Virupaksha – Review

Directed by: Karthik Varma Dandu

Starring: Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha Menon, Sunil, Brahmaji, Rajeev Kanakala, Ajay,Ravi Krishna

Cinematography:Shamdat Sainudeen

Edited by:Navin Nooli

Music by:B. Ajaneesh Loknath

Production

companies:Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra,

Sukumar Writings

Release date:21 April 2023

Language:Telugu

Virupaksha is a Telugu-language supernatural horror mystery film directed by Karthik Varma Dandu who co-wrote the film with Sukumar. The film was produced by B. V. S. N. Prasad and Sukumar, through Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra and Sukumar Writings respectively. It features Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha Menon, Sunil, Rajeev Kanakala, Brahmaji, Ajay and Ravi Krishna in primary roles. 

Telugu film industry’s tryst with suspense thrillers, in any given year, is quite marginal and it’s all the more rare to come across a suspense thriller that’s done right. In this context, where dabbling with a bunch of clichés is the name of the game, Virupaksha comes like a breath of fresh air. It does fall short from being a true blue edge-of-the-seat thriller and the climax pops up quite abruptly, but a closer look at the proceedings in the film establishes the notion that filmmaker Karthik Varma dandu is a good storyteller, who gives the mood of the story as much importance as he gives to the story and its characters.

Director builds the story almost like a case study, which makes the proceedings a little more believable. Right in the first few minutes of the film, we are told that the lead character has a keen eye for detail and tries to find an answer to every problem he encounters, and it’s just a matter of time before he finds himself in the centre of a big problem. Soon after this character is introduced to the main setting of the story, we are introduced to the dangers lurking around.   The brilliant soundtrack and well-crafted cinematography work so well in tandem with each other that you can’t help but appreciate the entire team for how well they understand the mood of the story. . 

Sai dharam tej is quite okay as a hero, who always relies on his instincts to face an adversity. After the major accident Sai, the actor is slowly building a solid resume of work where he sticks to the characterisation without desperately trying to outshine everyone around him. Samyuktha has good scope for display her histrionics in the film and the same goes to a bunch of other characters like sunil, Ajay,Rajeev kanakala Among others, Ravi krishna and bhrahmaji lighten up the proceedings with their impeccable performances.

The film owes a lot to cinematographer Shamdat and music director, Ajaneesh for creating the right ambience and mood for a suspense thriller like this. The good thing about the film is that it sticks to its storyline and everyone seems to know what they are doing. Virupaksha is one of the finer films made in the recent past and in times like these, that in itself is like a big compliment.

Bottomline

Virupaksha, a supernatural suspense thriller, has all the ingredients to become a superhit.