ సినిమాకే ప్రత్యేక ఆకర్షణగా నిలుస్తోంది. ఎడిటింగ్ కూడా బాగుంది. ఇక దర్శకుడు ఆలోచనను నమ్మి ఇలాంటి వైవిధ్యమైన చిత్రాన్ని తెలుగు ప్రేక్షకులకు అందించింనందుకు నిర్మాతను అభినందించాలి. నిర్మాత బివిఎస్ఎన్ ప్రసాద్ నిర్మాణ విలువులు కూడా చాలా బాగున్నాయి.

‘విరూపాక్ష’ అంటూ వచ్చిన ఈ మిస్టరీ యాక్షన్ థ్రిల్లర్ ప్రేక్షకులకు కొత్త అనుభూతిని ఇస్తోంది. ముఖ్యంగా దర్శకుడు కార్తీక్ రాసిన కథ, హారర్ సన్నివేశాలు, కొన్ని థ్రిల్లింగ్ ఎలిమెంట్స్ అలాగే టేకింగ్ సినిమాలో ఆకట్టుకునే అంశాలు. అయితే, కొన్ని సీన్స్ సినిమాటిక్ గా అండ్ స్లోగా సాగడం వంటి అంశాలు బలహీనతలుగా నిలుస్తాయి. ఓవరాల్ గా భిన్నమైన, కొత్త తరహా థ్రిల్లర్ చిత్రాలని ఇష్టపడేవారికి ఈ సినిమా చాలా బాగా నచ్చుతుంది. అలాగే మిగిలిన వర్గాల ప్రేక్షకులను కూడా ఈ చిత్రం ఆకట్టుకుంటుంది.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For English Review

సంబంధిత సమాచారం

“కంగువ”, “తంగలాన్” ట్రోల్స్ పై నిర్మాత స్మూత్ వార్నింగ్, అందరి కళ్ళు “కల్కి” ట్రైలర్ ట్రీట్ పైనే., రొమాంటిక్ సన్నివేశాల చిత్రీకరణలో “దేవర”, సెన్సేషనల్ అనౌన్స్ మెంట్ కి సిద్ధమైన డైరెక్టర్ వైవిఎస్ చౌదరి, ఈ ప్రాంతంలో “కల్కి” ఎర్లీ మార్నింగ్ షోస్, rrr రికార్డు పై కన్నేసిన “కల్కి”, టీవీ ప్రీమియర్ కి సిద్ధమైన “ది ఫ్యామిలీ స్టార్”, రేపు బాలయ్య – బోయపాటి ల కొత్త చిత్రం అనౌన్స్ మెంట్, నైజాంలో మరో సినిమాను పంపిణీ చేయనున్న మైత్రీ మూవీ డిస్ట్రిబ్యూటర్స్ llp, తాజా వార్తలు, ఫోటోలు: పాయల్ రాజ్‌పుత్, ఫోటోలు : కృతి సనన్, ఫోటోలు : దేవియాని శర్మ, ఫోటోలు : జాక్వెలిన్ ఫెర్నాండెజ్, ఫోటోలు : భాగ్యశ్రీ బోర్స్, వీక్షకులు మెచ్చిన వార్తలు.

• కింగ్ మేకర్ రామోజీ గారు – రజినీకాంత్ నుంచి ఊహించని కామెంట్స్
• సమీక్ష : “మనమే” – డీసెంట్ ఫ్యామిలీ ఎమోషనల్ డ్రామా!
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• “ఇండియన్ 2” లో తన రోల్ గురించి ఇంట్రెస్టింగ్ కామెంట్స్ చేసిన రకుల్ ప్రీత్ సింగ్!
• సమీక్ష: ‘ర‌క్ష‌ణ’ – రొటీన్ గా సాగే క్రైమ్ థ్రిల్ల‌ర్
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'Virupaksha' movie review:  A layered, taut thriller

Arundhati, Kodi Ramakrishna’s superb horror-fantasy drama in 2009, successfully wove the strong narrative of a chosen one rising to meet challenges prescribed by destiny, against a backdrop of religion, sorcery and the supernatural. Thirteen years since, Virupaksha offers a wholly new story borne of the thematic juxtaposition of this cinematic predecessor. 

