‘Agadha’ review: A different take on the horror thriller genre
Director MS Raju, who has experimented with various genres in his career, presents yet another venture that attempts to stray away from the usual supernatural formula. Starring Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Shravan Reddy, Ulka Gupta and Jovika Vijayakumar, the film blends mystery, horror, mythological elements and suspense to form a unique concoction.
Story
Set in the forests of Bastar, the film follows Mahima (Ulka Gupta) who is seen running barefoot with a young child while her companion Bablu (Viva Raghava) is hacked to death. Mahima too dies soon after, leading her cousin Mahadevi (Kamakshi Bhaskarla), who has supernatural powers, to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. As Mahadevi delves deeper into the mystery, strange occurrences begin to plague her family. It is then that she realises that a sinister force called Agadha is responsible for Mahima’s death. As various strange incidents take place around Mahadevi’s family, questions about Mahima’s relationship with Sinha (Shravan Reddy) and her family’s connection to Agadha emerge. The journalist Manasa (Shreya Rani Reddy) and Sanjay (Roshan Basheer) also get involved in the investigation.
Performances
Kamakshi Bhaskarla stands out in the film asMahadevi, effortlessly pulling off the strong role that requires her to balance multiple traits. She is simply amazing with her voice and dialogues that stand out in the entire film. Shravan Reddy essays his two shades with panache while Jovika Vijayakumar makes a mark in the school and church scenes. Shiju also turns out to be a surprise with his Baba. Bhanu Chander and Vanitha Vijayakumar do a decent job.
Technicalities
MS Raju needs to be complimented for not going with the usual jump scare-and-supernatural formula that is followed in most of the horror flicks these days. The background score is perfect as it enhances the spooky and mysterious quotient of the film without overshadowing the rest of the elements. No unwanted songs to fill the gap, which is quite a feat considering the running time of the film that is slightly on the shorter side.
Analysis
Agadha is a different take on the horror genre that manages to present a compelling narrative that keeps one engaged throughout its running time. The first half of the film lacks a little bit of horror as it is more of a suspense thriller that slowly unveils various mysteries and questions haunting the protagonist. The forest scenes in the second half are engaging while the action-filled episode set in the fields is entertaining. The third act, though, slightly loses steam before picking up pace once again to create an effective climax.
Despite some lack of emotional quotient in parts of the film, the unique approach, suspense-filled first half, intriguing locations and solid performances, especially of Kamakshi Bhaskarla, make for an entertaining watch. This film may not be for everyone, but it certainly manages to keep away from being a usual horror flick. For lovers of horror, mystery, supernatural forces and fantasy, Agadha is a must-watch in theatres this weekend.