hidimba movie review in tamil

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Hidimbha movie review: Logic goes for a toss in this unique cannibals' story

Cast: Ashwin Babu, Nandita Swetha, Makarand Deshpande, Rajiv Kanakala, and others

Director: Aneel Kanneganti

Rating: 2 stars

Young director Aneel Kanneganti had a good and novel plot on his hand and also triggered some interest with his trailers, but he couldn’t really handle the multi-layered script with conviction and left the audience in despair.

He takes the formulaic route for a theme that deserves some ‘realistic and logical’ treatment and completely overlaps one good interesting twist in his movie. However, Nandita Swetha performs well and gets a meatier role than a hero, while Ashwin Babu scores high in action episodes but falters in emoting. Makarand Deshpande, who plays a cannibal, excels but falls short of looking menacing and scary.

The other saving grace for the audience could have been an engaging love angle between Ashwin and Nandita but the director shows little interest in it. Director had a good opportunity to strike a chord with the Telugu audience since they have patronized unusual themes like ’Virupaksha’ but he should blame his sluggish screenplay, overdoes of gory scenes, and few rehashed stuff from earlier thrillers, if he fails to grab more eyeballs in the days to come.

The film starts as a gripping thriller as the police department is challenged with a series of kidnappings of girls in Hyderabad city, leaving citizens sleepless. Nandita, an IPS officer from Kerala, is entrusted with the job of nabbing the culprits along with younger officer Ashwin Babu and both set out on a mission. Eventually, the findings lead to the Hidhimba tribe, who lived during the British era and relished human flesh. Will the ex-lovers Nandita and Ashiwn reunite and how both resolve the mystery forms the rest of the story.

Ashwin who was seen in light-hearted roles in ‘Raju Gari Gadi’, couldn’t really pull off a challenging role. Nandita impresses as an upright cop, while Subhalekha Sudhakar is wasted in the CM role, while Rajiv Kanakala and Sahithi Avancha, and others fit the bill. Cinematography by B Rajasekhar stands out with breathtaking visuals and deserves kudos for imaginative lighting in gloomy sequences.

Composer Vikas Badisa sustains the tempo and mood with a perfect background score. Unfortunately, the director who relied on slam-bang action sequences ended up hurting the audience's senses more than the characters in the film. Jokes apart, a path-breaking plot goes wasted.

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Hidimba Movie Review & Rating

• July 20, 2023 / 11:20 AM IST

Cast & Crew

• Ashwin Babu (Hero)
• Nandita Swetha (Heroine)
• Srinivasa Reddy, Sahithi Avancha, Sanjay Swaroop, Shijju, Vidyulekha Raman (Cast)
• Aneel Kanneganti (Director)
• Sreedhar Gangapatnam (Producer)
• Vikas Badisa (Music)
• B.Rajasekhar (Cinematography)

Ashwin Babu has turned the main lead after a long time with a film named Hidimbha. The film is a suspense thriller that has hit the screens today. The film has Nandita Swetha as the female lead and has been released on the big screens. Read our review here.

Story: The city of Hyderabad is in a state of shock as multiple girls go missing and the pressure is building up on the cops. Left with no choice, a special IPS officer named Adhya(Nandita Swetha) is brought into action. A junior officer Abhay(Ashwin Babu) is assigned to help her out. The duo starts tracking the case and finds out that a generous tribe named Hidimbha is behind these murders. Well, what does an ancient tribe have to do with serial killings? watch the film to know the answer.

Performances: The film has some decent performances. First in line is Nandita Swetha who gets a very strong role. She does well only in a few scenes but does not create an impact as a cop. A more popular and experienced actor would have made a lot of difference to the film. But there are a few scenes where Nandita did well. Especially the climax, she was good. Mark and Deshpande play a Hidimbha clan descendant and he is very good in the film. He creates a scary atmosphere in the film with his appearance. Last but not least, Ashwin Babu plays the main lead and he is good. He has built up his body and looks good in all the action sequences. But he overacts a lot in the last part of the film where he goes negative. A more mature and subtle performance in his tense role would have made matters a lot better.

Technicalities: After the interval, the makers revealed the true essence of the narrative. Unfortunately, the continuous execution of the film did not achieve the expected success. The movie excelled in major aspects like cinematography and music. Each frame and visual effects were remarkable. The incorporation of solid music and sound design elevated its impact. Watching the film, one can grasp the significance of not compromising on production quality. The editing is perfect and the dubbing is also great. But the screenplay could have been a lot better in the last part of the film.

Analysis: Hidimbha is a film that is great on paper. The manner in which an ancient tribe is introduced in the story is very good. The human angle and the manner in which the tribe is connected to the story have been showcased in a very good manner. Also, the second half of the film is the place where things take shape. The first half an hour of the film is boring. Especially the investigation scenes and love track bore the audience in a big way.

But the manner in which the crime is showcased is very good. Also, the flashback episode and the exact story of Hidimbha and how a person who is still alive in the tribe is killing these men are showcased is brought in a solid manner. The film has decent action and good visuals. But the key last fifteen minutes when the film is at a key point and the hero changes gears, one would expect a better narration but it does not happen.

But for the most part, the film creates an intriguing factor for the audience to enjoy it. A more intense climax and the manner in which the twist gets revealed should have been elevated to make things better. Hidimbha has that kind of storyline for the audience to enjoy it. The film starts on a slow note but picks up well. But the narration should have been clear and gripping. So many logics go for a toss and one cannot ignore them.

Verdict: Overall, Hidimbha is a suspense thriller that is great on paper and also has some good thrills. But for the most part, the narration is jaded and the key climax is rushed. If you like different films, give it a shot but keep your expectations in check.

Good Story but over-the-top narration

Rating: 2.75/5

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• #Aneel Kanneganti
• #Ashwin Babu
• #Nandita Swetha

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Hidimba movie review: A daring subject that comes undone by its conclusion

Hidimba movie review: what could have become an edgy commentary on colonialism and india’s own dark history is dumbed down for the sake of silly commercial and box office requirements..

Hidimba begins as a police procedural looking into the mysterious disappearance of women in the city. The investigation is being handled by Abhay (Ashwin Babu), as IPS Adya (Nandita Shwetha) is brought into the investigation as cases increase and public and media pressure peaks. Abhay and Adya are old lovers who parted ways when Adya cleared IPS and proceeded to work in Kerala. Abhay and Adya join forces to solve the serial kidnappings and identify an organ trafficking ring as the culprits. Even after they successfully crack the case and catch the main perpetrators, the kidnappings do not stop.

Adya finds another clue suggesting a link with the serial murders case she has solved earlier in Kerala. Abhay and Adya go to the state to dig further into the case. The clues lead to shocking facts that go back to pre-independence era and aboriginal tribes in the Indian subcontinent. What are these facts and how they are connected to the serial kidnapping cases forms the rest of the story.

The film is pacy as new twists are introduced at regular intervals. The ‘kala banda area’ sequence holds the first half well, though it strongly reminds of the color palette of KGF. The sequence where the lead comes up with a strategy to trap the kidnappers using red color works well. Tightly edited scenes before the interval maintain the tempo, with the background score also sustaining the mood.

The film goes into unexplored territory after the interval, but the patchy non-linear narrative and unclear connections with the present story somewhat hamper the overall experience. The excessive violence on screen will definitely repulse many sections of the audience. The final twist is unexpected but not backed by sound reasoning, resulting in an unsatisfactory ending. The ingenuity the writer-director has shown in choosing the subject is completely lost because of the way it is concluded.

Lead pair Ashwin Babu and Nandhita Shwetha have done a nice job. Ashwin impresses with his screen presence. Makrand Deshpande looks menacing, and Raghu Kunche, Shubhalekha Sudhakar, Rajiv Kanakala also deliver.

Writer-director Anil Kanneganti has boldly chosen a subject that has been rarely explored on Indian screen. With little more work, he could have given the film a more relevant conclusion, elevating the film to the level of the lofty subject he has chosen. What could have become an edgy commentary on colonialism and India’s own dark history is dumbed down for the sake of silly commercial and box office requirements.