Rudravanam, circa 1991. As villages are wont to be, this hillside hamlet is characterised by close-knit bonds and a propensity for age-old traditions. Behind this facade lies a dark crime from over a decade ago (shown in the film’s prologue) that every resident of Rudravanam is complicit in. Surya (Sai Dharam Tej), a city-bred boy, enters Rudravanam with his mother to give their land for a school. Soon enough, he meets Nandini (Samyuktha) and… love happens.

The romantic subplot is reminiscent of love stories from Sukumar’s oeuvre, consent be damned. Another reminder of Sukumar’s school of thought is how there is so much more written around and into already-explored scenarios. For instance, think of how Nandini keeps rebuffing Surya’s advances. She is shown, in the first few scenes, as someone haughty.

But before we might witness a ‘Taming of the Shrew’ situation, we get Surya propose to Nandini, rather beautifully, by saying, “Neeku kopam osthadi ani telusu, kani nenu aa kopani jeevithanthamu bharisthanu.” (I know you would be angry at me for proposing, but it is your anger I want to endure for the rest of my life). Just as I wondered why Samyuktha was not as histrionic as arrogant girls usually are in films, her character’s true colours come to the fore, putting doubts at rest. After last month’s Dasara, made by Sukumar’s protégé Srikanth Odela, we see yet another film subvert its skeletal material delightfully. 

While Karthik Dandu and Sukumar are the primary writers of the film, it is not an exaggeration to suggest that the film’s composer, Ajaneesh B Loknath, is almost its honorary screenwriter. His music, combined with sound design by Sync Cinema, takes care of the narrative heavy lifting. While the film’s songs are not much to write about, the background score takes the cake.

The sounds of Virupaksha are eerie, indicating tension and foreboding in all the right places, rising and ebbing like a dark dream. The heavy use of music and sound design in many a film is often an attempt to mask story deficiencies, but here, in a horror film, it is parred for the course. Virupaksha tiptoes the pathways of horror without committing to its tropes wholesale. 

The film, more often than not, feels like a homage to the filmography of M Night Shyamalan, setting up its story gradually, with increasing levels of fear and ominousness while grounding it in strong psychological undercurrents. Crows, in all the metaphoric value they lend to a supernatural feature, form the glorious extras of Virupaksha, alongside the usual suspects of blackened coconuts, reddened lemons and an eclipsing moon.

The film is set in the 90s, and the presence of rotary telephones and ambassador cars gives Virupaksha a cinematic sheen a film set amidst smartphones and sedans will never quite give. The film’s dialogues are chock-a-block with dense words like Raktha Darpana, Ashta Dibbandham and Pasuthatvam. They are as effective as they are amusing. 

Virupaksha truly finds its footing in its second half, as conflicts heighten, and various threads of the narrative come together. The film’s revelations are a stream of expositions but to the credit of Karthik Dandu, interest or excitement never wanes.

Sai Dharam Tej’s character, who is partly a saviour, partly an investigator, sets ahead on a journey to find answers and solve problems in the third act of the film. There are two reveals about a brother and sister duo in the film that neatly wraps the film’s questions. Beneath the gory, dramatic proceedings of Virupaksha lies a subtle but important message against the perils of groupthink and superstitions.

Between the rationalism of Karthikeya and the faith-centric religious overtones of Karthikeya 2 lies Virupaksha, which makes a case for the merits of black magic while simultaneously urging people to err on the path of reason.

Sai Dharam Tej and Kamal Kamaraju’s characters in the film are the proverbial fish-out-of-the-water outsiders who enter dire situations with no perspective. One wins, the other loses. In Spotlight, Stanley Tucci’s Mitchell Garabedian is seen telling Mark Ruffalo’s Michael Rezendes that it is outsiders that usually possess greater perspective and skill to crack a deep-seated crime wide open. The same happens here. The protagonist’s perspective is also reflected aptly in the title of the film.

ALSO READ |  The realism of 'Virupaksha'

While Virupaksha, another name of Shiva, is a Shaivite clapback (like Rudravanam), it also means the ‘all-seeing one’, displaying the balanced perspective of someone who is not on the Pratipaksha (in favor) or Edhurpaksha (against). Perspectives also play an important role in the cinematography of Virupaksha. We often get to see overhead shots, scenes where the camera is placed at many voyeuristic angles, which make the audience feel like they are almost eavesdropping.

