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Virupaksha Movie Review : A gripping horror film

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Virupaksha is a well-crafted film – the kind that makes you look at the characters beyond the actors because the film has a suffocating atmosphere that’ll draw you in

Virupaksha Movie Review: A gripping horror film

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Chanti Chanti 2 87 days ago

This is my favourite movie

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virupa full movie Hindi

Dailyjokes 151 days ago

One of the best movies

Navjeetkaur 158 days ago

Raju ramana 1 236 days ago.

Excellent ��

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'Virupaksha' movie review:  A layered, taut thriller

Arundhati, Kodi Ramakrishna’s superb horror-fantasy drama in 2009, successfully wove the strong narrative of a chosen one rising to meet challenges prescribed by destiny, against a backdrop of religion, sorcery and the supernatural. Thirteen years since, Virupaksha offers a wholly new story borne of the thematic juxtaposition of this cinematic predecessor. 

Rudravanam, circa 1991. As villages are wont to be, this hillside hamlet is characterised by close-knit bonds and a propensity for age-old traditions. Behind this facade lies a dark crime from over a decade ago (shown in the film’s prologue) that every resident of Rudravanam is complicit in. Surya (Sai Dharam Tej), a city-bred boy, enters Rudravanam with his mother to give their land for a school. Soon enough, he meets Nandini (Samyuktha) and… love happens.

The romantic subplot is reminiscent of love stories from Sukumar’s oeuvre, consent be damned. Another reminder of Sukumar’s school of thought is how there is so much more written around and into already-explored scenarios. For instance, think of how Nandini keeps rebuffing Surya’s advances. She is shown, in the first few scenes, as someone haughty.

But before we might witness a ‘Taming of the Shrew’ situation, we get Surya propose to Nandini, rather beautifully, by saying, “Neeku kopam osthadi ani telusu, kani nenu aa kopani jeevithanthamu bharisthanu.” (I know you would be angry at me for proposing, but it is your anger I want to endure for the rest of my life). Just as I wondered why Samyuktha was not as histrionic as arrogant girls usually are in films, her character’s true colours come to the fore, putting doubts at rest. After last month’s Dasara, made by Sukumar’s protégé Srikanth Odela, we see yet another film subvert its skeletal material delightfully. 

While Karthik Dandu and Sukumar are the primary writers of the film, it is not an exaggeration to suggest that the film’s composer, Ajaneesh B Loknath, is almost its honorary screenwriter. His music, combined with sound design by Sync Cinema, takes care of the narrative heavy lifting. While the film’s songs are not much to write about, the background score takes the cake.

The sounds of Virupaksha are eerie, indicating tension and foreboding in all the right places, rising and ebbing like a dark dream. The heavy use of music and sound design in many a film is often an attempt to mask story deficiencies, but here, in a horror film, it is parred for the course. Virupaksha tiptoes the pathways of horror without committing to its tropes wholesale. 

The film, more often than not, feels like a homage to the filmography of M Night Shyamalan, setting up its story gradually, with increasing levels of fear and ominousness while grounding it in strong psychological undercurrents. Crows, in all the metaphoric value they lend to a supernatural feature, form the glorious extras of Virupaksha, alongside the usual suspects of blackened coconuts, reddened lemons and an eclipsing moon.

The film is set in the 90s, and the presence of rotary telephones and ambassador cars gives Virupaksha a cinematic sheen a film set amidst smartphones and sedans will never quite give. The film’s dialogues are chock-a-block with dense words like Raktha Darpana, Ashta Dibbandham and Pasuthatvam. They are as effective as they are amusing. 

Virupaksha truly finds its footing in its second half, as conflicts heighten, and various threads of the narrative come together. The film’s revelations are a stream of expositions but to the credit of Karthik Dandu, interest or excitement never wanes.

Sai Dharam Tej’s character, who is partly a saviour, partly an investigator, sets ahead on a journey to find answers and solve problems in the third act of the film. There are two reveals about a brother and sister duo in the film that neatly wraps the film’s questions. Beneath the gory, dramatic proceedings of Virupaksha lies a subtle but important message against the perils of groupthink and superstitions.

Between the rationalism of Karthikeya and the faith-centric religious overtones of Karthikeya 2 lies Virupaksha, which makes a case for the merits of black magic while simultaneously urging people to err on the path of reason.

Sai Dharam Tej and Kamal Kamaraju’s characters in the film are the proverbial fish-out-of-the-water outsiders who enter dire situations with no perspective. One wins, the other loses. In Spotlight, Stanley Tucci’s Mitchell Garabedian is seen telling Mark Ruffalo’s Michael Rezendes that it is outsiders that usually possess greater perspective and skill to crack a deep-seated crime wide open. The same happens here. The protagonist’s perspective is also reflected aptly in the title of the film.

ALSO READ |  The realism of 'Virupaksha'

While Virupaksha, another name of Shiva, is a Shaivite clapback (like Rudravanam), it also means the ‘all-seeing one’, displaying the balanced perspective of someone who is not on the Pratipaksha (in favor) or Edhurpaksha (against). Perspectives also play an important role in the cinematography of Virupaksha. We often get to see overhead shots, scenes where the camera is placed at many voyeuristic angles, which make the audience feel like they are almost eavesdropping.

One of my favourite shots displays the lead actress from the point of view of a…crow. Delightful. The penultimate parts of the film is an elegant incorporation of the Trolley problem. Is it fair to kill one to save many? Or let many die but not intentionally kill one? 

ALSO READ |  ‘I want to analyse Virupaksha’s response before signing next’: Samyuktha

The casting of the film for the supporting characters is a good mix of casting for and against type. Brahmaji and Sunil ably play the roles they have portrayed in many films while Ajay’s performance as an Aghora is a breath of fresh air. Speaking of which, it is equally refreshing to witness Rajeev Kanakala’s character stay alive in the film, from start to finish.

 Old wine in a new bottle is a cause of worry and consternation for film critics, often using that phrase to actively criticise a film. Virupaksha is for the large part, old wine in a new bottle, but hey? Is wine not supposed to taste better with age?

Virupaksha 

Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha, Sai Chand, Brahmaji, Sunil, Ajay Director: Karthik Dandu

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Virupaksha Movie Review: A layered, taut thriller 

Rating: ( 4 / 5).

Arundhati , Kodi Ramakrishna’s superb horror-fantasy drama in 2009, successfully wove the strong narrative of a chosen one rising to meet challenges prescribed by destiny, against a backdrop of religion, sorcery and the supernatural. Thirteen years since, Virupaksha offers a wholly new story borne of the thematic juxtaposition of this cinematic predecessor. 

Rudravanam, circa 1991. As villages are wont to be, this hillside hamlet is characterised by close-knit bonds and a propensity for age-old traditions. Behind this facade lies a dark crime from over a decade ago (shown in the film’s prologue) that every resident of Rudravanam is complicit in. Surya (Sai Dharam Tej), a city-bred boy, enters Rudravanam with his mother to give their land for a school. Soon enough, he meets Nandini (Samyuktha) and… love happens. The romantic subplot is reminiscent of love stories from Sukumar’s oeuvre, consent be damned. Another reminder of Sukumar’s school of thought is how there is so much more written around and into an already-explored trope. For instance, think of how Nandini keeps rebuffing Surya’s advances. She is shown, in the first few scenes, as someone haughty. But before we might witness a ‘Taming of the Shrew’ situation, we get Surya propose to Nandini, rather beautifully, by saying, “ Neeku kopam osthadi ani telusu, kani nenu aa kopani jeevithanthamu bharisthanu. ” (I know you would be angry at me for proposing, but it is anger I want to endure for the rest of my life). Just as I wondered why Samyuktha was not being as histrionic as arrogant girls usually are in films, her character’s true colours come to the fore, putting doubts at rest. After last month’s Dasara , made by Sukumar’s protege Srikanth Odela, we see yet another film subvert its skeletal material delightfully. 

