Story
There is a village called Rudravanam. In 1979, a couple were burnt alive by villagemen after they witnessed them doing blackmagic. The kid of the couple was sent to an orphanage nearby. After 12 years, Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) visits Rudravanam along with his family as it’s his mother’s hometown. He falls in love with Nandini (Samyuktha). After somebody dies in a temple, the priest orders a lockdown to the village. He says that if any of the villagemen cross the borders, the entire village will be in peril. A girl crosses the border to elope with her lover. As a consequence, people start dying in mysterious circumstances one by one. Rest of the story is about how the visitor Surya takes the issue up and solves it.
Artists Performance
Sai Dharam Tej looks lean and different in this film. He is extremely good. His voice is tender and soft. He has performed well in all key sequences. You can see shades of Chiranjeevi’s expressions and dialogue delivery from his 80’s films in Sai Dharam Tej in this film though he tried everything organically (probably due to DNA). Samyuktha has a vital role and she did excellently. Sai Chand is very good as the priest. Rajiv Kanakala does a role that stays alive till the end. He suited the role. It’s a complete makeover for Ajay as an Aghora and he is exceptional. Sunil does an important role. He is excellent in a scene where he changes his sitting posture. Brahmaji is good as a doc. Anchor Shyamala is firstrate. Ravi Krishna who did the role of the lover of an eloped girl is impressive. Kamal Kamaraju gets a pivotal role and he is exceptional. Abhinav Gomatam did a small role as the hero's buddy. Soniya Singh is fine.
Story - screenplay - direction: Story of the film is interesting. What made the story more appealing is the screenplay by Sukumar. There are so many revelations in the latter part of the second half which are planted cleverly by connecting with the happenings in the first half. Director Karthik Dandu has established the premise with an impressive opening sequence of an occult practice. This scene is the basis for the entire story. Though he narrated a bit of a love story in the first half, he has always made sure that there is a bit of suspense going on in the background and connected them well with a few scenes at a later point. Though there are a couple of heavy action sequences, he made sure that those scenes were handled without any trouble to the hero as there is a secret. Screenplay of the film is impressive. There are some dull moments in the middle of the first half and initial part of the second half. A better established love story would have given a higher payoff in the climax. There are twists that are revealed in the 2nd half. Whatever logic we find missing in some scenes is explained with some twists and flashback scenes in the 2nd half. Director Karthik Dandu makes a good impression with this movie.
Other departments: Background music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath is superb. He has succeeded in creating spookiness and eerie feeling among audiences with his background score. Sound effects and re-recording too deserve a special mention. Cinematography by Shamdat Sainudeen is excellent. His visuals supported the vision of the director to create mysticism and thrill. Most of the film is shot in the night and the DoP did well. Visual effects and DI (color grading) complimented visuals excellently. Dialogue are good. Production design by Sri Nagendra Tangala is excellent. He has created a different world. Editing by Naveen Nooli is good. However, we see a lot of jumps in the second half about the way the hero character moves from one place to another (maybe it's the director's call). Action sequences are alright. Production values by SVCC production house are excellent.
Analysis: Virupaksha is a well made mystic thriller. It’s been a while a succesful film of the horror genre is made with noted actors in Telugu (last was probably Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada by Nikhil). Director Karthik Dandu makes this movie in mystic genre without any deviation. He is so effective in his work that the audiences laughed at a casual dialogue “nuvvu raallu eruko”. Such was the serious tone of the film. Plus points are screenplay, direction, background music, sound effects, cinematography and casting. On the flipside, there are a few dull moments in the middle of the first half and in the initial part of the second half. If you are looking for thrills and spooky entertainment, Virupaksha is the movie for you. Watch it!
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