Hidimba movie cast: Ashwin Babu, Nandhita Shwetha, Shubhalekha Sudhakar, Raghu Kunche, Shiju, Rajiv Kanakala, Srinivas Reddy Hidimba movie director: Anil Kanneganti Hidimba movie rating: 2 stars

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'హిడింబ' మూవీ రివ్యూ

ఈ సినిమా ట్రైలర్ అందరినీ సంభ్రమాశ్చర్యాలకు గురి చేసింది. సోషల్ మీడియాలో అదొక సెన్సేషన్ అయింది.

నటీనటులు : అశ్విన్ బాబు-నందిత శ్వేత-మకరంద్ దేశ్ పాండే-రఘు కుంచె-సంజయ్ స్వరూప్-శ్రీనివాసరెడ్డి-శుభలేఖ సుధాకర్-రాజీవ్ కనకాల-సిజ్జు తదితరులు

సంగీతం : వికాస్ బడిస

ఛాయాగ్రహణం : బి.రాజశేఖర్

మాటలు : కళ్యాణ చక్రవర్తి

నిర్మాతలు : గంగపట్నం శ్రీధర్

కథ-స్క్రీన్ ప్లే-దర్శకత్వం : అనీల్ కన్నెగంటి

చిన్న సినిమాల హవా నడుస్తున్న ప్రస్తుత సమయంలో ప్రేక్షకుల దృష్టిని ఆకర్షించిన మరో చిన్న చిత్రం 'హిడింబ'. ఈ సినిమా ట్రైలర్ అందరినీ సంభ్రమాశ్చర్యాలకు గురి చేసింది. సోషల్ మీడియాలో అదొక సెన్సేషన్ అయింది. మంచి అంచనాల మధ్య ఈ రోజే ప్రేక్షకుల ముందుకు వచ్చిన 'హిడింబ' సినిమాగానూ ప్రేక్షకులను అంతే ఆశ్చర్యపరిచిందేమో చూద్దాం పదండి.

హైదరాబాద్ సిటీలో వరుసగా అమ్మాయిలు మిస్ అవుతుండగా.. ఆ కేసును పరిష్కరించలేక పోలీసాఫీసర్ అభయ్ (అశ్విన్ బాబు) ఇబ్బంది పడుతుంటాడు. అదే సమయంలో ఒకప్పుడు తనతో కలిసి పని చేసి తర్వాత ఐపీఎస్ అయిన అతడి మాజీ గర్ల్ ఫ్రెండ్ ఆద్య (నందిత శ్వేత) ఆధ్వర్యంలో స్పెషల్ టీంను ఏర్పాటు చేస్తుంది ప్రభుత్వం. ఇద్దరూ కలిసి ఈ సీరియల్ కిడ్నాపుల కేసు పై దృష్టిపెడతారు. బోయా అనే క్రిమినల్ ఈ పని చేస్తున్నాడని అనుమానంతో అతణ్ని పట్టుకుంటారు. తన అధీనంలో ఉన్న అమ్మాయిలందరినీ రక్షిస్తారు. అంతటితో కేసు క్లోజ్ అయిందని అనుకుంటే.. అతను కిడ్నాప్ చేసిన అమ్మాయిలకు.. పోలీసులు పరిశోధిస్తున్న కేసుకు సంబంధం లేదని తేలుతుంది. అంతే కాక బోయ దొరికాక కూడా అమ్మాయిల కిడ్నాప్ ఆగవు. దీంతో ఆద్య-అభయ్ కలిసి మళ్లీ పరిశోధన మొదలుపెడతారు. ఈ క్రమంలో సంచలన విషయాలు వెలుగు చూస్తాయి.. ఆ విషయాలేంటి.. ఇంతకీ ఈ కిడ్నాపుల వెనుక ఉన్నదెవరు.. అతణ్ని పట్టుకున్నారా లేదా అన్నది మిగతా కథ.

కథనం-విశ్లేషణ :

థ్రిల్లర్ మూవీ అంటే.. సినిమా ఆద్యంతం ఒక మిస్టరీ ప్రేక్షకులను ఉత్కంఠకు గురి చేయాలి.. ఎన్నో ప్రశ్నలు సంధించాలి.. కథ ఎప్పటికప్పుడు కొత్త మలుపులు తిరగాలి.. ప్రేక్షకులు ఊహించని స్థాయిలో మేజర్ ట్విస్ట్ ఉండాలి.. ఒక కొత్త కాన్సెప్ట్ ఏదైనా ప్రేక్షకులకు పరిచయం చేయాలి.. 'హిడింబ' ఈ లక్షణాలన్నీ ఉన్న సినిమానే. ఫెయిల్యూర్లే అయినా సరే.. ఇంతకుముందు అసాధ్యుడు.. మిస్టర్ నూకయ్య.. రన్ లాంటి వైవిధ్యమైన సినిమాలే తీసిన అనీల్ కన్నెగంటి.. ఈసారి చాలా టైం తీసుకుని.. ఎంతో కసరత్తు చేసి ఒక వైవిధ్యమైన కథను చాలా 'రా'గా తెర పై ప్రెజెంట్ చేయడానికి ప్రయత్నించాడు. ఏదో కొత్తగా చూపించాలన్న తన ప్రయత్నాన్ని కచ్చితంగా అభినందించాల్సిందే. కాకపోతే పేపర్ మీద చదివితే వావ్ అనిపించేలా ఉన్న ఈ కథను.. తెరమీద ఆశించినంత పకడ్బందీగా చూపించలేకపోయాడు అనీల్. ఇంకొంచెం బిగి ఉండాల్సిందనిపిస్తుంది. దీనికి తోడు కథలోని కోర్ పాయింట్.. సామాన్య ప్రేక్షకులు జీర్ణించుకోలేనిదిగా ఉండటం కూడా ప్రతికూలత. తెరపై అదంతా చూసి తట్టుకోవడం అందరి వల్లా కాకపోవచ్చు. కానీ ఇందులోని రానెస్.. ఓవర్ ద టాప్ నరేషన్ ను కాస్త తట్టుకోగలిగితే కథ.. బ్యాక్ డ్రాప్.. ట్విస్టుల కోసం 'హిడింబ' ఒకసారి చూడదగ్గ సినిమానే.

అశ్విన్ బాబు లాంటి పెద్దగా పేరు లేని హీరో.. ఫ్లాప్ డైరెక్టర్ అని ముద్ర వేయించుకున్న అనీల్ కన్నెగంటి కలిసి చేసిన 'హిడింబ' సినిమాను మామూలుగా అయితే ప్రేక్షకులు అసలు పట్టించుకోకూడదు. కానీ 'హిడింబ' చూడాలని చాలామందిలో కోరిక పుట్టేలా చేసింది ట్రైలర్. అందులో బాగా హైలైట్ అయింది విచిత్ర అవతారాల్లోని మనుషులు.. వాళ్ల విన్యాసాలే. 'హిడింబ' కథ కూడా వాళ్లకు సంబంధించిందే. ఇండియాకు స్వాతంత్ర్యం రావడానికి పూర్వపు రోజుల్లో ఒక దీవిలో ఉన్న హిడింబ అనే తెగ.. మనుషులను ఆహారంగా తినే వాళ్ల క్రూరత్వాన్ని నేపథ్యంగా చేసుకుని అనీల్ కన్నెగంటి చాలా ఆసక్తికరంగా ఈ కథను రాసుకున్నాడు. సినిమాలో ఆ నేపథ్యాన్ని చూపిస్తూ కథను నడిపిస్తున్నంతసేపు ప్రేక్షకులు స్క్రీన్లకు అతుక్కుపోతారు. ఇందులో చూపించిన చాలా సన్నివేశాలు చూసి ఒళ్లు గగుర్పొడుస్తుంది. కానీ తెరపై అంత హింసు.. ఆ క్రూరత్వాన్ని చూసి తట్టుకోవాలంటే మాత్రం గుండెల్ని రాయి చేసుకోవాల్సిందే. కథలో ఈ హిడింబ తెగ గురించిన ప్రస్తావన వచ్చిన దగ్గర్నుంచి చివరి వరకు సినిమా ఆసక్తికరంగా నడుస్తుంది. ప్రేక్షకులను భయపెడుతూ.. వాళ్లలో క్యూరియాసిటీని పెంచుతూ నడుస్తుంది 'హిడింబ'. ప్రి క్లైమాక్సులో ట్విస్టు సినిమాకు మేజర్ హైలైట్. థ్రిల్లర్లు బాగా అలవాటు పడ్డ ప్రేక్షకులు కొందరు ఈ ట్విస్టును గెస్ చేసేయొచ్చు కానీ.. చాలామంది దానికి షాక్ అవ్వకుండా ఉండలేరు. పతాక సన్నివేశాలు కూడా ఆసక్తికరంగానే అనిపిస్తాయి.