Director - Karthik Dandu Cast - Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha, Sai Chand, Brahmaji, Sunil, Ajay

While Karthik Dandu and Sukumar are the primary writers of the film, it is not an exaggeration to suggest that the film’s composer, Ajaneesh B Loknath, is almost its honorary screenwriter. His music, combined with sound design by Sync Cinema, take care of the narrative heavy lifting. While the film’s songs are not much to write about, the background score takes the cake. The sounds of Virupaksha are eerie, indicating tension and foreboding in all the right places, rising and ebbing like a dark dream. The heavy use of music and sound design in many a film is often an attempt to mask story deficiencies, but here, in a horror film, it is par for the course. Virupaksha tiptoes the pathways of horror without committing to its tropes wholesale. 

The film, more often than not, feels like a homage to the filmography of M Night Shyamalan, setting up its story gradually, with increasing levels of fear and ominousness while grounding it in strong psychological undercurrents. Crows, in all the metaphoric value they lend to a supernatural feature, form the glorious extras of Virupaksha , alongside the usual suspects of blackened coconuts, reddened lemons and an eclipsing moon. The film is set in the 90s, and the presence of rotary telephones and ambassador cars gives Virupaksha a cinematic sheen, a film set amidst smartphones and sedans will never quite give. The film’s dialogues are chock-a-block with dense words like Raktha Darpana, Ashta Dibbandham and Pasuthatvam . They are as effective as they are amusing. 

Virupaksha truly finds its footing in its second half, as conflicts heighten, and various threads of the narrative come together. The film’s revelations are a stream of expositions but to the credit of Karthik Dandu, interest or excitement never wanes. Sai Dharam Tej’s character, who is partly a saviour, partly an investigator, sets ahead on a journey to find answers and solve problems in the third act of the film. There are two reveals about a brother and sister duo in the film that neatly wraps the film’s questions. Beneath the gory, dramatic proceedings of Virupaksha lies a subtle but important message against the perils of groupthink and superstitions. Between the rationalism of Karthikeya or the faith-centric religious overtones of Karthikeya 2 lies Virupaksha which makes a case for the merits of black magic while simultaneously urging people to err on the path of reason.

Sai Dharam Tej and Kamal Kamaraju’s characters in the film are the proverbial fish-out-of-the-water outsiders who enter dire situations with no perspective. One wins, the other loses. In Spotlight, Stanley Tucci’s Mitch Garabedian is seen telling Mark Ruffalo’s Michael Rezendes that it is outsiders that usually possess greater perspective and skill to crack a deep-seated crime wide open. The same happens here. The protagonist’s perspective is also reflected aptly in the title of the film. While Virupaksha, another name of Shiva, is a Shaivite clapback (like Rudravanam), it also means the ‘all-seeing one’, displaying the balanced perspective of someone who is not on the Pratipaksha (in favor) or Edhurpaksha (against). Perspectives also play an important role in the cinematography of Virupaksha. We often get to see overhead shots, scenes where the camera is placed at many voyeuristic angles, which make the audience feel like they are almost eavesdropping. One of my favourite shots displays the lead actress from the point of view of a…crow. Delightful. The penultimate parts of the film is an elegant incorporation of the Trolley problem. Is it fair to kill one to save many? Or let many die but not intentionally kill one?  The casting of the film for the supporting characters is a good mix of casting for and against type. Brahmaji and Sunil ably play the roles they have portrayed in many films while Ajay’s performance as Aghora comes as a breath of fresh air. Speaking of which, it is equally refreshing to witness Rajeev Kanakala’s character stay alive in the film, from start to finish. Old wine in a new bottle is often a cause of worry and consternation for film critics, often using that phrase to actively criticise a film. Virupaksha is for the large part, old wine in a new bottle, but hey? Is wine not supposed to taste better with age?

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Virupaksha Reviews

Karthik Dandu's Virupaksha shows promise and blends both supernatural and thriller genres expertly. Despite a few minor flaws, the film makes up with its solid plot and technical brilliance. An exciting addition to Tollywood’s diverse cinematic landscape.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 26, 2023

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Virupaksha Movie Review: Sai Dharam Tej shines in this compelling supernatural horror flick

Virupaksha is a film that keeps you engaged, but it is debatable whether the climax of the film will appeal to all, says our review..

Listen to Story

• Virupaksha stars Sai Dharam tej and Samyuktha.
• The film is directed by Sukumar's former assistant.
• The supernatural thriller is a good watch.

Release Date: 21 Apr, 2023

The beginnings of this horror film are in a small village called Rudravanam in 1978 where we see a couple perform black magic and sacrifice a young girl to appease the gods for whatever reasons. The villagers stop the couple from killing their girl children and burn them to death for their heinous crimes. As the woman dies, she gives a curse that all the people in the village will die in 12 years. The villagers though let the couple’s son go and live in an orphanage outside the village and banish him from there.

Cut to 1991, we see Surya (Sai Dharam Tej), his friend and his mother arrive at Rudravanam as the mother wants to donate her land for a good cause for the village. They stay back for the festival of the village deity Modamamba and this is when Surya meets Nandini (Samyuktha), sarpanch Harishchandra Prasad’s (Rajiv Kanakala) daughter. He falls in love with her but soon it is time for him to return to the city and this is when things awry.

Just as the festival begins, one of the villagers falls at the feet of the Goddess in the sanctum sanctorum and dies. This is seen as a bad omen and the villagers are prohibited from leaving Rudravanam for eight days to cleanse the village. But a series of other deaths soon follow and it is finally Nandini who is affected. Surya decides to investigate what is going on. Who is performing black magic in the village? Will Surya be able to save Nandini?

Sai Dharam Tej has made a good comeback after his accident and he performs this role with a lot of ease. But it is Samyuktha who really has a meaty role here and she has more than delivered. The sound design and music by Ajaneesh Loknath has to be commended, as well as the cinematography, since this movie depends a lot on those aspects. This movie is not just about some evil presence - it has been narrated well with a convincing story so that the audience becomes invested in the story. The director has made a good debut and, of course, Sukumar also deserves credit for this.

The movie is rated A due to the violence and some of the scenes depicted. While the climax of the film may appeal to some and not to others, the film focuses on superstitions which some people in the country still believe in. It should be food for thought. On the whole, the film is a good entertainer. Published By: Latha Srinivasan Published On: Apr 22, 2023 --- ENDS ---

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Virupaksha Review: A Formularized Thriller With A Supernatural Climax!

Virupaksha Introduction: Actor Sai Dharam Tej kind of made a comeback to films with the latest horror-thriller titled Virupaksha. The movie, written and directed by debutant Karthik Dandu hit the screens in five languages all over the world on April 21.

Ever since the film's title and first-look poster was released, expectations were high for the film. The film's trailer took them up a notch higher. Coming from Sukumar, Sai Dharam Tej, and Ajaneesh Loknath made Tollywood maniacs expect so much out of Karthik Dandu.

Samyuktha Menon, who has turned into a golden-leg for tier two Telugu films was cast as the female lead in Virupaksha.

Virupaksha Story: In a village called Rudravanam, a possessed man mysteriously goes into the sanctum of a temple and dies after puking blood in front of the deity. The village's temple priest decide to lock down the village for eight days. The protagonist, who is about to leave the village returns to give medicine to his lover, Nandini (Samyuktha) and stays back in the village due to lock down.

