Kishkindhapuri: A Routine Horror with a Few Thrills
Story
Raghav (Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas) and Mythili (Anupama Parameswaran) are lovers working for a travel agency that conducts ghost tours. On one trip, they take tourists to the deserted Suvarnamaya Radio Station, where they are shocked to hear the dead station broadcasting news.
Soon after, members of the group die under mysterious circumstances. Determined to stop further killings, Raghav and Mythili dig deeper and discover a chilling connection to Viswaputra, the spirit behind the hauntings. Why is he killing people, and what’s the secret of Suvarnamaya?
Performances
- Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas gets scope in the climax with a dual-shaded act, though otherwise sticks to his usual style.
- Anupama Parameswaran delivers her best in possession scenes and leaves a mark.
- The actor playing Viswaputra fits the role well.
- Prema is fine in a brief role but her poor makeup stands out.
- Sudarshan and Hyper Aadi provide routine laughs.
- Makrand Deshpande and Tanikella Bharani are effective, while Srikanth Iyengar and Vadlamani Srinivas are wasted.
Technical Aspects
- Music/Background Score: Chaitan Bharadwaj’s BGM is the film’s biggest plus, perfectly mixing devotional and spooky sounds.
- Sound Design: Enhances the thrills effectively.
- Visuals: Sets and production design are decent, but VFX falls short.
- Cinematography: Serviceable, nothing spectacular.
- Editing: Short runtime helps, but the first half could’ve been crisper.
Strengths
- Engaging second-half episodes
- Strong BGM and sound design
- Performance highlights of Bellamkonda & Anupama
Weaknesses
- Predictable ghost backstory
- Dull early portions and plain interval
- Weak emotional depth
Analysis
Kishkindhapuri plays it safe with a formulaic horror template. The first half drags and the interval is underwhelming. However, the film finds some grip in the second half with impactful episodes — Bellamkonda’s dual act and Anupama’s hospital possession scene stand out.
The devotional touch linked to Lord Sriram is a fresh idea but poorly executed, leaving the emotional connect flat. Repetitive possession scenes also reduce the thrill factor.
Verdict
Kishkindhapuri is a routine horror thriller with a few engaging moments but nothing groundbreaking. While the background score and a couple of strong sequences save it from being dull, the predictable story and weak emotions limit its impact.
Bottom Line: Partly effective, but mostly familiar.