ఐతే 'హిడింబ'ను మొదలుపెట్టిన తీరు.. ప్రి ఇంటర్వెల్ వరకు నడిపించిన విధానం మాత్రం ఆసక్తికరంగా అనిపించదు. వరుసగా అమ్మాయిలు కిడ్నాప్ అవ్వడం.. దాన్ని పోలీసులు ఇన్వెస్టిగేట్ చేసే తీరు.. ఇదంతా సాధారణంగా అనిపిస్తుంది. కాలా బండా అనే ఏరియాకు సంబంధించిన ఎపిసోడ్ ఒకటి మధ్యలో వచ్చి పోతుంది. దాని చుట్టూ సన్నివేశాలు ఓవర్ ద టాప్ అనిపిస్తాయి. మధ్యలో హీరో హీరోయిన్ల మధ్య రొమాంటిక్ ట్రాక్ చికాకు పెడుతుంది. అశ్విన్ బాబు-నందితల మధ్య కెమిస్ట్రీ వర్కవుట్ కాలేదు. వారి జంటే సరిగా అనిపించదు. హీరో పాత్రను ప్రెజెంట్ చేసిన విధానం కూడా బాగా లేదు. ఫైట్లు సహా అన్నీ అనీల్ ఓవర్ ద టాప్ స్టయిల్లో డీల్ చేయడం.. సౌండ్ డిజైన్ అదీ చికాకు పెట్టేలా ఉండటం మైనస్ అయ్యాయి. నిడవి తక్కువే అయినా కూడా ప్రథమార్ధం కొంచెం సాగతీతగా కూడా అనిపిస్తుంది. ఐతే కథ కొత్త మలుపు తీసుకుని హిడింబ తెగ వైపు దృష్టి మళ్లే దగ్గర్నుంచి సినిమా ఆసక్తి రేపుతుంది. చివరి వరకు ఆ టెంపో కొనసాగింది. మలయాళ సినిమాల తరహాలో ఈ థ్రిల్లర్ కథను హడావుడి లేకుండా.. వల్గారిటీ.. వయొలెన్స్ కొంచెం తగ్గించి విషయ ప్రధానంగా నడిపించి ఉంటే తెలుగులో వచ్చిన బెస్ట్ థ్రిల్లర్లలో ఒకటిగా నిలిచేది. కాన్సెప్ట్ వరకు అయితే 'హిడింబ' మంచి ప్రయత్నం. డిఫరెంట్ థ్రిల్లర్స్ చూడాలనుకుంటే 'హిడింబ'పై ఓ లుక్కేయొచ్చు.

అశ్విన్ బాబు తన పాత్రకు అవసరమైన వయొలెంట్ లుక్ తో కనిపించడానికి బాగానే కష్టపడ్డాడు. కానీ నటన పరంగా తన బలహీనతలను అధిగమించలేకపోయాడు. మొదట్లో సాధారణంగా అనిపించి.. తర్వాత చాలా ప్రాధాన్యం తెచ్చుకునే ఈ పాత్రకు అశ్విన్ ఓ మోస్తరుగా న్యాయం చేశాడు. పతాక సన్నివేశాల్లో అతడి నటన కొంచెం హద్దులు దాటినట్లు అనిపిస్తుంది. నందిత శ్వేత ఆద్య పాత్రకు న్యాయం చేసింది. తన గత సినిమాలతో పోలిస్తే ఇందులో ఆమె గ్లామరస్ గా కనిపించింది. లిప్ లాక్.. ఇంటిమేట్ సీన్లలో కూడా నటించి ఆశ్చర్యపరిచింది. నటన పరంగా ఆమెకు వంకలు పెట్టడానికేమీ లేదు. మకరంద్ దేశ్ పాండే పెర్ఫామెన్స్ అదిరిపోయింది. ఇలాంటి పాత్రకు ఆయనకంటే బాగా ఎవరూ న్యాయం చేయలేరనిపిస్తుంది. సంజయ్ స్వరూప్.. రఘు కుంచె.. శ్రీనివాసరెడ్డి సహాయ పాత్రల్లో ఓకే అనిపించారు. సిజ్జు.. రాజీవ్ కనకాల మెప్పించారు.

సాంకేతిక వర్గం :

'హిడింబ'లో టెక్నీషియన్స్ కష్టం కనిపిస్తుంది. వాళ్లు ప్రతిభ చాటుకునే అవకాశం కల్పించిందీ సినిమా. పాటలకు పెద్దగా ప్రధాన్యం లేని ఈ సినిమాలో వికాస్ బడిస నేపథ్య సంగీతంతో తన ప్రత్యేకతను చాటుకున్నాడు. ప్రేక్షకులను సినిమాలో ఇన్వాల్వ్ చేయించడంలో ఆర్ఆర్ ముఖ్య పాత్ర పోషించింది. కానీ కొన్ని చోట్ల ఆర్ఆర్ విషయంలో క్రియేటివిటీ హద్దులు దాటిపోయింది. ఈ సౌండ్లేంటి బాబోయ్ అనిపిస్తుంది. సౌండ్ డిజైన్ బాగుంది. రాజశేఖర్ ఛాయాగ్రహణంలో వైవిధ్యం ఉంది. ఒక డిఫరెంట్ మూవీ చూస్తున్న ఫీలింగ్ కలిగించాడు. యాక్షన్ సీన్లు.. హిడింబల నేపథ్యాన్ని చూపించిన సన్నివేశాలు.. కేరళ నేపథ్యంలో వచ్చే ఎపిసోడ్లో విజువల్స్ ఆకట్టుకుంటాయి. నిర్మాణ విలువలు ప్రశంసనీయ స్థాయిలో ఉన్నాయి. చిన్న సినిమా అయినా బాగా ఖర్చు పెట్టారు. దర్శకుడు అనీల్ కన్నెగంటి విషయం ఉన్నవాడే అని 'హిడింబ' రుజువు చేస్తుంది. తెలుగులో ఇంత వరకు చూడని నేపథ్యంలో అతను వైవిధ్యమైన కథను రాసుకున్నాడు. అతను చాలా కసరత్తు చేసిన విషయం తెరపై కనిపిస్తుంది. స్క్రిప్టు వరకు అతడికి మంచి మార్కులు పడతాయి. కాకపోతే ఓవర్ ద టాప్ స్టయిల్లో కాకుండా కొంచెం కామ్ గా ఈ కథను నరేట్ చేయాల్సింది. వయొలెన్స్.. వల్గారిటీ మోతాదు తగ్గించాల్సింది.

చివరగా : హిడింబ.. కొత్త కథలో మెరుపలు మరకలు

రేటింగ్ -2.5/5

Disclaimer : This Review is Just An Opinion of One Person. Please Do Not Judge The Movie Based On This Review And Watch Movie in Theater

Gulte Telugu news

Hidimbha Movie Review

Article by Nanda Gopal Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 9:12 am, 20 July 2023

  |   Thriller   |   20-07-2023

Cast - Ashwin Babu, Nandita Sweta, Srinivasa Reddy, Vidyulekha Raman, Rajiv Kanakala, Raghu Kunche

Director - Anil Krishna Kanneganti

Producer - Gangapatnam Sridhar

Banner - SVK cinemas

Music - Vikas Badisa

Hidimbha, starring Omkar’s brother Ashwin and Nandita Swetha, belongs to a crime thriller set against a unique backdrop of cannibals i.e human-flesh eaters. The film is directed by Aneel Kanneganti who earlier made Mr Nookayya and Asadhyudu. Hidimbha’s interesting trailer, promos garnered attention. Will the film deliver? Will it hit the bull’s eye? Let’s find out.

