Plot

Set in 1989, the Suvarnamaya radio station witnesses the mysterious deaths of its employees, leading to its closure. Years later, Raghava (Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas) and Mythili (Anupama Parameswaran) run ghost tours in Kishkindhapuri village. During one such tour, they visit the abandoned station and encounter terrifying supernatural events. The story unravels the eerie secrets behind the tragedy and how Raghava faces the haunting truths.

Overview

Kishkindhapuri attempts to merge horror and mystery with folklore elements, aiming to provide a gripping experience. Directed by Koushik Pegallapati, the film promised high thrills in the trailer but only partly delivers. While it has some well-executed sequences and decent twists, its storytelling falters in pacing and closure, resulting in a mixed viewing experience.

Performances

• Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas: Improves from his earlier outings, delivers clear dialogue but lacks the fear-inducing intensity needed for horror.
• Anupama Parameswaran: Plays her role simply yet convincingly, providing adequate support.
• Prema: Impresses with a solid comeback role, bringing maturity to the screen.
• Tanikella Bharani: Stands out with his impactful role and twist element.
• Hyper Aadi: Provides initial laughs, though comedy feels misplaced later.
• Others: Fit into their parts well, without leaving a lasting impact.

Technical Aspects

• Direction: Koushik Pegallapati creates strong setups (notably the train engine sequence and Tanikella Bharani’s reveal) but struggles with coherence and resolution.
• Cinematography: Chinmay Salaskar captures the haunting setting effectively.
• Production & Art Work: Decent, helping create an eerie atmosphere.
• Editing: Niranjan could have tightened the narrative, especially in the second half.
• CGI: Weak, particularly in the monkey and ghost sequences, lowering the scare factor.

Music

Chaitan Bharadwaj’s background score is the film’s biggest strength, heightening the suspense and horror elements. His music keeps tension alive even when the screenplay falters.

Editing

Though serviceable, the editing lacks sharpness. A tighter cut would have reduced drag and improved narrative flow, especially near the climax.

Positives

1. Intriguing horror-mystery premise
2. Chaitan Bharadwaj’s effective background score
3. Tanikella Bharani’s impactful role and twist
4. Prema’s strong performance
5. A few gripping sequences like the train engine scene

Negatives

1. Weak CGI in key horror sequences
2. Open-ended and unsatisfying climax
3. Excessive reliance on dialogues instead of visuals
4. Inconsistent pacing
5. Comedy feels forced in parts

Analysis

Kishkindhapuri is a mixed bag. It succeeds in delivering a few gripping horror and mystery moments, thanks to Chaitan Bharadwaj’s score and Tanikella Bharani’s role. However, weak CGI, uneven screenplay, and a flat ending prevent it from standing out in the horror genre. It entertains moderately but doesn’t fully meet the expectations set by its trailer. Fans of spooky thrillers may find it a fair one-time watch, while others might be left unsatisfied by the lack of closure.

Bottomline: Moderate Thriller

Rating: 2.5/5