On the very first day of the lockdown, a woman tries to elope with her lover. In a twist, they both die at different locations. It is implied that blackmagic is enabled in the village through these deaths.

By the end of its first half, Nandini is possessed by the evil entity. What does the protagonist do? How he brings an end to this superstition/curse on the village? Who is behind these mysterious deaths?

Performances In Virupaksha:

Sai Dharam Tej, who shouldered the responsibility of the film in the role of Surya, an inquisitive person who believes in science and logic, has exhibited his best yet. This is the first release of the actor following his accident. He played the character subtly without going board, to stay true to the character.

Samyuktha on the other hand, who has been doing Telugu films continuously, has performed well in the character that she portrayed. She got hold of a tailored role for herself delivered exactly. In addition, Samyuktha also looked desirable on the screen in half-sarees and in a typical Telugu fashion.

Ajay, Sai Chand, and others have efficiently played out in their respective characters.

Virupaksha's Technical Aspects:

B Ajaneesh Loknath's background score and cinematography by Shamdat have competed in enhancing the output of Virupaksha on the big screen. The movie is better enjoyed in theatres for these reasons.

Although the director has lost grip on narration here and there, he did a commendable job for a movie of that genre, in his first attempt. Karthik Dandu is another new name in the industry to look out for. The film's editor Navin Nooli could've done even better had the love scenes and a bit of drag were avoided for the final cut. Screenplay for Virupaksha written by Sukumar B was impressive and makes a difference to the entire story.

Positive Aspects Of Virupaksha: Story

Background Score

Cinematography

Negative Aspects Of Virupaksha: Lengthy and redundant love track

Impactless dialogues

Virupaksha Verdict:

Fans Of horror-thriller genre films, drop everything and book yourself a ticket to watch Virupaksha. The movie is a must-watch on the big screen this weekend.

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Mysterious deaths occur in a village due to an unknown person's occult practices. The whole town is afraid, and the problems continue as they search for the one responsible. Mysterious deaths occur in a village due to an unknown person's occult practices. The whole town is afraid, and the problems continue as they search for the one responsible. Mysterious deaths occur in a village due to an unknown person's occult practices. The whole town is afraid, and the problems continue as they search for the one responsible.

• Karthik Varma Dandu
• Krushna Hari
• Sai Dharam Tej
• Samyuktha Menon
• 49 User reviews
• 7 Critic reviews

• Harishchandra Prasad

• Venkata Chalapathy

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• Trivia Sai Dharam Tej's voice in the Hindi version is dubbed by TV actor Saurabh Raj Jain .
• Soundtracks Nachavule Nachavule Music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath Lyrics by Krishna Kanth Performed by Karthik Duration: 3:42

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• May 26, 2023
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• April 21, 2023 (India)
• Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra
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• Home » Movies » Virupaksha Movie Review

Virupaksha review: Samyuktha leaves a mark as village belle in this mystical thriller

Karthik Varma Dandu's directorial debut has both its merits and shortcomings but succeeds to keep the audience engrossed.

Published:Aug 18, 2023

A poster of director Karthik Varma Dandu's 'Virupaksha'. (Twitter)

Samyuktha's show all the way!

Virupaksha (Telugu)

• Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha, Sunil, Bramhaji, Raji Kanakala, Shayamala, Sonia Singh, and Kamal Kamaraj
• Direction: Karthik Varma Dandu
• Producers: Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra and Sukumar Writings
• Music: B Ajaneesh Loknath
• Runtime: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi, and Revathy
• Director: Maneesh Sharma
• Producer: Aditya Chopra
• Music: Pritam Chakraborty
• Runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes

Sai Dharam Tej’s much-awaited Virupaksha released in the theatres on Friday, 21 April, amid much fanfare. This occult-based horror thriller also features Samyuktha in a key role.

Read on to know if it impresses audiences or falls flat.

Virupaksha starts with a heart-wrenching incident that occurred in 1979.

A young couple — Krishna Murthy (Kamal Kamaraj) and his wife — are burnt alive by the villagers of Rudravanam, suspecting that they are performing black magic that was leading to a series of deaths of children in the village.

A poster of ‘Virupaksha’. (Twitter)

While dying, Krishna Murthy’s wife curses that the whole village will be destroyed after 12 years.

Twelve years later, in 1991, Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) along with his aunt visits Rudravanam to donate their land for a school building. He meets Nandini (Samyuktha) and love blossoms between them immediately.

But the 12-year-old curse comes true and the village witnesses mysterious deaths again. Also, a mystical spell is cast on Nandini, putting her life in danger.

How Surya unravels the reason behind the supernatural occurrences and whether he saves Nandini from the spell form the main plot of Virupaksha .

Related: Director Karthik Varma Dandu shares his thoughts about Virupaksha

L oose ends amid i nteresting backdrop.

Director Karthik Varma Dandu chooses an interesting and challenging story for his debut. He also ensures that the narration is fast-paced with enough twists and turns.

Senior director Sukumar wrote the screenplay. But too many loose ends and unrealistic premises spoil the intensity of the story.

While the first half is gripping and entertaining, the second half veers towards unrealistic scenarios. As a result, audiences will find this occult-based movie thrilling, but only in parts.

#Virupaksha is now #BlockBusterVirupaksha 🤗 Only possible with your Love & Prayers. Thank you each & everyone ❤️ Watch in your nearest theatres 👇 https://t.co/Ytgn5yEDGS pic.twitter.com/vXU0o5mtzd — Sai Dharam Tej (@IamSaiDharamTej) April 21, 2023

Samyuktha puts up a good show

Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha in a still from ‘Virupaksha’. (Twitter)

While Virupaksha has been publicised as a Sai Dharam Tej-starrer with him playing the lead role, it is actually Samyuktha who gets the most screen space and importance.

Samyuktha dazzles in this supernatural thriller. From a simple and cute village belle to a woman possessed by an evil spirit, she brings different hues and variations in her performance.

Sai Dharam Tej is fine as her lover.

Rajiv Kanakala, Yashoda, Sunil, and Sonia Singh play important supporting roles and are good.

Technical crafts elevate the plot

Virupaksha is an intense mystical thriller relying heavily on fine technicalities.

Cinematographer Shamdat Sainudeen does an impressive job.

Also Read: Sulaikha Manzil is a daring take on big fat weddings and couple issues

Art director Sri Nagendra Tangala deserves praise for creating rustic and horror settings with equal finesse.

Visual effects are partly impressive.

Editor Navin Nooli should have trimmed the movie further.

Ajneesh Loknath’s background score is engrossing. There are just a couple of passable songs but are all part of the flow.

Those Cheerful faces and Energetic Celebrations say it all!!! Spine-Chilling Blockbuster #Virupaksha 💥NOW IN CINEMAS 🎫 https://t.co/HzG8SAAGh7 @IamSaiDharamTej @karthikdandu86 @iamsamyuktha_ @BvsnP @SVCCofficial @SukumarWritings pic.twitter.com/nEFg9x4Z7E — SVCC (@SVCCofficial) April 21, 2023

Virupaksha is a mystical supernatural thriller that banks heavily on occult practices. It has both its merits and shortcomings.

(Views expressed are personal.)