Plot: 

Missing girls in the state pose a serious challenge to the police department and state government. Abhay (Ashwin) is the primary investigation officer of the case. The higher officials involve Aadhya (Nandita Swetha), an experienced IPS officer, to deal with the serial missing case. Abhay and Aadhya are ex-lovers. What is their past? Who is behind these serial missing girls and their brutal murders and what’s the motive? The film has answers for all of these. 

Performances

Ashwin delivers in action episodes. But he underperforms in emotional scenes. He is okay as Abhay, a police inspector dealing with serial kidnappings and murders. Nandita Swetha is an IPS officer who investigates the crime. She got a meaty role that has a full-length presence. The lead pair’s chemistry didn’t work well. Subhalekha Sudhakar plays CM Ramachandra Rao which is an ineffective role. Sanjay Swaroop as police boss is usual. He doesn’t add any value. Raghu Kunche’s role is just a filler. Srinivas Reddy, Vidyullekha Raman fail to leave a mark. They neither evoke any laughs. Villain Boya is okay. Buildup is huge but he is shown as weak. Makarand Deshpande’s role is crucial for the film. He plays Reddy, a cannibal. Probably, he needed a more frightening character like in Dandupalyam as he couldn’t scare. Performances-wise, there is nothing much to brag about.

Technicalities

The base of Hidimbha lies in its concept, which is a huge asset for the movie. However, formulaic writing and narration play the spoilsport. Aneel’s direction is decent though. Songs didn’t engage. Background score is in sync with the film. The film could be crispier. Editing could be better. Technically, it is just adequate and doesn’t offer more. 

Concept & Direction

Kaala Banda Fight

Shocking Twist

Thumbs Down

Kerala episodes

Climax Portion

Weak Villain

Crime thrillers always have a cult fan base. They work provided they are well-conceived and well-made. But they are also equally challenging and riskier to score as they need to tick all the boxes. Missing one box would pose a serious threat. Hidimbha belongs to the latter. Well, it did not tick all the boxes. It misses on a few counts. 

Writer-director Aneel picked up an interesting premise of human-flesh eaters, but its narration is formulaic. It follows a routine, traditional screenplay with predictable elements and cinematic fights.The first half only highlights the crime whereas the motive is revealed that cannibals are behind. But the villain Boya’s crimes, hint of illegal organ transplant are all just hoodwink. Converging both is where the auteur Aneel suffered and made audiences suffer. The investigation episodes are not impressive enough. The film boils down to an ordinary style of narration. The romantic scenes between the lead pair lacked chemistry. Even the songs aren’t impressive. 

The concept of the film scores, probably that is what impressed the lead actors and producers to give their nod. Director also seems to have done good research on the cannibals and vulnerable tribes who are rare communities that stayed away from human civilization. There are a lot of details about their lifestyle, colour blindness, side-effects of eating human-flesh, and their bamboo masks. These are not enough to keep audiences hooked to the screens.

However, the film struggles as the story unfolds. Post-interval, it just goes haywire. The past of Aadhya and her father is way too stretched. The movie succumbs to the second-half syndrome. The Kerala fight episode looked forced. There are many such artificial and deliberate scenes which only took away the charm. The makers took enough cinematic liberties, as a result it failed to engage. What is lacking in Hidimbha is edge-of-seat thrills. There are only occasional thrilling moments, here and there. The movie worked only in parts. 

The flashback episodes are lengthy. As the film progresses, it has a major twist which is shocking and at the same time, not very convincing. Once it is revealed, it is hard to make the audiences glued to screens. The movie turns predictable with an unconvincing end. Overall, Hidimbha has few thrills and engages partially. But it fails to impress on the whole. Sadly, it is a lost opportunity. 

Verdict: Daring Attempt Misses The Target

Rating: 2.25 /5

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‘Hidimbha’ movie review: Twists and turns work

“Hidimbha,” is an action thriller drama that features Ashwin Babu and Nandita Swetha in the lead roles. The makers have been promoting the film for the past few days, and the teaser and trailer of the film look quite interesting, which has successfully created suspense. The film hits theatres and let’s see how it fares at box-office.

Aadya (Nandita Swetha) is a special officer who has been teamed up to find out the mystery behind the missing women in Hyderabad. ACP Abhay (Ashwin Babu) is also made a part of the same team to help with the investigation. The main plotline of the film revolves around how the team investigates the missing cases and catches the serial killer. What is the motive of the killer, and does the duo bring justice to everyone who is kidnapped? This forms the rest of the story.

Performances:

Ashwin Babu is one of the Tollywood actors who has appeared in a few thriller films in the past. He is back with another thriller with the Hidimbha movie after a small gap between the films. His appearance as a cop is very convincing with his body language, physique, and looks. His performance in the action scene is also intense. This is surely a good comeback for the actor.

Nandita Swetha has an equally important role for herself and Ashwin in “Hidimbha.” She appears throughout the movie, with important scenes surrounding both lead roles. Makarand Deshpande plays the antagonist and has delivered a brilliant performance.

Aneel Kanneganti of “Mr Nookayya,” and “Run” fame directs “Hidimba.” It is a serial killer investigative thriller with over-the-top action blocks in between. The opening, with eerie music and a creepy setting, immediately makes one curious about the plot. The theme of missing girls is also clearly established.

However, what follows takes one out of seriousness instantly. The drama featuring the primary characters inhibiting the space can be much better. The writing gets the primary blame, but the direction is also unsatisfactory, making the whole thing look rushed and flat.

The hero introduction and the fun further deplete the serious-looking narrative. The comedy fails to mingle with the core plot and looks forced. It is now up to the primary investigation, and some bits look fine here, even if following the genre cliches to the hilt. The conflict between the leads, the lead and the higher officials are all poorly executed. A big action block is placed amidst all this, which looks straight out of a regular commercial movie. It is executed well.

The pre-interval and interval are okay in parts, making one interested in the second half. Hidimba’s real content is revealed at the beginning of the second half. It is lengthy and pace dips but has a consistent and cohesive tone to keep one engaged.

The visuals are gory and are not for everybody, but it does the job of hooking the audience. Things derail once the flashback ends, and the interest starts to fade. Just when one thinks it is all over and there is no coming back, a twist in the tale takes one by surprise. It is illogical but helps salvage the collapsing narrative.

On a whole, “Hidimba” is a thriller ticking all the genre cliches with a unique and gory backdrop. However, it has only few workable parts. If you like the genre, can have a look in this weekend but have the least expectations.

Technicalities

Director Aneel Kanneganti did an okay job with the narration. But the director deserves special applause for delivering a technically superior product despite the budget constraints. Hidimbha indicates that Aneel Kanneganti can do wonders if he is given more budget. The film’s concept is very exciting, but it takes forever to enter the main plot as the first hour is filled with routine investigation scenes. Hidimbha could have been a superb thriller had the first half been exciting. Also, the film raises many doubts due to a lack of clarity regarding a few aspects, forcing one to assume things. The message conveyed at the end is good.

The background score by Vikas Badisa lends a touch of intrigue. The cinematography by B. Rajasekhar is top-notch. All the flashback scenes and the Khalabanda action sequence look solid on screen due to the eye-catching visuals. The editing is below par in the first half and is good in the latter half. The production values are exemplary.

Cinematography

Background music

The main twist

Inconsistency in narration

The sluggish first half

Too much of cinematic liberties

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Hidimbha (2023)

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Hidimbha Review – Novel, But Highly Flawed

BOTTOM LINE Novel, But Highly Flawed

OUR RATING 2.25/5

CENSOR A, 2h 16m

The city of Hyderabad is terrorised as many women go missing. The government constitutes a special investigative unit headed by Aadhya (Nandita Swetha) to catch the culprit quickly and bring justice to grieving families. Abhay (Ashwin) is a team member who goes by his guts.

What are the problems faced by Abhay and Aadhya? The movie’s primary plot is finding out who the serial killer is and his motive behind them.

