After experimenting with Cinema Bandi (neo-noir dramedy) and Subham (horror comedy), director Praveen Kandregula now tries his hand at social drama with Paradha. With Anupama Parameswaran headlining and Darshana Rajendran, Sangeetha Krish in key roles, the film created buzz with its intriguing posters and a bold marketing pitch — “watch it in theatres only if it gets good reviews.” But does it live up to that confidence?

Story

The film unfolds in Padathi, a remote village cursed by a belief that women must cover their faces with a mask after puberty. If they show their faces to men outside the family, the goddess Jwalamma supposedly prevents childbirth in the entire village. When Subbu (Anupama), a bride-to-be, accidentally loses her mask, the villagers take a drastic oath that puts her life in danger. Why such harsh traditions exist and how Subbu’s fate unfolds forms the core of Paradha.

Performances

• Anupama Parameswaran is outstanding. Her eyes do most of the talking, especially in emotional sequences. Easily one of her best roles.
• Darshana Rajendran as Ami, a strong-willed architect, delivers a layered and confident performance.
• Sangeetha Krish as Rathna balances innocence, humor, and emotion with ease.
• Rajendra Prasad adds depth in a brief but meaningful role.
• Cameos by Harsha Vardhan, Rag Mayur, Chaitanya Rao, and Gautham Vasudev Menon bring variety, though not all are impactful.

Technical Aspects

• Music (Gopi Sundar): Background score works well, lifting key moments.
• Cinematography (Mridul Sujit Sen): Captures rustic landscapes and Dharamshala’s beauty beautifully.
• Editing (Dharmendra Kakarala): Draggy second half needed tighter cuts.
• Production Values: Adequate for the scale, though stronger writing was required.

Highlights

✅ Unique Premise
✅ Strong Performances
✅ Atmospheric Music & Visuals

Drawbacks

❌ Sluggish Second Half
❌ Preachy, One-Dimensional Tone
❌ Predictable Climax
❌ Lack of Balance in Storytelling

Analysis

Paradha starts on an engaging note, explaining the superstition convincingly and setting up an intriguing conflict. The first half works because of its balance. But post-interval, the film shifts gears into a heavy-handed lecture on women’s empowerment. Instead of nuanced storytelling, it resorts to black-and-white generalizations, often portraying men as the outright problem.

While cinema is a great tool to question outdated traditions, subtlety matters. Here, the preachy approach turns what could have been a gripping drama into a slow, stretched narrative that feels more like a “message session” than a film.

Praveen Kandregula deserves credit for picking unique themes and executing them within limited budgets, but his overemphasis on ideology weakens the storytelling impact.

Verdict

Paradha carries a powerful idea and excellent performances, but the weak, one-sided narration and draggy second half stop it from becoming the strong social drama it aspired to be.

Bottomline: Good intent, poor execution.