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Virupaksha Movie Review

Article by Suman M Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 7:00 am, 21 April 2023 | Updated on 11:45 am, 22 April 2023

2 hr 20 min   |   Thriller | Suspense   |   21-04-2023

Cast - Sai Dharam Tej, Samyukta Menon, Soniya Singh, Ravikrishna, Sunil, Ajay and Others

Director - Karthik Varma Dandu

Producer - BVSN Prasad

Banner - Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra

Music - Ajneesh Loknath

Sai Dharam Tej is coming back to big screen after almost a gap of two years. His last film was Republic. Sai Dharam Tej is coming with a spooky genre with Virupaksha in the direction of a debutant Karthik Varma Dandu. The trailer of Virupaksha is impressive and raised expectations all over. The movie released today in theaters. Let us see if the movie is upto the expectations. Here is the review.

What Is It About?

The Rudravaram villagers accuse Venkata Chalapathy (Kamal Kamaraju) of the deaths in the village and burn his family alive. The wife gives a curse to the village before she dies. Twelve years after that the deaths begin again. Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) comes to the village and falls in love with Nandini (Samyuktha Menon). He gets struck in the village due to Nandini and starts digging into serial deaths. Will he find the truth? Who is doing all this? Virupaksha is all about the Surya solving the mystery.

Performances

Sai Dharam Tej attempted the thriller genre for the first time with Virupaksha. It is quite a good comeback for the actor. He performed apt for the role. Samyukta Menon gets a meaty role and she did fine in it. Rajeev Kanakala got a routine role. Ajay enthralls us as Aghora and it is good to see him performing in a different role from a grumpy policeman. Sai Chand, Abhinav Gomatam, Soniya Singh, and Ravikrishna did well in the roles given. Sunil appears as a crucial character in the beginning but loses importance as the story goes ahead. Kamal Kamaraju is seen on the big screen after a long time.

Technicalities

Virupaksha is a neat thriller with all the right elements working precisely. Sukumar’s excellent screenplay is the backbone of Virupaksha. The racy thriller gets its gripping ability with the screenplay. The technical work is laudable. The cinematography is very good. The visuals are captivating for all the thrilling moments. The background score by Ajneesh Loknath is perfect and it enhanced many scenes. The director did well for his debut ofcourse the screenplay by Sukumar remains the key.

Sai Dharam Tej & Samyuktha Menon Screenplay & BGM Unpredictability & Twists

Thumbs Down

Slow Pace In the First Half A Few Loose Ends

Virupaksha is a well-made supernatural thriller with a known plot, but the intriguing make keeps the audience engaged throughout the film. This thriller has the template of most other successful movies in the genre. An heir from a punished family in a village coming for an act of vengeance is all about Virupaksha.

The director of Virupaksha maintains the pace and intensity so well that it keeps us connected to the plot. His detailing needs an accolade. The director also maintains the suspense though we get a vague idea of what’s really going on. There are many intriguing elements and a good number of scenes that are sure to give goosebumps.

The first half takes a little time to establish the setup and the love track is the slow part of it. Once the plot takes off, Virupaksha keeps its pace and thrill for the most part. The series of gruesome deaths and the events that followed them build the right stage for the second half. The screenplay is the show stealer. The deaths were shown frightful.

The second half starts great towards the solving of the conspiracy There are many spine-chilling moments and interesting twists that made the second half also very engaging. The suspense factors towards the pre-climax and the one in the climax worked good.

Apart from the positives, there are a few loose ends like what could have happened if Nandini’s attempt to jump into the well went successful? Will the curse stop there?

Overall, Virupaksha is definitely a good watch for genre lovers. The unpredictability, fresh twists, and horror elements make it a worth-watching thriller. Virupaksha enjoyed a solo release and the run could be strong until next week.

Bottomline: A Thrill Pill

Rating: 3/5

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• తెలుగు

Virupaksha Review: Horror Set In New Ambiance

Movie: Virupaksha Rating: 2.75/5 Banner: Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra & Sukumar Writings Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha Menon, Abhinav Gomatam, Sai Chand, Ajay, Sunil, Brahmaji, Rajeev Kanakala and others Music: B. Ajaneesh Loknath DOP: Shamdat Sainudeen Editor: Navin Nooli Art: Sri Nagendra Tangala Producer: BVSN Prasad Story and Directed by: Karthik Dandu Release Date: April 21, 2023

Sai Dharam Tej began working on "Virupaksha" a long time ago, but his recovery from an accident delayed the film's release. However, the trailers and promotional campaign have managed to generate buzz and interest in the film.

With Sukumar writing the screenplay and his assistants becoming successful directors, Karthik Dandu, his disciple, was able to generate interest with this film. Let’s analyse.

Story: Surya (Sai Dhara) Tej) and his mother pay a visit to their ancestral village, which is nestled deep in the forest. He falls in love with Nandini (Samyuktha Menon), the village head's daughter. Around the same time, a person dies in the village's temple, prompting the poojari to order everyone not to step out of the village for eight days. Anyone who leaves the village during this time will suffer the entire village.

So, everyone stays in the village, except for one girl who tries to elope with her lover, assuming that no one will come after her. However, her actions result in a slew of mysterious deaths.

Surya resolves to discover the truth and prevent his lover Nandini from becoming the next target.

Artistes’ Performances: Sai Dharam Tej, who recently recovered from a bike accident, has taken on a role that is not particularly difficult for him. His role called for him to confidently guide the proceedings, and he succeeded in doing so. Although his character is passive in the first half, he eventually becomes heroic.

Samyukta Menon finally gets a role that is both meaty and challenging for her to play. She seizes the opportunity.

Among the other actors, Sai Chand is effective as Poojari. Shyamala has a few good scenes. Rajeev Kanakala is okay. Sunil's character makes no sense in the context of the story. Abhinav Gomatam only appears in two or three scenes.

Technical Excellence: The film belongs to technicians. From cinematographer to art director, they have put in terrific output. Shamdat captured the occult sequences quite well. His camera work has created a mood.

The production design is excellent. While the songs are forgettable, the ‘Kantara’ fame Ajaneesh Loknath provides a reasonable background score. Editing should have been sharper.

Highlights: The final twist The screenplay Production design Cinematographer

Drawback: Drags on towards the end The early romantic portions

Analysis Recently, Indian films have begun to explore stories set in a bygone era, with most of them taking place in a ‘specific location' created through sets and visual effects. Keeping with the trend, "Virupaksha" is set in a village in the deep forest in the 1990s. The story depicts an entire village being affected by black magic. 

The majority of the story takes place at night and in the forest. The film is similar to recent Kannada films like "Vikrant Rona."

Sai Dharam Tej is an outsider who came into the village of Rudravanam in the same way that Sudeep enters the village to investigate the murders that occurred there.

Although these two films have many similarities, "Virupaksha" is quite different from “Vikrant Rona” and many other thrillers. "Virupaksha" succeeds on many levels, the first of which is the story and setting.

The elements of Ashta Digbandhanam, as well as the chilling depiction of four mysterious deaths and the train accident, set the tone for this thriller.

Director Karthik Dandu begins the story in a conventional manner, but his narration becomes gripping just before the intermission, and he keeps our attention thereafter, despite some ups and downs. The unexpected climax adds to the film's overall mood.

When the hero decides to find out who is performing the occult practices, and who in the village is assisting him, the film begins to make sense and becomes gripping. This episode is well-staged and executed.

While the romantic track between the hero and heroine is tedious, it is linked to crucial final scenes. Nonetheless, the director should have come up with a better romantic track. There are also numerous loose ends. Furthermore, those who have seen similar thrillers will notice that many of these sequences are overtly familiar.

On the whole, "Virupaksha" is a mystic thriller that stays true to its genre, and the narration captures our attention for the most part. Despite some flaws, such as dragged-out scenes at the end and a mediocre romantic score, the film is worth a watch. It is heavily reliant on technical output, which has greatly aided the film.