Performances

Ashwin is back on the big screen after a gap. He has picked a crime thriller which is the current trend, and plays a police officer. He looks fit for the part physically; however, it is one note when it comes to emotions. Be it fights or drama, there is a stiff expression summoning up all the energy, contracting all the muscles from the neck up. It is a constant feature throughout.

Ashwin makes the over-the-top action look convincing due to his body, but his weakness comes to the fore regarding the dialogue and diction. He has done better in the past, but still, it is a decent character and an upgrade from the past outings.

Nandita Swetha plays a cop who is in charge of the case. She tries hard but doesn’t look like someone in control. Some regular dramatic parts are alright, but the big moments where she needs to be tough and authoritative could have been better.

Aneel Kanneganti of Asadhyudu, Mr Nookayya, and Run fame directs Hidimba. It is a serial killer investigative thriller with over-the-top action blocks in between.

The opening, with eerie music and a creepy setting, immediately makes one curious about the plot. The theme of missing girls is also neatly established. However, what follows takes one out of seriousness instantly.

The drama featuring the primary characters inhibiting the space is weak. The writing gets the primary blame, but the direction is unsatisfactory, making the whole thing look rushed and flat.

The hero introduction and the fun further deplete the serious-looking narrative. The comedy, however brief, fails to gel with the core plot and looks forced to have commercial elements. The good thing is they don’t last long.

It is now up to the primary investigation, and some bits look fine here, even if following the genre cliches to the hilt. The conflict between the leads, the lead and the higher officials are all poorly executed writing and direction-wise. The fun banter and romance add cringe to the mix.

A big action block is placed amidst all this, which looks straight out of a regular commercial movie. It is executed well, as the hero’s physique helps. But, the whole thing comes to an abrupt end of sorts.

Only when the investigation takes front and centre and we see the curious guys in action that some hold occurs again narratively. The pre-interval and interval are okay in parts, making one interested in the second half.

Hidimba’s real content is revealed at the beginning of the second half. It is lengthy and pace dips but has a consistent and cohesive tone to keep one engaged intermittently. The visuals are gory and are not for everybody, but it does the job of hooking the audience.

Things derail once the flashback ends, and the interest starts to fade. The haphazard editing and messy feeling are the reason. Just when one thinks it is all over and there is no coming back, a twist in the tale takes one by surprise. It is illogical but helps salvage the collapsing narrative.

Overall, Hidimba is a thriller ticking all the genre cliches with a unique and gory backdrop. However, it is poorly executed, with few workable parts. Try it for the core mystery if you like the genre but have the least expectations.

Makarand Deshpande and Sijju have crucial roles in the narrative. They are sincere and do their parts well. Makarand Deshpande is utilised well and adds to the creepiness.

Srinivas Reddy is wasted, whereas Subhalekha Sudhar and Sanjay Swaroop have never been this listless. Raghu Kunche gets some moments, but ultimately they don’t lead to anything. Among the rest, the actor playing Boya gets a massive build-up but fails to sizzle when the time to deliver.

Vikas Badisa’s background score is impressive in that he manages to keep the narrative thumping with an electric mix of sounds heavily borrowed from KGF, Vikram, Stranger Things and the like. The songs are below par, and it doesn’t surprise that they are cut short on-screen.

The cinematography is good in parts giving the movie a slick action thriller look. Few scenes look ordinary, too. The editing is terrible and irritating. Sometimes it is so jarring that all the good work goes undone. The KGF-style fade-out is poorly executed. The writing (barring a few parts) is laughable, with a lot of cringe.

Highlights?

Core Mystery

Interval Block

Parts Of The Second Half

Climax/Closure

Over The Top Parts

Drama And Romance

Gory Visuals (Not For Everyone*)

Did I Enjoy It?

Yes, but only in parts

Will You Recommend It?

Yes, But With Huge Reservation

Hidimbha Movie Review by M9News

Final Report:

Hidimbha’s second half is better, comparatively, with cohesive plotting and revelation of shocking content, and an unexpected twist. It is illogical and over the top giving it limited appeal, which is the case with Hidimbha as well.

First Half Report:

Hidimbha is a crime thriller with an exciting backdrop of a serial killer; parts of it work, but the experience is marred by inconsistent tone and unnecessary commercial trappings. The second half holds the key now.

— Hidimbha show started with an intense backdrop of missing cases concerning girls. Stay tuned for the first half report.

Cast : Ashwin Babu, Nandita Swetha

Conceived and Directed By : Aneel Kanneganti Produced By : Sreedhar Gangapatnam , SVK Cinemas

Presented by : AK entertainments

Cinematography : B.Rajasekhar Music Director : Vikas Badisa Editor : M.R. Varma Art : Sharmila Yalisetty Dialogues : Kalyana Chakravarthy Lyrics : “Saraswati Putra” Ramajogayya Sastry, B subbaraya sharma, Virinchi putla, Pranavam, Action : Real Sathish, Jashuva, Aneel Kanneganti

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Hidimbha Movie is directed by the Anil Krishna Kanneganti and produced by Gangapatnam Sridhar under the banner SVK cinemas, the movie cast includes Ashwin Babu, Nandita Sweta, Srinivasa Reddy, Sahithi Avancha and Sanjay Swaroop. Vikas Badisa composed the music for Hidimbha.

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Hidimbha Cast & Crew

Ashwin Babu

Nandita Swetha

Raghu Kunche

Rajeev Kanakala

Ramajogayya Sastry ( Lyricist )

Sanjay Swaroop

Srinivas Reddy

Subhalekha Sudhakar

Vidyullekha Raman

Hidimbha galleries.

Hidimbha Movie Blockbuster Meet

Updated on july 22, 2023.

Hidimbha Trailer Launch Event

Updated on may 26, 2023, hidimbha full credits, cinematographer:, art director:, costume designer:, choreographers:, publicity designers:, music director:, latest news.

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2023 • 2h 10m • Crime • Thriller

Mystery • Violence

• తెలుగు

Hidimbha Review: Interesting Plot, Pale Narration

Movie: Hidimbha Rating: 2/5 Banner: Sri Vignesh Karthik Cinemas and OAK Entertainments Cast: Ashwin Babu, Nandita Sweta, Srinivasa Reddy, Sahithi Avancha, Sanjay Swaroop, Shijju, Vidyulekha Raman, Rajiv Kanakala, Shubaleka Sudakar and others Dialogues: Kalyana Chakravarthy Music: Vikas Badisa Director of Photography: B Rajasekar Editor: M R Varma Fights: Joshuva And Real Satish Presents: Anil Sunkara’s AK Entertainments Producer: Gangapatnam Sridhar Directed by: Aneel Kanneganti Release Date: July 20, 2023

Young actor Ashwin Babu gained recognition with films such as "Raju Gari Gadhi," and he has been attempting to present different thrillers to Telugu audiences. His latest film "Hidimbha" drew attention with its trailer, which captivated everyone with its intriguing plot, grand production, and high technical standards.

Let's see if the film fulfills the promises made in the trailer.

Story: A string of girl disappearances in Hyderabad puts the police force under strain. After 16 girls go missing, the government appoints Aadya, an IPS officer from Kerala, to investigate the case. Until then, another officer, Abhay (Ashwin Babu), was investigating the abductions.

Will Aadya solve the case with the help of Abhay? Who is Boya, and why is he terrorizing people? And what does the whole case have to do with the Hidimba tribe?

Artistes’ Performances: Ashwin Babu fits well for action stunts and thrilling elements, but falls flat in emotional scenes. Nandita Swetha is a perfect choice as a police officer.

Makrand Deshpande is fantastic as the only remaining member of his clan from the British era. Other actors have played supporting roles justifiably.

Technical Excellence: The background score serves as the film's foundation. The cinematography is also superb. Kalyan Chakravarthy's dialogues are okay.

Highlights: Cinematography and the background music The main twist

Drawback: Inconsistency in narration The sluggish first half Too much of cinematic liberties Gore and over-the-top scenes

Analysis "Hidimbha" deals with cannibalism, which is unusual in Telugu thriller films. For this reason, this film looks fresh. The basic plot is intriguing. However, effective execution and engaging narration are lacking. Furthermore, some scenes are filled with too much gore and make it a difficult watch.