One of my favourite shots displays the lead actress from the point of view of a…crow. Delightful. The penultimate parts of the film is an elegant incorporation of the Trolley problem. Is it fair to kill one to save many? Or let many die but not intentionally kill one? 

ALSO READ |  ‘I want to analyse Virupaksha’s response before signing next’: Samyuktha

The casting of the film for the supporting characters is a good mix of casting for and against type. Brahmaji and Sunil ably play the roles they have portrayed in many films while Ajay’s performance as an Aghora is a breath of fresh air. Speaking of which, it is equally refreshing to witness Rajeev Kanakala’s character stay alive in the film, from start to finish.

 Old wine in a new bottle is a cause of worry and consternation for film critics, often using that phrase to actively criticise a film. Virupaksha is for the large part, old wine in a new bottle, but hey? Is wine not supposed to taste better with age?

Virupaksha 

Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha, Sai Chand, Brahmaji, Sunil, Ajay Director: Karthik Dandu

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Virupaksha Review - Mystery Thriller with a Mesmerizing Story Value!

PUBLISHED DATE : 05/May/2023

Virupaksha is a psychological mystery thriller starring Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha Menon in the lead roles.

Sai Dharam Tej visits his village for a festival. He falls in love with Samyuktha Menon. After a point, the whole village becomes haunted and the heroine happens to be the main target. How the hero saves the day is the remaining story.

Writing/ Direction:

The arc of the lead characters, the screenplay pattern and the revenge formula are usual and much-seen-before. But what makes the film afresh is its compelling concept, how the story neatly evolves to be big in the flow and reasoning for the vengeance. Being a mystery movie that too on a horror tone, it never felt like the regular formulaic flick. There are plenty of unique elements to keep us engrossed, also nothing is overly stuffed, knots are tied and unfold fluently one by one. Yes, there are some biscuity moments here and there that fool around conveniently. The detailing is fascinating, the Astram points are crystal clear, the backstory has several layers that are revealed with twists that work well. Just the fact that conveys how powerful a human eye is even after death is such a unique selling point and sums the whole logic of the script. The flow of the first half is a bit familiar and even though the love portions make a lot of sense later on in the movie, especially in the climax, they were a tad bit long. Sukumar wins yet again with his writing that is completely justified by Karthik Varm Dandu’s gritty vision and promising directors skills.

Performances:

Sai Dharam Tej isn’t a spoilsport as a measured performance with stock expressions is enough to make it convincing and he has delivered that. But the problem relies with his screen presence, he struggles to be naturally heroic at many places, while he is running for example. On the other hand, Samyuktha Menon hits it out of the park, she is intimidating and suits the rural backdrop nicely. All round performance from her, she has given her best both in romantic and serious situations. There are some other well-written characters played fine by the artists, a mix of fresh and popular faces.

Technicalities:

The first impression the film gives is that it is technically rich, in all aspects. No-nonsense songs, just a couple of passing montages as the focus is mainly on the subject. Background score matches the happenings at the right level. Splendid camera work with apt angles along with disturbances, the props are also covered in a sufficiently captivating manner. Sharp cuts in most parts, but editing could’ve been a little crisper in the first half. Solid sound effects and mixing, helped to create goosebumps moments during the dark sequences.

Rating - 3.25/ 5

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Virupaksha Movie Review and Rating

 Movie Review:  Virupaksha

Director:  Karthik Dandu

Producer:  BVSN Prasad

Music Director: B. Ajaneesh Loknath

Starring:  Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha Menon, Ajay,  and others

 Release Date:  21st April 2023

 Rating :   3.25/5

Virupaksha Movie review:   Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha Menon starrer investigative and horror thriller drama Virupaksha has hit the theaters today on 21st April. Let’s see the story of Virupaksha.

 Story:  Set in the backdrop of  1990s, the story takes place in a village Rudravanam. A family is killed by the people of that village for practicing occult worship. After a long time Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) comes to Rudravanam village along with his mother. He falls in love with Nandini (Samyukta Menon), the  daughter of Rudravanam’s sarpanch. However, on the other hand, people keep dying in Rudravanam village. The whole town trembles with fear. Why are people actually dying?, What is the secret behind their deaths?, How did Surya solve this mystery?, What finally happened?  To get these answers, one should watch the movie Virupaksha on silver screen.