Bottom line:  Holds Interest

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Tags: Virupaksha Virupaksha Review Virupaksha Movie Review Virupaksha Rating Virupaksha Movie Rating Virupaksha Telugu Movie Review

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Arundhati , Kodi Ramakrishna’s superb horror-fantasy drama in 2009, successfully wove the strong narrative of a chosen one rising to meet challenges prescribed by destiny, against a backdrop of religion, sorcery and the supernatural. Thirteen years since, Virupaksha offers a wholly new story borne of the thematic juxtaposition of this cinematic predecessor. 

Rudravanam, circa 1991. As villages are wont to be, this hillside hamlet is characterised by close-knit bonds and a propensity for age-old traditions. Behind this facade lies a dark crime from over a decade ago (shown in the film’s prologue) that every resident of Rudravanam is complicit in. Surya (Sai Dharam Tej), a city-bred boy, enters Rudravanam with his mother to give their land for a school. Soon enough, he meets Nandini (Samyuktha) and… love happens. The romantic subplot is reminiscent of love stories from Sukumar’s oeuvre, consent be damned. Another reminder of Sukumar’s school of thought is how there is so much more written around and into an already-explored trope. For instance, think of how Nandini keeps rebuffing Surya’s advances. She is shown, in the first few scenes, as someone haughty. But before we might witness a ‘Taming of the Shrew’ situation, we get Surya propose to Nandini, rather beautifully, by saying, “ Neeku kopam osthadi ani telusu, kani nenu aa kopani jeevithanthamu bharisthanu. ” (I know you would be angry at me for proposing, but it is anger I want to endure for the rest of my life). Just as I wondered why Samyuktha was not being as histrionic as arrogant girls usually are in films, her character’s true colours come to the fore, putting doubts at rest. After last month’s Dasara , made by Sukumar’s protege Srikanth Odela, we see yet another film subvert its skeletal material delightfully. 

Director – Karthik Dandu Cast – Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha, Sai Chand, Brahmaji, Sunil, Ajay

While Karthik Dandu and Sukumar are the primary writers of the film, it is not an exaggeration to suggest that the film’s composer, Ajaneesh B Loknath, is almost its honorary screenwriter. His music, combined with sound design by Sync Cinema, take care of the narrative heavy lifting. While the film’s songs are not much to write about, the background score takes the cake. The sounds of Virupaksha are eerie, indicating tension and foreboding in all the right places, rising and ebbing like a dark dream. The heavy use of music and sound design in many a film is often an attempt to mask story deficiencies, but here, in a horror film, it is par for the course. Virupaksha tiptoes the pathways of horror without committing to its tropes wholesale. 

The film, more often than not, feels like a homage to the filmography of M Night Shyamalan, setting up its story gradually, with increasing levels of fear and ominousness while grounding it in strong psychological undercurrents. Crows, in all the metaphoric value they lend to a supernatural feature, form the glorious extras of Virupaksha , alongside the usual suspects of blackened coconuts, reddened lemons and an eclipsing moon. The film is set in the 90s, and the presence of rotary telephones and ambassador cars gives Virupaksha a cinematic sheen, a film set amidst smartphones and sedans will never quite give. The film’s dialogues are chock-a-block with dense words like Raktha Darpana, Ashta Dibbandham and Pasuthatvam . They are as effective as they are amusing. 

Virupaksha truly finds its footing in its second half, as conflicts heighten, and various threads of the narrative come together. The film’s revelations are a stream of expositions but to the credit of Karthik Dandu, interest or excitement never wanes. Sai Dharam Tej’s character, who is partly a saviour, partly an investigator, sets ahead on a journey to find answers and solve problems in the third act of the film. There are two reveals about a brother and sister duo in the film that neatly wraps the film’s questions. Beneath the gory, dramatic proceedings of Virupaksha lies a subtle but important message against the perils of groupthink and superstitions. Between the rationalism of Karthikeya or the faith-centric religious overtones of Karthikeya 2 lies Virupaksha which makes a case for the merits of black magic while simultaneously urging people to err on the path of reason.

Sai Dharam Tej and Kamal Kamaraju’s characters in the film are the proverbial fish-out-of-the-water outsiders who enter dire situations with no perspective. One wins, the other loses. In Spotlight, Stanley Tucci’s Mitch Garabedian is seen telling Mark Ruffalo’s Michael Rezendes that it is outsiders that usually possess greater perspective and skill to crack a deep-seated crime wide open. The same happens here. The protagonist’s perspective is also reflected aptly in the title of the film. While Virupaksha, another name of Shiva, is a Shaivite clapback (like Rudravanam), it also means the ‘all-seeing one’, displaying the balanced perspective of someone who is not on the Pratipaksha (in favor) or Edhurpaksha (against). Perspectives also play an important role in the cinematography of Virupaksha. We often get to see overhead shots, scenes where the camera is placed at many voyeuristic angles, which make the audience feel like they are almost eavesdropping. One of my favourite shots displays the lead actress from the point of view of a…crow. Delightful. The penultimate parts of the film is an elegant incorporation of the Trolley problem. Is it fair to kill one to save many? Or let many die but not intentionally kill one? 

The casting of the film for the supporting characters is a good mix of casting for and against type. Brahmaji and Sunil ably play the roles they have portrayed in many films while Ajay’s performance as Aghora comes as a breath of fresh air. Speaking of which, it is equally refreshing to witness Rajeev Kanakala’s character stay alive in the film, from start to finish. Old wine in a new bottle is often a cause of worry and consternation for film critics, often using that phrase to actively criticise a film. Virupaksha is for the large part, old wine in a new bottle, but hey? Is wine not supposed to taste better with age?

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Virupaksha Review: రివ్యూ: విరూపాక్ష‌

సాయిధరమ్‌ తేజ్‌ (Saidharam Tej) నటించిన విరూపాక్ష (Virupaksha Review) సినిమా ఎలా ఉందంటే..?

Virupaksha Review..   చిత్రం: విరూపాక్ష‌; నటీనటులు: సాయిధరమ్ తేజ్, సంయుక్త, ర‌వికృష్ణ‌, సోనియా సింగ్‌, అజ‌య్‌, బ్ర‌హ్మాజీ, సాయిచంద్‌, సునీల్‌, రాజీవ్ క‌న‌కాల, శ్యామ‌ల త‌దిత‌రులు;  స్క్రీన్ ప్లే: సుకుమార్‌, ఛాయాగ్ర‌హ‌ణం: శ్యామ్ ద‌త్ సైనుద్దీన్‌, సంగీతం: బి.అజ‌నీష్ లోక్‌నాథ్‌; ఎడిట‌ర్‌: న‌వీన్ నూలి, ప్రొడ‌క్ష‌న్ డిజైన‌ర్‌: శ్రీనాగేంద్ర తంగ‌ల, స‌మ‌ర్ప‌ణ‌: బాపినీడు; నిర్మాత‌: బి.వి.ఎస్‌.ఎన్‌.ప్ర‌సాద్‌;  సంస్థ‌:  శ్రీ వెంక‌టేశ్వ‌ర సినీ చిత్ర ఎల్ఎల్‌పీ, సుకుమార్ రైటింగ్స్; ద‌ర్శ‌క‌త్వం: కార్తీక్ వ‌ర్మ దండు; విడుద‌ల‌: 21/04/2023

తెలుగులో రూపుదిద్దుకున్న మ‌రో పాన్ ఇండియా సినిమాగా విడుద‌ల‌కి ముందే ప్రేక్ష‌కుల్లో ఆస‌క్తిని రేకెత్తించిన చిత్రం.. ‘విరూపాక్ష‌’ (Virupaksha). అన్ని భాష‌ల్లోనూ ఒకేసారి విడుద‌ల కాక‌పోయినా.. మంచి ప్ర‌చారాన్ని మాత్రం సొంతం చేసుకొంది. సాయిధ‌ర‌మ్ తేజ్ (Saidharam Tej) ప్ర‌మాదం నుంచి కోలుకున్నాక చేసిన సినిమా ఇది. అగ్ర ద‌ర్శ‌కుడు సుకుమార్ స్క్రీన్‌ప్లే స‌మ‌కూర్చగా.. ఆయ‌న శిష్యుడు కార్తీక్ వ‌ర్మ దీన్ని తెర‌కెక్కించారు. ప్ర‌చార చిత్రాల‌తో ఆస‌క్తిని రేకెత్తించిన ఈ సినిమా ఎలా ఉందో తెలుసుకునే ముందు క‌థేమిటో చూద్దాం (Virupaksha Review).