There is no hint of the actual plot in the first half of the film. It's a regular investigative thriller with some other elements. In fact, we get the impression that the lead pair's love story is dragging on. Despite the fact that the love story between the hero and heroine is brief, the flow of the story and investigation is hampered. The already sluggish narrative slows even more.

There are some twists and turns, but they don't add much to the story. Two things in the film really worked: the flashback episode about the Hidimbha clan and their involvement in the missing cases/murders, and the twist about the true villain.

The director has failed to capitalize on these positive elements and the strong support from the production and technical teams. The screenplay is inappropriate for a thriller.

There are also logical issues to consider. Despite the fact that Ashwin Babu is colorblind, he was chosen for a police officer position.

There is also mention of an organ trade mafia at the start. This red herring, however, is ineffective. Films like Ravi Babu's "Anasuya" have already used scenes of red-dressed girls being murdered, so there is no sense of novelty here.

The action sequences were lavishly designed, but it's difficult to believe Ashwin Babu is performing such heavy-duty stunts. They also appear forced.

Furthermore, the climax sequence is a total bust.

Overall, "Hidimbha" doesn’t work though it has a unique point for a thriller, as well as strong technical output. The film's narration suffers greatly due to a lack of logic and over-the-top violent sequences.

Bottom line: Difficult to Watch

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Tags: Hidimbha Hidimbha Review Hidimbha Movie Review Hidimbha Telugu Movie Review Hidimbha Rating Hidimbha Telugu Movie Rating Hidimbha Movie Rating

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Totally thrilled watching #HIDIMBHA . A very novel concept. My dear friend,well wisher @AnilSunkara1 garu believed this Team & the concept.His judgement worked. Kaala Banda fight is stunning. Muscled Man @imashwinbabu excelled in that sequence and in many parts. For crime… pic.twitter.com/RTsYMeqMCE — Gopi Mohan (@Gopimohan) July 19, 2023

Watched #HIDIMBHA Movie Yesterday Premeire In #Kakinada Different Experience OF Sound Design & Flash Back Episode & Twists 💥 @imashwinbabu Bro Ur Acting Was Just Brilliant 👏❤️‍🔥 @Nanditasweta Mam A Superb Role After Long Time @aneelkanneganti Ur Direction Excellent Sir ❤️ pic.twitter.com/QLGo3lMbFA — TFI MOVIE REVIEW (@TFIMovieReview) July 19, 2023

Last night watched #HIDIMBHA premier shw #BlockbusterBomma 🔥🔥🔥 @imashwinbabu bro ur acting 💥🙏 @Nandithaswetha Garu ♥️ Director Sab @aneelkanneganti Anna Terrific Direction 💥 #bgm aithe uoora MaSs anthe 💥💥 Still Haunting @AKentsOfficial @AnilSunkara1 #Hidimba ♥️ — suryaprakash (@suryaprakash2) July 19, 2023

Last night I watched #Hidimba . What a thriller! Especially in the second half the twist is unimaginable! The visuals, background score *are* well supported by actors' performance. Interesting story narrated in a gripping way. Full credit to director Aneel Kanneganti. — సురేష్ కవిరాయని suresh kavirayani (@sureshkavirayan) July 19, 2023

Congratulations Heroine garu @Nanditasweta 💐 #Aswin @imashwinbabu bro already hearing positive report for #Hidimba 💥👌 Pakka Sure Shot Commercial Hit💰 My best wishes to team 💐 @aneelkanneganti #GangapatnamSridhar #SVKCinemas @AnilSunkara1 #Hidimbha Releasing on July 20th 😍 pic.twitter.com/pDo83nqdj2 — Alluri Suresh Varma (@sureshvarmaz) July 11, 2023

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Release Date : July 20, 2023

123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5

Starring: Ashwin Babu, Nandita Sweta, Makarand Deshpande, Vidyullekha Raman, Srinivasa Reddy

Director: Aneel Kanneganti

Producer: Sreedhar Gangapatnam

Music Director: Vikas Badisa

Cinematographer: B. Rajasekhar

Editor: M.R. Varma

Related Links : Trailer

Hidimbha, starring Ashwin Babu and Nandita Sweta in the lead roles, has created a good buzz with its intriguing trailer. It is an action thriller directed by Aneel Kanneganti. We have been to the special premiere, and let’s see how the movie is.

Several women go missing in the city of Hyderabad. The case becomes a pain in the neck for the police department. Special officer Aadya (Nandita Sweta) is given the responsibility to nab the criminal, and ACP Abhay (Ashwin Babu) is also made part of the investigation team. What happened to the missing women? Why is the criminal targeting just women? Did Aadya and Abhay solve the kidnap mystery? – this forms the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

The second hour holds the key as this is where the film enters the main plot. Things become interesting once the flashback portions start, and the way a crucial backstory is narrated is good. Though the narrative style looks a bit similar to Karthi’s Khakee in the flashback scenes, it still holds one’s attention thanks to the captivating visuals.

The main twist which comes in the pre-climax is decent. Ashwin Babu shines in an action avatar. The actor did a pretty good job in Hidimbha, and his intense hard work to look fit for the cop role is appreciable. Nandita Sweta gets a meaty role, and the actress does well. Her character is essential to the film’s story and is not restricted to songs merely.

Makarand Deshpande does a superb job in the negative role. His role is pretty well written, and the entire second half revolves around him. The way he looks and exhibits wickedness is one of the biggest strengths of the film.

Minus Points:

While the film’s backdrop is interesting, the way the characters and situations are established is not impressive. The director gets things wrong in the first hour, as the scenes fail to create any interest. The investigative angle lacks excitement and is cliched. The scenes are bland and routine here. It is only from the pre-interval that things start falling into place.

While the flashback portions are intriguing, and the twist is decent, there should have been more detailing regarding the antagonist’s character. A few things about the antagonist should have been explained in detail. These minor aspects can make a huge difference, and the makers should have put in a lot more effort on this front.

Logics go for a toss in several instances, and the way the investigative scenes are conceived looks silly at times. The movie has an extreme amount of violence and gore, making it tough for family audiences to watch.

Technical Aspects:

The background score by Vikas Badisa lends a touch of intrigue. The cinematography by B. Rajasekhar is top-notch. All the flashback scenes and the Khalabanda action sequence look solid on screen due to the eye-catching visuals. The editing is below par in the first half and is good in the latter half. The production values are exemplary.

Coming to the director, Aneel Kanneganti did an okay job with the narration. But the director deserves special applause for delivering a technically superior product despite the budget constraints. Hidimbha indicates that Aneel Kanneganti can do wonders if he is given more budget. The film’s concept is very exciting, but it takes forever to enter the main plot as the first hour is filled with routine investigation scenes. Hidimbha could have been a superb thriller had the first half been exciting. Also, the film raises many doubts due to a lack of clarity regarding a few aspects, forcing one to assume things. The message conveyed at the end is good.

On the whole, Hidimbha is an action thriller that offers a few thrills. The backdrop is interesting, but that has been marred by a dull narration in the first half. The movie gathers momentum only from the pre-interval portions, and the second hour has some engaging moments. Logics go for a toss in many instances, which bogs down the impact considerably. Also, the film has intense violence, and it can’t please all sections of the audience. Hence Hidimbha ends up being an okay watch this weekend.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

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Hidimbha - 2023

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An enthralling Telugu thriller titled Hidimbha is written and directed by Aneel Kanneganti. On July 20, 2023, the movie, which was directed by Sreedhar Gangapatnam and produced by AK Entertainments, opened in theatres. With a 10 crore budget, the film features a superb cast, lead by Ashwin Babu and Nandita Swetha , and promises to provide viewers with an enjoyable cinematic experience. Hidimbha is a story that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats the entire time because of its suspenseful and mysterious setting.

Table of Content

Character Analysis

Box office collection, interesting facts.

