Movie Name : Thantra
Release Date : March 15, 2024
Piktalk.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring: Ananya Nagalla, Dhanush Raghumudri, Saloni, Temper Vamsi, Meesala Lakshman, Kushalini, Manoj Muthyam, and others
Director: Srinivas Gopisetti
Producers: Naresh Babu P, Ravi Chaitanya
Music Director: RR Dhruvan
Cinematographer: Sai Ram Uday, Vijay Bhaskar Uddala
Editor: SB Uddhav
Today, the horror film “Tantra” graces the silver screens, featuring Ananya Nagalla, acclaimed for her role in “Vakeel Saab”, in the lead. Let’s delve into the chilling experience it promises to deliver.
Story :
“Tantra” follows the story of Rekha (played by Ananya Nagalla), a gentle soul haunted by malevolent spirits. She constantly lives in fear of these entities. On the flip side, there’s Teju (portrayed by Dhanush Radhumudri), who has harbored feelings for Rekha since their childhood days. However, being the son of a prostitute, Teju faces constant discrimination.
Despite the challenges, Rekha and Teju’s bond deepens over time. But why are these evil spirits targeting Rekha? And why does Rekha resort to consuming her own blood? What sacrifices does she make to protect her love and herself? These questions form the crux of “Tantra”, unraveling a tale of love, sacrifice, and the supernatural.
Positive Aspects :
The film’s main idea is captivating. Imagine if a girl is born with strange powers, surrounded by spirits and demons all her life. What if someone performs eerie rituals to steal these powers from her?
These elements grab your attention right from the start. And then there’s Saloni’s character, portrayed well, adding an emotional and spooky dimension to Ananya Nagalla’s journey.
Ananya Nagalla, the lead actress, delivered a fantastic performance. Dhanush Raghumudri, playing the male lead, portrayed his role realistically. Saloni shines in a crucial role, while Temper Vamsi impresses as the villain. Meesala Lakshman and the rest of the cast also do a decent job in their roles.
Negative Aspects :
In Telugu cinema, we’ve seen a lot of stories about occult powers and ghosts before, and “Tantra” doesn’t bring anything new to the table. The horror effects feel repetitive, and the storyline lacks coherence, mainly focusing on the heroine without a clear direction.
There are too many side stories that don’t contribute much to the main plot, leaving loose ends untied. While the film’s central idea had potential, it fails to deliver due to unresolved subplots and a weak conflict.
The pacing is slow in many parts, and the characters aren’t well-developed. Although Ananya Nagalla’s performance is commendable, her character lacks depth as the story progresses.
The director tries to make the first half engaging, but the film loses its grip due to illogical scenes and a dull screenplay. “Tantra” starts promisingly but loses momentum with unnecessary scenes, ultimately failing to captivate the audience.
Technical Elements :
The emotional parts of the movie could’ve been more effective if the storytelling was more engaging. Director Srinivas Gopisetty picked an interesting topic, but the way it’s told in the movie doesn’t do it justice.
The songs by RR Dhruvan are nice, adding to the movie’s appeal. The natural scenery and visuals are beautifully captured by the cinematographers. However, the editing could’ve been better.
Overall, the production quality is decent, but the film could’ve been much better with a stronger narrative and editing.
Conclusion:
In summary, “Tantra” is a horror movie centered on revenge, but it doesn’t bring anything fresh to the genre. Only a few scenes and emotional parts stand out. However, issues like slow pacing, too many side stories, weak storytelling, and a lack of excitement in the second half make it fall short.
Despite having potential, the way the story is presented makes “Tantra” a letdown.
Piktalk.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by Team Piktalk
lo359q