క‌థేంటంటే: రుద్ర‌వ‌నం అనే ఊరి చుట్టూ సాగే క‌థ ఇది. చేత‌బ‌డి చేస్తూ చిన్న పిల్ల‌ల మ‌ర‌ణానికి కార‌ణ‌మ‌వుతున్నారంటూ ఆ ఊరికి వ‌చ్చిన ఓ జంట‌ని స‌జీవ ద‌హ‌నం చేస్తారు గ్రామ‌స్థులు. వారు మంట‌ల్లో కాలిపోతూ పుష్క‌ర కాలం త‌ర్వాత ఈ ఊరు వ‌ల్ల‌కాడు అయిపోతుంద‌ని శపిస్తారు. అందుకు త‌గ్గ‌ట్టే స‌రిగ్గా ప‌న్నెండేళ్ల త‌ర్వాత ఆ ఊళ్లో వ‌రుసగా మ‌ర‌ణాలు సంభ‌విస్తాయి. దాంతో గ్రామాన్ని అష్ట‌దిగ్బంధ‌నం చేయాల‌ని తీర్మానిస్తారు పెద్ద‌లు. కొన్ని రోజుల‌పాటు అక్కడి జ‌నాలు బ‌య‌టికి వెళ్ల‌డానికి కానీ.. కొత్త‌వాళ్లు ఊళ్లోకి రావ‌డానికి కానీ అవ‌కాశం లేకుండా చేస్తారు. అయినా స‌రే మ‌ర‌ణాలు మాత్రం ఆగ‌వు. త‌న త‌ల్లితో క‌లిసి బంధువుల ఇంటికి వ‌చ్చిన సూర్య (సాయిధ‌ర‌మ్ తేజ్‌) (Saidharam Tej) తిరిగి వెళ్లే అవ‌కాశం ఉన్నా.. తాను మ‌న‌సుప‌డిన నందిని (సంయుక్త‌) (Samyuktha) ప్రాణాల్ని కాపాడ‌టం కోసం మ‌ళ్లీ ఊళ్లోకి తిరిగొస్తాడు. ఈ చావుల వెన‌కున్న ర‌హ‌స్యాల్ని ఛేదించ‌డానికి న‌డుం బిగిస్తాడు. మ‌రి సూర్య త‌ను అనుకున్నది చేశాడా? ఈ వ‌రుస చావుల వెన‌క ఎవ‌రున్నార‌నేది మిగ‌తా క‌థ. (Virupaksha Review).

ఎలా ఉందంటే: 1979లో మొద‌లై 90 ద‌శ‌కం నేప‌థ్యంలో సాగే క‌థ ఇది. మిస్టిక్ థ్రిల్ల‌ర్‌గా ప్ర‌చార‌మైన ఈ సినిమా.. తాంత్రిక శ‌క్తులు, ఆత్మ‌లు అంటూ చాలాచోట్ల భ‌య‌పెడుతూనే థ్రిల్‌కి గురిచేస్తుంది. ఊరి శివార్లలో పాడుబ‌డిన ఓ ఇల్లు.. అక్క‌డ దాగిన ర‌హ‌స్యం అంటూ ద‌ర్శ‌కుడు స‌గ‌టు థ్రిల్ల‌ర్ సినిమాల‌కి త‌గిన సెటప్‌నే ఎంచుకున్న‌ప్ప‌టికీ  గత చిత్రాల‌కి భిన్నంగా ఓ కొత్త నేప‌థ్యంతో కూడిన క‌థ‌ని రాసుకున్నాడు. ఆ క‌థ‌కి అంతే బ‌ల‌మైన స్క్రీన్‌ప్లే తోడ‌వడంతో సినిమా అడుగ‌డుగునా ఆస‌క్తిని రేకెత్తిస్తూ సాగుతుంది. దంప‌తుల తాంత్రిక పూజ‌ల‌తో క‌థ మొద‌ల‌వుతుంది. క‌థానాయ‌కుడు రుద్ర‌వ‌నంలోకి అడుగుపెట్ట‌డం నుంచి ప్రేమ‌క‌థ‌తో సినిమా మొద‌లైనా.. ఎవ‌రూ ఊహించ‌ని రీతిలో మ‌ర‌ణాల నుంచే ఆస‌క్తి మొద‌ల‌వుతుంది. ప్ర‌తి మ‌ర‌ణం వెన‌క ఓ అంతుచిక్క‌ని కార‌ణం. ఆ మ‌ర‌ణాలు సంభ‌వించే విధానం కూడా ప్రేక్షకుల్ని ఉత్కంఠకు గురిచేస్తాయి. అస‌లు ఎవ‌రు కార‌ణ‌మో తెలుసుకోవాల‌నే ఆసక్తి రేకెత్తించ‌డంలో ద‌ర్శ‌కుడు స‌ఫ‌ల‌మ‌య్యాడు. రైల్వే స్టేష‌న్ ద‌గ్గ‌ర స‌న్నివేశాలు, క‌థానాయ‌కుడి సోద‌రి ఆత్మ‌హ‌త్య నేప‌థ్యంలోని స‌న్నివేశాల్ని డిజైన్ చేసిన విధానం చాలా బాగుంది. ప్ర‌థ‌మార్ధం వర‌కూ వ‌రుస‌గా నాలుగు మ‌ర‌ణాలు చోటు చేసుకోవ‌డం.. సినిమాలో కీలక‌మైన మ‌రో పాత్ర మ‌ర‌ణం నేప‌థ్యంతో విరామ స‌న్నివేశాల్ని తీర్చిదిద్దారు. ద్వితీయార్ధంలోనే అస‌లు క‌థంతా. నాయ‌కానాయిక‌ల పాత్ర‌లకి కూడా ద్వితీయార్ధంలోనే ప్రాధాన్యం ల‌భించింది. ర‌హ‌స్యాన్ని ఛేదించే క్ర‌మంలో కథానాయకుడికి అడుగ‌డుగునా స‌వాళ్లు ఎదుర‌వుతుంటాయి. వాటిని అధిగ‌మిస్తూ ముందుకెళ్లే క్ర‌మంలో ర‌హ‌స్యాలు ఒకొక్క‌టిగా వెలుగులోకి రావ‌డంతో సినిమా ఆస‌క్తిక‌రంగా సాగుతుంది. భైర‌వ ఎక్క‌డున్నాడో క‌నిపెట్టే క్ర‌మం.. అస‌లు ఊరి జ‌నాల ప్రాణాల‌న్నీ ఎవ‌రి గుప్పిట్లో ఉన్నాయో తెలియ‌డం వంటి స‌న్నివేశాలు సినిమాకి కీల‌కం. ద‌ర్శ‌కుడికి సాంకేతిక బృందాలు చ‌క్కటి స‌హ‌కారం అందించాయి. అక్క‌డ‌క్క‌డా సాగ‌దీత‌గా అనిపించినా మొత్తంగా సినిమా ప్రేక్ష‌కుల‌కి ఓ మంచి థ్రిల్ల‌ర్‌ని చూసిన అనుభూతి క‌లుగుతుంది. (Virupaksha Review).