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	Hidimbha
	Aneel Kanneganti
	Aneel Kanneganti
	Thriller
	Sreedhar Gangapatnam , Svk Cinemas
	Ashwin Babu, Nandita Swetha
	B. Rajasekhar
	M.R. Varma
	AK entertainments
	Vikas Badisa
	20 July 2023
	India
	Telugu
	10 Crores
	5.69 crores

The police department in Hyderabad is under tremendous pressure to crack the case as the number of girl disappearances escalates. Following the mysterious disappearance of 16 girls, the government steps in and assigns Aadya, an astute and capable IPS officer from Kerala, to head the inquiry. Another cop called Abhay was carefully investigating the kidnappings up to that point. The inquiry takes on a new aspect with the entrance of Aadya. Despite their initial disagreements, Aadya and Abhay eventually see the value of working together to solve the unusual case. Together, Aadya's keen investigation abilities and Abhay's familiarity with the area's geography prove to be a strong force that moves them closer to the truth.

In the course of their unrelenting chase, they come upon Boya, a terrifying character. Boya is the cruel and crafty criminal mastermind who orchestrates the kidnappings and terrorises the populace. As the case's layers are revealed, it becomes clear that Boya has a long-standing relationship with the Hidimba tribe, a remote and mysterious clan that lives in Hyderabad's outskirts. The Hidimba tribe has continued to live in secrecy away from the city's prying gaze. Little did anybody realise that Boya had embraced sinister rites and old practises to create dread and power, hidden behind their seclusion. He subverts the tribe's traditions and beliefs to seize power over them and uses them as a pawn to carry out his evil schemes.

Aadya and Abhay discover a network of machinations, betrayals, and long-kept truths as they investigate the case, which links the Hidimba tribe to the kidnappings. They discover that the tribe's elders were compelled to agree with Boya's requests while being oblivious of his evil intentions because of a long-standing debt owed by their ancestors. Boya takes advantage of this debt and threatens to hurt the tribe if they don't help him with his illegal endeavours. Aadya and Abhay are in a race against time to rescue the lives of the kidnapped girls and bring Boya to justice as new information comes to light. They risk their lives as they pursue the case through dangerous conditions and heartbreaking encounters.

Aadya and Abhay confront Boya and his network in an exciting conclusion, setting up a high-stakes confrontation that will determine what happens to the missing girls and the Hidimba tribe. The case reveals not only the magnitude of Boya's dread but also the resiliency of the human spirit and the strength of solidarity in the face of evil when the truth comes to light. Hidimbha creates a compelling story filled with suspense, mystery, and human emotions that vividly depicts the challenges both the victims and the police force must endure. The movie serves as a terrifying reminder of the evil that may be hiding under seemingly normal surfaces and the unwavering fortitude required to confront it. Hidimbha stands out as a riveting thriller that makes a lasting impression on its viewers thanks to its thought-provoking subjects and fascinating narrative.

The much anticipated suspense film Hidimbha was finally released in theatres on July 20, 2023, and it had viewers on the edge of their seats with its engrossing narrative and powerful performances. Fans and movie buffs were excited to watch the tension and mystery play out on the big screen when the release date finally came.

The thrilling and suspenseful narrative of Hidimbha is centred on a series of missing girls in Hyderabad. Aadya and Abhay, two police officials who are assigned with looking into the puzzling case, are introduced in the movie. The tensions and difficulties that occur as Aadya, an IPS officer from Kerala, teams up with Abhay, the first investigator, are skillfully portrayed by the film as the narrative develops. Together, they add a new viewpoint to the inquiry, advancing their understanding of the circumstances behind the kidnappings. The storyline has unforeseen turns and surprises that keep the audience on the edge of their seats the entire time.

The film's success comes in the connection between the primary detectives and the skillfully developed character development. They make a strong team since Aadya's knowledge and resourcefulness match Abhay's familiarity with the area. Boya, a mysterious and evil figure, gives the narrative additional levels of intricacy. The storyline deftly examines the relationship between Boya and the Hidimba tribe while also touching on issues of deception, treachery, and the influence of traditional practises on contemporary society. The tense pace of Hidimbha is sustained until the dramatic climax, keeping the viewer interested and engaged in the result.

The film's directing and cinematography also add to its appeal as a whole. The images successfully depict the contrasting atmospheres of the busy metropolis and the remote home of the Hidimba tribe. The movie also thoughtfully and nuancedly discusses the socio-cultural issues of the Hidimba tribe. The plot's dependence on certain thriller clichés, however, can be a tad predictable to some viewers. Despite this, Hidimbha manages to strike a balance between exhilarating suspense and thought-provoking narrative, making it a captivating watch. Overall, the movie is successful in giving its audience a memorable cinematic experience.

• Ashwin Babu as Abhay - Hidimbha, Raju Gari Gadhi 3, and Jatha Kalise are among Ashwin's most well-known films.
• Nandita Swetha as Aadhya - Nandita Shwetha is a well-known actress who has appeared in films such as Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada, Ethir Neechal, and Mangalavaram.
• Vidyu Raman - Viswamitra, Arjun Suravaram, Venky Mama , Gully Rowdy , which is one of her newest releases, and many other films are among the projects that Vidyu Raman has featured in. Vidyu has an incredible fan following, and they respect her for every part that she has performed to this point in her career. 
• Rajeev Kanakala - Rangasthalam 1985, RRR , and Athadu are some of the films that brought Rajeev Kanakala to prominence. Since the 10th of February in the year 1999, he has been married to Suma Kanakala.
• Subhalekha Sudhakar - Subhalekha Sudhakar is an actor who has appeared in K.G.F: Chapter 1 , Mersal, and Saaho , among other films. Since the 21st of December in 1989, he has been married to Sailaja S.P.
• Ajay Rathnam - Jigarthanda, Madras Cafe , and Indian are among Ajay Ratnam's most well-known films.
• Makarand Deshpande - The films Hanan, Company, Danav, Swades , Sarfarosh , Satya , Darna Zaroori Hai , Chameli Market, and Jungle are some of the most well-known that Makrand Deshpande has worked on.
• Raghu Kunche - Hidimbha, Rudraveena, and Thuglaq are some of Raghu Kunche's most well-known works.
• Rajeev Pillai - Weapon, Thalaivaa, and Satyameva Jayate 2 are some of Rajeev Pillai's most well-known films.
• Sahithi Avancha - Actress Sahithi Avancha is most known for her roles in the films Hidimbha, Murder, and Boy.
• Sanjay Swaroop - Arjun Reddy , Jai Bhim , and Ye Maaya Chesave are some of Sanjay's most famous films. He married Manjula Ghattamaneni.

• Director - Aneel Kanneganti
• Writer - Aneel Kanneganti
• Producer(s) -   Sreedhar Gangapatnam , Svk Cinemas
• Musician - Vikas Badisa
• Cinematographer - B. Rajasekhar
• Editor - M.R. Varma
• Art Direction - Sharmela Yalisetty

Ashwin Babu as Abhay

Ashwin Babu plays the experienced police officer Abhay, who is originally in charge of looking into the string of girl disappearances in Hyderabad. It is clear from the outset that Abhay is a driven and devoted cop who is motivated to crack the case. He exhibits a meticulous approach, closely studying each piece of evidence and painstakingly investigating leads. Abhay is a credible and approachable protagonist thanks to Ashwin Babu's portrayal since it highlights the character's no-nonsense demeanour and his unwavering devotion to his work.

Nandita Swetha as Aadhya

Aadhya, portrayed by Nandita Swetha, is an Indian Police Service officer from Kerala who is given the responsibility of leading the investigation into the disappearances of girls in Hyderabad. Aadhya is shown as a very clever and smart cop who is known for her remarkable investigative talents. She has a reputation for being one of the best in her field. Aadhya is established as a powerful and capable heroine right from the get-go because of Nandita Swetha's depiction, which flows with confidence and resolve from the very beginning.

1	Theme Music	Ramajogayya Sastry, B. Subbaraya Sharma
2	Memories Memories	Yasaswi Kondepudi, Yazin Nizar, Vikas Badisa
3	I am the Bad Guy	Lavita Lobo, Vikas Badisa

Ashwin Babu plays the lead role in the new movie Hidimba. This investigative thriller movie has been performing well at the box office since it opened. In the first two days after its release, the movie brought in Rs. 3.36 crore globally. It brought in a total of 2.33 crore rupees on Saturday at the box office. With this, the worldwide 'Hidimba' collections have totaled Rs. 5.69 crores. It is amazing that this low-budget action thriller movie has made such a good amount of money in its first three days. 