 Plus Points:

·         Sai Dharam Tej performance

·         Story

·         Twists

·         BGM

·         Cinematography

·         Screenplay

 Minus Points:

·         Love track in 1st half

·         Second half little bit slow

Performance:  Sai Dharam Tej’ character is very good. He also acted very well as Surya. He impressed with his realistic acting in some thriller scenes. Sai  Dharam Tej’s acting is very good especially in some action scenes in the second half as well as in the key scenes in the pre-climax. Samyukta Menon also impressed with her performance. She impressed  the viwers with her performance in some horror scenes. Rajeev Kanakala, who played another key role, acted well. Also Brahmaji, Ajay, Sunil and the rest of the cast have also impressed in their roles.

Technical:  The biggest plus point of this movie Virupaksha is the story written by director Karthik Dandu. Moreover, Karthik Dandu has shown this story brilliantly on screen. Music director Ajaneesh Loknath music is good. The cinematography work is a special attraction of the movie. The editing is also good. The producer should be congratulated for believing in the director’s idea and presenting such a diverse film to the Telugu audience. Producer BVSN Prasad’s production values are also very good.

 Analysis:  Overall Virupaksha is an engaging mystical thriller drama. Director Karthik has maintained the suspense in the story very well. Moreover, he shot the horror scenes very well.  The main strength of this movie is that it is made in the background of a periodical action thriller. The visuals and sound effects in this movie are very good. The story takes an unexpected turn from the pre-interval and the main villain is designed in a way that no one expected. Love scenes in this movie could have been better.

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Virupaksha Twitter Review: A Good Village Thriller with Horror Elements!

Sai Dharam Tej's upcoming movie Virupaksha, a mystic thriller directed by Karthik Dandu and starring Samyuktha Menon as the female lead, has generated...

Sai Dharam Tej's upcoming movie Virupaksha , a mystic thriller directed by Karthik Dandu and starring Samyuktha Menon as the female lead, has generated positive buzz in the film industry. The movie is scheduled to be released on Today. Check out LIve Updates Here

Live Updates

Completed #virupaksha . second half is good with interesting screenplay. it has nice story. superb music and sound design. cinematography too is very good. it’s a nice thriller with right performances by sdt & samyuktha. director does a decent job. sure shot hit 👍 https://t.co/ckkxvsyxf9 — idlebrain jeevi (@idlebrainjeevi) april 21, 2023.

Show completed :- #Virupaksha My rating 3.25/5 Blockbuster bomma 🔥🔥 Positives :- Screenplay & direction 👌👌 Story BGM Cinematography Movie cast @IamSaiDharamTej career lo best picture 👍👍👌👌 Star of the movie @iamsamyuktha_ . She nailed it ❤️👌 Bomma adhurs 😍 pic.twitter.com/XpN8VBXOlT — venkatesh kilaru (@kilaru_venki) April 20, 2023

Wishing @iamsaidharamtej and the entire team of #virupaksha a blockbuster success.🔥💥 #virupakshaincinemasnow @karthikdandu86 @iamsamyuktha_ @ajaneeshb @shamdatdop @navinnooli @bkrsatish @svccofficial @sukumarwritings pic.twitter.com/4t1qss6z97 — rana daggubati (@ranadaggubati) april 21, 2023, #virupaksha is a spooky intense thriller 1st half good 2nd half 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 gripping & intriguing twists and turns 💯 % justifies the genre and gives best theatrical experience supreme hero @iamsaidharamtej 's authentic come back with 👌💥 & it ll be a milestone in his career pic.twitter.com/yjoegvxnui — skn (sreenivasa kumar) (@sknonline) april 21, 2023, #virupaksha will take you all on a thrill ride from today. now in theatres 💥 book your tickets now 🎟️ https://t.co/ygfgh5zjq7 @iamsaidharamtej @iamsamyuktha_ @karthikdandu86 @svccofficial @sukumarwritings pic.twitter.com/ak6slwtw2k — laxmi nivas (@prolaxminivas) april 21, 2023, super positive reports from overseas premiers for #virupaksha 👌👌 congratulations @iamsaidharamtej bro and your entire team ♥️ ♥️ @iamsamyuktha_ @karthikdandu86 @ajaneeshb @shamdatdop @navinnooli @svccofficial pic.twitter.com/kua2g7jkd8 — 𝐕𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐢𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐫 (@ursvamsishekar) april 21, 2023, could have been a good supernatural thriller only if the second half was dealt with differently. a terrific first half with spine chilling moments was followed by a mediocre and very conveniently written second half. average. #virupaksha pic.twitter.com/mgpborxcfl — surya (@surya1337sv) april 21, 2023, looks like sensational comeback from supreme hero sdt 🔥🔥 #virupaksha pic.twitter.com/nllgmghndm — #srh (@haripspk_) april 21, 2023, #blockbustervirupaksha #virupaksha in uk 🇬🇧 positive reviews from everywhere from premieres. remember the name @karthikdandu86 🔥💥 book your tickets at your nearest theatre for this thrilling experience #saidharamtej #samyuktamenon @sukumarwritings @svccofficial pic.twitter.com/gokabsftor — satish kondala (@kondalasatish) april 21, 2023, #virupaksha blockbuster 🔥👌 — sudhakarhyd 🔥 (@sudhakcr) april 21, 2023.