ఎవ‌రెలా చేశారంటే: సాయిధ‌ర‌మ్ తేజ్ క‌నిపించిన విధానం బాగుంది. ప్ర‌థ‌మార్ధంతో పోలిస్తే ద్వితీయార్ధంలోనే ఆయ‌న పాత్ర‌కి ప్రాధాన్యం ద‌క్కింది. వీరోచిత విన్యాసాలు చేయ‌క‌పోయినా.. ర‌హ‌స్యాన్ని ఛేదించేందుకు ధైర్యంగా ముందుకెళ్లే యువ‌కుడిగా చ‌క్క‌టి అభిన‌యం ప్ర‌ద‌ర్శించాడు. ఆయ‌న పాత్ర‌, న‌ట‌న‌లో సహ‌జ‌త్వం క‌నిపిస్తుంది. యాక్ష‌న్ స‌న్నివేశాల్లోనూ ఆయ‌న ప‌నితీరు మెప్పిస్తుంది. సంయుక్త న‌ట‌న‌లో మ‌రో కోణాన్ని ఆవిష్క‌రించే చిత్ర‌మిది. ప్ర‌థ‌మార్ధంలో ఎంత అందంగా క‌నిపిస్తుందో.. ద్వితీయార్ధంలో అంత‌గా థ్రిల్‌కి గురిచేస్తుంది. ప్రతి దశలో ఓ కొత్త పాత్ర క‌థ‌లోకి వ‌స్తూ ప్ర‌భావం చూపించ‌డం ఈ సినిమా ప్ర‌త్యేక‌త‌. అజ‌య్‌, రాజీవ్ క‌న‌కాల‌, బ్ర‌హ్మాజీ, సాయిచంద్‌, సునీల్, శ్యామ‌ల త‌దిత‌రుల పాత్ర‌ల‌కి మంచి ప్రాధాన్యం ద‌క్కింది. సునీల్ పాత్ర‌లో ప్రతినాయక ఛాయ‌లు క‌నిపించినా ఆ పాత్రని పూర్తిస్థాయిలో తీర్చిదిద్ద‌లేదు. ర‌వికృష్ణ‌, సోనియా సింగ్‌... ఇలా మ‌రికొంద‌రు పోషించిన‌వి చిన్న పాత్ర‌లే అయినా అవి సినిమాపై బల‌మైన ప్ర‌భావాన్ని చూపించాయి. సాంకేతికంగా సినిమా ఉన్నతంగా ఉంది.  శ్యామ్ ద‌త్ కెమెరా అద్భుత‌మే చేసింది. రాత్రిళ్లు సాగే స‌న్నివేశాల్ని, రుద్ర‌వ‌నాన్ని ఆయ‌న చూపించిన విధానం చాలా బాగుంది. ప్రొడ‌క్ష‌న్ డిజైన‌ర్ శ్రీనాగేంద్ర ప‌నిత‌నం మ‌రో ఎత్తు. ఆయ‌న త‌న క‌ళా ప్ర‌తిభ‌తో రుద్ర‌వ‌నంకి ప్రాణం పోశారు. అజ‌నీష్ లోక్‌నాథ్ సంగీతం చిత్రానికి ప్ర‌ధాన‌బ‌లం. పాట‌ల కంటే కూడా నేప‌థ్య సంగీతంపై ఆయ‌న బ‌ల‌మైన ప్ర‌భావం చూపించారు. రాసుకున్న క‌థ‌, ఆ క‌థ‌పై అంతే ప‌ట్టుని ప్ర‌దర్శిస్తూ తెర‌పైకి తీసుకొచ్చిన విధానం ద‌ర్శ‌కుడి ప్ర‌తిభ‌కి అద్దం ప‌డుతుంది. సుకుమార్ స్క్రీన్‌ప్లే సినిమాకి ప్ర‌ధాన‌బ‌లం. ఆరంభం నుంచి చివ‌రి వ‌ర‌కూ  క‌థ‌లో మ‌లుపులు ఆస‌క్తిని రేకెత్తిస్తాయి. నిర్మాణం ఉన్న‌తంగా ఉంది. విజువ‌ల్ ఎఫెక్ట్స్‌, ఇత‌ర సాంకేతికత విష‌యంలో రాజీ ప‌డ‌కుండా సినిమాని తీర్చిదిద్దారు. (Virupaksha Review) 

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చివ‌ర‌గా: థ్రిల్లింగ్‌ ‘విరూపాక్ష’.

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గమనిక: ఈనాడు.నెట్‌లో కనిపించే వ్యాపార ప్రకటనలు వివిధ దేశాల్లోని వ్యాపారస్తులు, సంస్థల నుంచి వస్తాయి. కొన్ని ప్రకటనలు పాఠకుల అభిరుచిననుసరించి కృత్రిమ మేధస్సుతో పంపబడతాయి. పాఠకులు తగిన జాగ్రత్త వహించి, ఉత్పత్తులు లేదా సేవల గురించి సముచిత విచారణ చేసి కొనుగోలు చేయాలి. ఆయా ఉత్పత్తులు / సేవల నాణ్యత లేదా లోపాలకు ఈనాడు యాజమాన్యం బాధ్యత వహించదు. ఈ విషయంలో ఉత్తర ప్రత్యుత్తరాలకి తావు లేదు.

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Virupaksha Review – A Mystic Ride

BOTTOM LINE A Mystic Ride

OUR RATING 2.75/5

Set in the village of Rudravanam, a chain of mysterious deaths happens one after the other, which are linked to black magic. But is it really the reason, or is there more to what meets the eye?

Virupaksha is a thriller that decodes the truth behind the deaths. How Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) solves is the movie’s basic premise, whereas his track with Nandini forms the subplot.

Performances

Sai Dharam Tej is back on the big screen after a long gap. Virupaksha is his first outing post-recovery. The actor, therefore, is definitely not at his peak physicality wise as he looks heavy most of the time. He is particularly awkward on screen in running shots which could have been minimised.

Coming to acting, there is nothing challenging in Virupaksha. It requires a confident presence to navigate the proceedings, and Sai Dharam Tej provides it, and that’s it. He is one of the many characters in the movie. Credits to him for sticking to the story and not forcing typical heroism on his part. It helps the cause a great deal.

Samyukta Menon starts on an ordinary note, especially in the first half. She has less screen time, and even the scenes involving a love track have no impact. However, things change, and she surprises where it matters (climax). Again, it is not extraordinary or memorable, but it works well.

Karthik Dandu makes his directorial debut with Virupaksha. It is a mystic horror thriller set in a village in the past. The setup and genre bring freshness as they aren’t usual.

Virupaksha hooks from the opening itself. The sequence involving the black magic at the start sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the proceedings and also for the audience concerning the expectations.

Another significant aspect is the Rudravanam village and the world created by the director. They are the elements that engage the audience and hold their interest. It helps overcome the tepid love track, even though brief one in the first half.

The real deal lies in the main track involving the murders and finding the reason behind them. They are done well and have enough meat to hold the attention. The interval bang, too, is neatly done, as it makes one look forward to the second half with intrigue.