• An enthralling Telugu thriller titled Hidimbha is written and directed by Aneel Kanneganti. On July 20, 2023, the movie, which was directed by Sreedhar Gangapatnam and produced by AK Entertainments, opened in theatres.
• The thrilling and suspenseful narrative of Hidimbha is centred on a series of missing girls in Hyderabad. Aadya and Abhay, two police officials who are assigned with looking into the puzzling case, are introduced in the movie.
• In the first two days after its release, the movie brought in Rs. 3.36 crore globally. It brought in a total of 2.33 crore rupees on Saturday at the box office.

Even though it was up against stiff competition at the box office, Hidimbha was nevertheless able to make an indelible mark on viewers as well as film reviewers. The picture was able to distinguish out in the thriller genre because to its expert directing and carefully thought-out narrative. Both Nandita Swetha and Ashwin Babu gave great performances that gave their individual characters dimension. Although the film's first box office take of 5.69 crores was small, its prospects for long-term success remain optimistic. Hidimbha has surely made Aneel Kanneganti a director to keep an eye on, and it will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the notable Telugu thrillers of its day.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Hidimbha is directed by Aneel Kanneganti.

Hidimbha stars Ashwin Babu and Nandita Swetha.

Hidimbha is written by Aneel Kanneganti.

The release date of the movie Paramporul is July 20th, 2023.

Hidimbha is available in Telugu.

Hidimbha is produced by Sreedhar Gangapatnam , Svk Cinemas.

Hidimbha is a Thriller Movie.

The police department in Hyderabad is under tremendous pressure to crack the case as the number of girl disappearances escalates. Following the mysterious disappearance of 16 girls, the government steps in and assigns Aadya, an astute and capable IPS officer from Kerala, to head the inquiry. Another cop called Abhay was carefully investigating the kidnappings up to that point. The inquiry takes on a new aspect with the entrance of Aadya.

Hidimbha is available in the theatres soon.

The name of the production company for Hidimbha is AK entertainments.

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• Home » Movies » Hidimbha Movie Review

Hidimbha review: This marauding beast doesn’t really pack a punch

The climax of Aneel Kanneganti's directorial somehow doesn't evoke the right kind of emotion when the twist is revealed.

Published:Aug 10, 2023

A poster of the movie 'Hidimbha'. (imashwinbabu/ Twitter)

Story lacks structure.

Hidimbha (Telugu)

• Cast: Ashwin Babu, Nanditha Swetha, Srinivasa Reddy, and Makarand Deshpande
• Director: Aneel Kanneganti
• Producer: Sreedhar Gangapatnam
• Music: Vikas Badisa
• Runtime: 2 hours 16 minutes
• Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi, and Revathy
• Director: Maneesh Sharma
• Producer: Aditya Chopra
• Music: Pritam Chakraborty
• Runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes

After watching Hidimbha , you might probably get curious about who these man-eating tribals of Hidimbha were in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and start googling about them.

You might also end up concluding that it was all fictional. The British, who once used the Islands to exile criminals and political prisoners during India’s freedom struggle, actually fed Indian prisoners to these Hidimbha tribals.

As many as 16 women go missing in a series of events in the city of Hyderabad, causing panic among the police department and the state government.

Ashwin Babu and Nandita Shwetha in ‘Hidimbha’. (imashwinbabu/ Twitter)

Inspector Abhay (Ashwin Babu) suspects Karthik Hospital’s Rangarajan who is allegedly involved in the organ trade. But Abhay’s higher-ups do not heed his words.

As the situation worsens, an IPS officer — Aadhya (Nandita Swetha) — from Kerala is appointed as the primary investigating officer into the serial-missing cases in the city.

She observes a pattern in the case — women wearing red clothes go missing. Further investigation reveals some startling facts that a father-son duo is behind the crime and that their crimes starting from the 90s to till date go undetected.

What’s the reason behind the serial killing? What pleasure do they derive from this heinous crime? What connection do the criminals have with Aadhya’s tragic past? How does young IPS officer Aadhya crack the case?— is the story to be watched.

Related: I’ve been suffering from Fibromyalgia disorder, says Nandita Swetha

Fails to instil fear.

Ashwin Babu in ‘Hidimbha’. (imashwinbabu/ Twitter)

Hidimbha tries to infuse shivery sensations in viewers with the episode of missing women and the ghoulish look of Makarand Deshpande.

More than half a dozen go missing mysteriously on the Hyderabad roads. And they’re untraceable.

Instantly, you realise how the director missed the logic that the city is covered with CCTV cameras.

Makarand Deshpande, who played the killer along with the small boy as his son, is set to create some fear with his weirdness.

This ghoulish-looking old man wanders around the fringes of Hyderabad as he looks for suitable prey to satiate the hunger of the small boy.

The visuals of the father feeding the small boy the human intestines don’t really create fear. Whenever the father-son duo go for a kill, suspenseful music is played.

And then, a frightening hoot from an owl with the close-up of an animal skull is used as a metaphor as though inducing fear. But it only leaves a question mark on viewers’ faces.

Related: ‘Hidimbha’ is a historical fiction: Director Aneel Kanneganti

Story lacks structure.

A poster of Aneel Kanneganti’s ‘Hidimbha’. (imashwinbabu/ Twitter)

The narrative in the first half lacks proper construction of sequences. Instead of making the audience anticipate the plot developments, the story drifts all over the place, thus allowing the flashbacks to take control of the wheel.

If a person goes missing in the city of Hyderabad, which is equipped with technology, why do the city police have to wait for a special officer from Kerala to investigate the cases?

Aadhya IPS takes charge as the investigating officer. She instructs the staff to track the location through the SIM cards of the victims.

Also, she hacks the social media accounts of the victims to know their whereabouts. She hastens after her deputy Abhay advises her to use the technology.

When all other police officers are unwilling to enter Khala Bhanda, which is notorious for crimes, Abhay steps forward.

Ashwin Babu is a not-so-familiar face in Tollywood. He takes on some 10-15 men single-handedly without a weapon or a police backup. He thrashes them all black and blue and comes out unhurt.

This routine-fight sequence looked as if it was deliberately inserted just to elevate Ashwin Babu. The whole investigation track is written without much care by the director.

And there is a flashback sequence where Aadhya’s father Shiju, an officer in Kerala state police, happens to stumble upon the weird-looking mask and old tattered book written in Sanskrit.

Interestingly, all the characters in the Idukki district in Kerala speak Telugu, not Malayalam.

Shiju finds the old man Makarand who keeps wandering over the hilly areas of Idukki. In the process, he would ask the old man if he had found anyone suspiciously in the hills. Shiju asks the old man saying his slang is different from the native speakers in Kerala — in Telugu.

Performances

Ashwin Babu and Nanditha Swetha in ‘Hidimbha’. (Twitter)

Ashwin gives his best for the role of a police officer. He looks marauding best in his beastly avatar. His muscular physique is impressive and rightly looks apt when the story draws to an end.

Nandita Swetha looks perfect as IPS Officer Aadhya. But a few scenes during the investigation water down her performance.

Makarand Deshpande’s performance as a serial killer and Shiju’s as a police officer appear unsatisfactory because of their weak characterisations.

Music from Vikas Badisha is the only saving grace for Hidimbha .

The background score is suspenseful enough to induce fear. The visuals and cinematography by B Rajasekar are good.

However, the climax of Hidimbha is something that might hurt you. Somehow, it doesn’t evoke the right kind of emotion when the twist is revealed.

Also Read:  ‘Minnal Murali’ to be featured in Tinkle

Director Aneel Kanneganti did a good amount of research on the disease achromatopsia (colour blindness) and the change of behavioural patterns in humans who practice cannibalism.

But nothing seems to have added weight to the story of Hidimbha in the end. The story simply fails to pack a punch.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

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• Entertainment
• Movie review
• Telugu movie

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