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More From Forbes

Netflix’s most popular new movie is getting rave reviews, but ‘hit man’ is pretty bad.

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I have never been more confused by the reception of a film than I am by Netflix’s new comedy-drama Hit Man, a film by longtime director Richard Linklater. The movie is scoring big with critics (who aren’t named Erik Kain) and audiences alike, and over at Reddit, the reviews are glowing.

I am baffled. I am utterly mystified. It’s like the entire world went crazy and left me—and just a small handful of others—behind. What’s going on? The critics must be crazy, sure, but the audiences along with them this time!

Usually, when I really like something that the rest of my peers seem to hate, the audiences also tend to like it. Or I see the opposite divide, and critics really like something—like The Acolyte— but audiences can’t stand it. I usually find myself on one side of a controversial movie, either agreeing with critics and disagreeing with audiences—like The Green Knight— or the other way around.

It is a very rare day when a movie is beloved by both critics and audiences that I find myself standing over here scratching my head and asking “Why?” Why do people like this movie so much? It’s . . . really not good. And hey, maybe if this was a debut picture from some starry-eyed newcomer who had never been behind a camera before, written by a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed brand-new screenwriter, I could cut it some slack. But Linklater directed Dazed and Confused over 30 years ago, and School Of Rock and Boyhood and Before Sunrise (and the other two films in that trilogy) and plenty of other classics.

This feels like amateur hour to me. As I noted in my review, it feels like three different films awkwardly stitched together: The oddball comedy, where Glen Powell’s character Gary Johnson dresses up in silly costumes and takes on goofy personas to hoodwink criminals in his fake hit man act; the rom-com bit ( that critic Jason Fraley hilariously described as “Fifty Shades Of Gary” ); and the final fake film noir bit that really convinced me that this movie had no clue what it wanted to be. For a film about identity, Hit Man has none.

Best Nintendo Switch Games: It’s Mario’s World, We’re Just Visiting

So why do all these critics and moviegoers have such a crush on it? Is it the handsome, easy charm of leading man Glen Powell? Is it the sizzling good looks of Adria Arjona? At least Powell gets to be funny. Arjona is basically a character without any personality. She’s given no backstory, no life to explore, no character development. She just shows up and looks hot. And in the third act, when she had the opportunity to surprise us as a ruthless femme fatale, it’s all a fakeout. She’s just a damsel in distress, after all—albeit a murderous one.

I don’t get it. I also don’t mean to belabor the point, but I’ve just never witnessed anything like this before. This is a 7/10 on a good day. I’d give it two stars out of four, feeling generous. If I’d seen this in theaters and you’d asked me to give you a prediction on its Rotten Tomatoes score, I’d say 65% with critics and maybe 70% with audiences. And that’s not because it’s a good movie, but because it’s an easy, mostly feel-good movie with attractive leads. What gives?

Here’s my video review of the film :

As always, I’d love it if you’d follow me here on this blog and subscribe to my YouTube channel and my Substack newsletter so you can stay up-to-date on all my TV, movie and video game reviews and coverage. Thanks!

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Virupaksha Movie Review: A Terrific Thriller That’s Nearly Undone by a VFX-Heavy Climax

Director: Karthik Varma Dandu

Writer: Sukumar

Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha Menon, Sunil

After the credits of Virupaksha began to roll I was reminded of the short story “In The Avu Observatory” by HG Wells which ends with its protagonist pondering about how  “There are more things in heaven and earth, and more particularly in the forests of Borneo, than are dreamt of in our philosophies…..". And in Virupaksha too its protagonist, Surya (Sai Dharam Tej ) is resigned to similar thoughts after visiting the village of Rudravanam - a village so remote that it might as well have been an untouched island. There’s nothing left for him but to philosophise and be reduced to ponder over his insignificance. It’s not cynicism as much as a submission to the smallness of man.  He enters the film to the tune of Chiranjeevi’s 'Supreme Hero' and in the end is defeated, deflated, and humbled by Fate. 

This is because Virupaksha tells the story of Rudravanam in the 80s where unnatural events and murders begin to occur. The villagers are forced to believe that there are mystical and tantric forces at play and the head priest (Sai Chand) orders that the village should follow a self-imposed lockdown until the mystery is solved. Surya, an outsider with loose familial ties to the village finds himself in love with a girl from Rudravanam, Nandini (Samyukta Menon). As the murders/deaths begin to pile up and reach closer to Surya, it falls upon him to solve this supernatural mystery. Who is causing these deaths? Does the seemingly simple and cheerful village of Rudravanam have darker secrets? 

To put it simplistically, the word Virupaksha translates to someone who can see without having the physical form of the eyes—the all-seer. At first, I assumed it would be another word used to glorify the “hero” - Sai Dharam Tej - but the film takes the title seriously because of how inconspicuous and irrelevant its protagonist is to the story it wants to tell.  He might as well have been called “exposition giver” and “clue finder” or as the film has correctly identified “Virupaksha”. He lurks around unable to influence the course of events (including the climax). He is at best fighting a battle he knows he’s going to fail and at worst a bystander despite whose efforts all the action unfolds. It’s the “secondary” characters upon whom Virupaksha is built because all of them become suspects in this mystery. 

The village of Rudravanam is filled with bright but suspicious characters such as - the righteous president Harishchandra (Rajeev Kanakala) who has told the village only a half-truth. Abbaigaru ( Sunil ) has had to bear the personal cost because of this “lockdown” and he resents the village and wants everyone to face pain similar to his. Similarly the priest, the aghora (Ajay), a girl Sudha who has an affair with another man without her fiance knowing, the secret lover, the milkman, and countless other characters. Virupaksha is a testament to how many key characters a mainstream pulpy film can establish when it does away with Hero worship. 

The first half of the film is a terrific set-up that gets the milieu and suspense spot on. Even stray shots of a dead scorpion, and a woman with an itchy ear all mount up to have some meaning. Debutante director Kartik Dandu shines in getting the tone and suspense right. The film has the feeling of a Dan Brown-esque page-turner in its ability to constantly end scenes with visual hooks and visceral images. But the scenes where Surya and Nandini fall in love make you groan and the song makes you reach for your phone in a film that doesn’t allow you that luxury. Even though a key twist relies on these portions these are the weakest sections in the film.

It’s in the second half when Surya goes on his fact-finding mission and the movie struggles with its myth-making that Virupaksha loses its grip on you. This film felt like it shouldn’t have to resort to tacky special effects or rely on a cheaply staged set piece in the climax to resolve its mystery. At a philosophical level, the film which looked set to make a bold statement against religious dogmatism conforms to it and reduces the impact of its suspenseful blows from the first half.

Virupaksha ’s climax makes a story that could have haunted the audience for days into an experience that haunts you in the theatres only. 

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Letitia Wright gives a quietly powerful performance in “Aisha” as a young Nigerian woman seeking asylum in Ireland and struggling to overcome one bureaucratic obstacle after another. 

Writer-director Frank Berry ’s film never devolves into melodrama – if anything, it may be understated to a fault – but he grounds her plight in an authentic mixture of daily frustrations and sporadic joys. The absurdism of the consistent hardships she endures is maddening: An administrator at the accommodation center where she lives won’t hand her an important piece of mail she needs, so she misses the bus to her part-time job at a hair salon, where the owner scolds her for her tardiness. It’s that sort of thing, day in and day out. She just can't seem to catch a break. There’s racism behind some of these roadblocks, as well as a certain sadism. To borrow a phrase that’s been used repeatedly in recent years to describe the treatment of immigrants to America, the cruelty is the point. 

Nevertheless, Aisha perseveres. Wright, so funny and fierce in the “ Black Panther ” movies, harnesses that same fire here, indicating her character’s loneliness and anguish through her restrained body language and measured speech. We learn a little about the ordeal that drove her from her homeland through meetings with the immigration lawyer assigned to her case (Loran Cranitch). Still, she’s understandably reluctant to revisit these horrors in detail. Wright gives us just enough to sympathize but not enough for the indifferent officials who will determine her character’s fate. 

It’s not all misery, though. We catch early glimpses of the warm and easy way Aisha connects with people as an aspiring beautician -- putting makeup on the other women in the group home and drawing out their smiles by helping them feel lovely for an afternoon. Berry immerses us in the rhythms of Aisha’s daily existence, the highs and lows, with long takes and unobtrusive, documentary-style camerawork. A Muslim woman, Aisha wakes up early every morning to pray, and these solitary moments in the stillness seem to sustain her.  

This fly-on-the-wall approach becomes especially crucial when she strikes up an unlikely friendship with Conor (Josh O’Connor), a new overnight security guard at the center who serves as the rare source of kindness in her life. Berry lets us sit in silence with them as they exchange an unspoken understanding over midnight meals in the industrial kitchen, and their small talk on the bus eventually evolves into good-natured teasing and even laughter.  

O’Connor, who’s so hot right now between two extremely different roles in “ Challengers ” and “ La Chimera ,” reveals another facet of his talent here. Gone is the swagger of those performances; with his big, goofy smile, Conor exudes a hangdog tenderness and an earnest desire to atone for the sins of his past. O’Connor is so effortlessly appealing and sweet, he makes you wish there were more to his character. Conor is almost too good to be true in the way he shows up for Aisha, no matter the time of day, no matter where she's living once the system forces her to relocate. Still, whether they can forge some lasting relationship provides another source of simmering tension on top of the central question of whether Aisha can remain in the country. As the film progresses, Berry increasingly depicts her isolation, framing her alone at a bus stop or on the sidewalk in front of a small-town supermarket. 

Unfortunately for Aisha – and so many others, as “Aisha” convincingly conveys – there are no quick and easy answers. The film’s abrupt but realistic ending, which surely will feel unsatisfying for many viewers, seems to suggest as much. 

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Virupaksha Review: A Formularized Thriller With A Supernatural Climax!

Virupaksha Introduction: Actor Sai Dharam Tej kind of made a comeback to films with the latest horror-thriller titled Virupaksha. The movie, written and directed by debutant Karthik Dandu hit the screens in five languages all over the world on April 21.

Ever since the film's title and first-look poster was released, expectations were high for the film. The film's trailer took them up a notch higher. Coming from Sukumar, Sai Dharam Tej, and Ajaneesh Loknath made Tollywood maniacs expect so much out of Karthik Dandu.

Samyuktha Menon, who has turned into a golden-leg for tier two Telugu films was cast as the female lead in Virupaksha.

Virupaksha Story: In a village called Rudravanam, a possessed man mysteriously goes into the sanctum of a temple and dies after puking blood in front of the deity. The village's temple priest decide to lock down the village for eight days. The protagonist, who is about to leave the village returns to give medicine to his lover, Nandini (Samyuktha) and stays back in the village due to lock down.

On the very first day of the lockdown, a woman tries to elope with her lover. In a twist, they both die at different locations. It is implied that blackmagic is enabled in the village through these deaths.

By the end of its first half, Nandini is possessed by the evil entity. What does the protagonist do? How he brings an end to this superstition/curse on the village? Who is behind these mysterious deaths?

Performances In Virupaksha:

Sai Dharam Tej, who shouldered the responsibility of the film in the role of Surya, an inquisitive person who believes in science and logic, has exhibited his best yet. This is the first release of the actor following his accident. He played the character subtly without going board, to stay true to the character.

Samyuktha on the other hand, who has been doing Telugu films continuously, has performed well in the character that she portrayed. She got hold of a tailored role for herself delivered exactly. In addition, Samyuktha also looked desirable on the screen in half-sarees and in a typical Telugu fashion.

Ajay, Sai Chand, and others have efficiently played out in their respective characters.

Virupaksha's Technical Aspects:

B Ajaneesh Loknath's background score and cinematography by Shamdat have competed in enhancing the output of Virupaksha on the big screen. The movie is better enjoyed in theatres for these reasons.

Although the director has lost grip on narration here and there, he did a commendable job for a movie of that genre, in his first attempt. Karthik Dandu is another new name in the industry to look out for. The film's editor Navin Nooli could've done even better had the love scenes and a bit of drag were avoided for the final cut. Screenplay for Virupaksha written by Sukumar B was impressive and makes a difference to the entire story.

Positive Aspects Of Virupaksha: Story

Background Score

Cinematography

Negative Aspects Of Virupaksha: Lengthy and redundant love track

Impactless dialogues

Virupaksha Verdict:

Fans Of horror-thriller genre films, drop everything and book yourself a ticket to watch Virupaksha. The movie is a must-watch on the big screen this weekend.

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‘Virupaksha’ movie review: Invokes fear without the gimmicks

Sai dharam tej and samyuktha menon’s telugu supernatural thriller ‘virupaksha’ delivers the thrills, aided by deft storytelling and an able technical team.

Updated - April 21, 2023 03:14 pm IST

Published - April 21, 2023 02:22 pm IST

Sai Dharam Tej in ‘Virupaksha’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

When a story discusses paranormal activities, it is easy to brush it aside as superstition. The task of the storyteller, then, is to build the world of the story such that the viewer is drawn into it and remains invested in the mysterious happenings and begins to empathise with some of the characters. Director Karthik Varma Dandu who has written the story of the Telugu film Virupaksha , which has screenplay by Sukumar, builds the make-believe world of Rudravanam village diligently. When a series of eerie events unfold, I found myself wondering why a character should invite trouble by walking into the jungle at night or why another character crosses a line that is supposedly sacrosanct. An hour into the film, a particularly spooky incident sets the stage for the protagonist, played by Sai Dharam Tej, to begin a quest. 

An incident that happened in the late 1970s becomes the premise for a chunk of the story that takes place in 1991. The 1990s setting helps the makers build the fear quotient minus mobile phones and social media; help is not a call or click away.

Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) visits Rudravanam village accompanied by his mother. They are greeted by what the mother thinks could be a bad omen. Surya dismisses it as a possibility in the forests. In Rudravanam, life revolves around the village deity and ritualistic practices, guided by the temple priest (Sai Chand). A hurried and superficially written romance brews between Surya and Nandini (Samyuktha Menon), daughter of the sarpanch (Rajiv Kanakala). 

Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha Menon, Rajiv Kanakala, Sai Chand, Brahmaji

Direction: karthik varma dandu, music: b. ajaneesh loknath.

Srinagendra Tangala’s production design and Shamdat Sainudeen’s cinematography help in giving the village an authentic look and most characters seem fit into that world. The only one who is given the allowance to look glamorous is the female lead. More than the Surya-Nandini love story, the subplot involving another couple comes across as realistic. 

The story follows a few predictable trajectories. We know that Surya will end up staying longer in the village and will become their saviour. For a long time, he is privy to the events in the village without being directly connected to them. The sense of purpose kicks in when there is a threat to a loved one and he begins a quest. 

We get plenty of night sequences (some of which doff the hat to Manoj Night Shyamalan), unexplained deaths, a desolated mansion and rituals of different kinds. Along with the cinematography, Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score, Navin Nooli’s editing and remarkable sound design ensure that the interest is sustained and the narrative delivers chills from time to time. There are no screeching ghosts, no gory jumpscares but enough situations to invoke fear. A story such as this is also bound to be flashback heavy to unravel a few plot points. These reveals are effective and also help to sidestep certain cliched tropes. To explain further would mean revealing spoilers.  And thankfully, the film has just two situational songs and half an action sequence that soon outlives its welcome.

Sai Dharam Tej fits the bill as an outsider investigating a mystery. He is happy being a bystander until he finds himself in a spot. Samyuktha has a good screen presence and makes it count in the later portions that demand something more from her. The only quibble about the narrative is the weak romance early on. Had this portion been written and narrated better, the final portions would have had a better impact. Sai Chand, Brahmaji, Sunil, Ajay and several others in the supporting cast add to Virupaksha’s strength.

Virupaksha has plenty going for it and is among the well made supernatural thrillers in Telugu cinema in recent years. A big thumbs up to the technical team in particular.

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