The second half carries the momentum from the first half. Things move briskly, but the problem becomes apparent immediately. While doing well in sticking to the content, the director does the same with the formula related to the genre.

The narrative progresses predictably and on expected lines. It lacks spine-chilling moments or genuine thrill moments. Take the entire stretch of finding Bhaivara and other links related to the deaths, for example. They are at a decent level but don’t go to the next level. Whatever feeling we get or the high that is partially felt is mainly due to the excellent technical work on display.

Similarly, the character’s behaviour change from the first to the second half also has a formulaic thought. Things like these don’t let Virupaksha go to the next level and leave one spellbound, more so considering the thundering work technically.

The climax after all the build-up is satisfactory. Again, with slight trimming, it could have been better. As it is, there is nothing big to complain about except what it could have been.

Overall, Virupaksha is a genre flick that sticks to the genre out and out. It is commendable as it features a known hero. However, it relies heavily on the technical work to pull through more than twists and thrills, which is decent. If you like thrillers with a mix of mysticism and horror elements, Virupaksha is a neat one-time watch for the weekend.

Virupaksha has an impressive supporting cast. We have many known faces like Sai Chand, Rajeev Kanakala, Ajay, Sunil, Brahmaji, Kamal Kamaraju, Anchor Shyamala etc., donning different get-ups and looking far from what they appear routinely. And that’s the good thing about them. When it comes to acting or memorable sequences, there aren’t many. Everyone has a bits and pieces role, and they all chip in to make things work, but none, in particular, stand out. Still, they are essential to the narrative and complete the movie with their presence.

Music and Other Departments?

Technically Virupaksha is slick and deserves a huge round of applause. The sound design and the background score are excellent. B Ajneesh Loknath does a fabulous job. His work elevates even ordinary moments—the sound design (Raja Krishnan) further aids big time in creating the spookiness alive throughout. The VFX work is not heavy but is done well, helping the proceedings.

Shamdat Sainudeen’s cinematography is good. Most of the movie happens in a village set up, which is captured neatly. More importantly, the world of Rudravanam is brought alive through these technical works; that is where Virupaksha grabs the attention. The writing is alright, with parts of it working.

Highlights? Story

Sound Mixing & BGM

Technical Work

Drawbacks? Missing Spine Chilling Moments

Lack Of Genuine Thrills (Second half)

No Impactful Performances (Except Climax)

Did I Enjoy It?

Yes for the most part

Will You Recommend It?

Virupaksha Movie Review by M9News

Final Report:

Virupaksha’s second half maintains momentum thanks to the terrific technical work. They breathe life into the proceedings. In the end, Virupaksha offers enough for genre lovers to make it a one-time watch.

First Half Report:

Virupaksha’s first half is engaging keeping few minor issues aside. The focus on the story works as sound design and BGM outshines everything and everyone else.A convincing second half is now needed after all the build-up. Let’s see.

— Virupaksha starts with a black magic episode in a village, hinting at the main plot right from the start.

Staty tuned for Virupaksha movie review and report from U.S. premiere.

Virupaksha Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha Menon Producer: BVSN Prasad Banners: Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra & Sukumar Writings

Screenplay: Sukumar Director: Karthik Dandu

Cinematographer: Shamdat Sainudeen Music Director: B. Ajaneesh Loknath Editor: Navin Nooli Production Designer: Sri Nagendra Tangala Creative Producer: Satish BKR Executive Producer: Ashok Bandreddi VFX: DTM Lavan Kusan Sound Design: Sync Cinema

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Where to watch

2023 ‘విరూపాక్ష’ Directed by Karthik Varma Dandu

Set in a village named Rudravanam in 1990's, Surya along with his mother, visit there after a long time. Suddenly a series of mysterious deaths occur due to an unknown person's occult practice and whole village is scared. Will Surya find the person causing the deaths and save the village?

Sai Dharam Tej Samyuktha Brahmaji Rajiv Kanakala Ravi Krishna Sai Chand Sunil Varma Ajay Shyamala Sonia Singh Kamal Kamaraju Kamakshi Bhaskarla Master Roshan Abhinav Gomatam Chatrapathi Sekhar Naveen Neni Niharika Bhel Prasad Rajsekhar Aningi Meka Sivaramakrishna Mahesh Achanta

Director Director

Karthik Varma Dandu

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Ashok Bandreddy

Writers Writers

Sukumar Karthik Varma Dandu Krushna Hari

Editor Editor

Naveen Nooli

Cinematography Cinematography

Shamdat Sainudeen

Production Design Production Design

Sri Nagendra Prasad Tangala

Visual Effects Visual Effects

DTM Lavan Kusan

Stunts Stunts

A. Vijay Venkat Nag Karunakar

Choreography Choreography

Raju Sundaram Vijay Binni

Composer Composer

B. Ajaneesh Loknath

Songs Songs

Anantha Sriram Krishna Kanth

Sound Sound

Hari Haran Sachin Sudhakaran

Costume Design Costume Design

Sukumar Writings Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra

Releases by Date

20 apr 2023, 21 apr 2023, 21 may 2023, releases by country.

• Theatrical A
• Theatrical P13 GSC Cinemas
• Theatrical 15
• Digital PG-13 Netflix India

146 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Kibriya⚡ ★ 4

Regret wasting my 146 minutes

Review by Surya | Screen Savor ★★★½

Virupaksha is a spine-chilling mystery thriller that boasts great horror elements, making it an unforgettable watch. The Telugu film industry has produced an authentic film in this genre with such a command over all the crafts again after so many years. The intriguing premise and set-up, coupled with the water-tight screenplay, never lets the momentum fall down. The film delivers some terrific reveals that add more weight to its mysterious setting and certainly awe us.

Although it has some obvious inspirations from the 2016 film, The Wailing, that too closely has a similar theme, setting and the way incidents turn up, Virupaksha is very authentic in its making because all it takes is inspiration and builds on it with an…

Review by M S Krishna Prateek 6

Have watched CHANDRAMUKHI (2005), MANTRA (2007), ARUNDHATHI (2009), Masooda all in a theatre, but one of the biggest misses for me was AA INTLO (2009) in a theatre as I think there is still no equal to the no-fcks-given madnesss of it in Telugu Cinema and Virupaksha came close to satisfying me in that aspect of the same madness (even though still Aa Intlo is the GOAT and resisted to post two crossover shots from the climaxes of both these films... adento e madhya trailer lo ne anthaa unnaa and cinema starting lo ne adhi ardham aipoinaa malli spoiler antaaru and aa maatakosthe e cinema lo ye shot post chesinaa spoiler ae emo... so sarle endukochhina gola e kaakulni post…

Review by sai nivas mangu ★★★½ 3

ade oopu lo rajeev kanakala ni kuda eseyyalsindi

Review by jack ★★★★½

always love films when they are rustic and rooted, the freshness in the writing made me love this even more. Jet panja bro mass

Review by Javed Akthar ★★★★

First of all god bless sdt for accepting this and giving the story front seat instead of heroic elevations. This is what Vikrant rona tried to be and failed miserably The gore the suspense everything worked for me very well especially the sound design was just fantastic. It was a bliss to watch a Horror film in a packed theater which is rare sight atleast in my home town. so many loopholes and illogical climax but who cares I had tons of fun there's a reason why these things are called as "supernatural" thrillers

Review by Mr. Somebody 1

What was that climax!! 😭😭

Oh I wish I had friends, so that I could laugh tirelessly on that climax! 😭😂 Otherwise than that, pretty good. Kinda reminded me of Kantara and Vikrant Rona. 🤌

boxd.it/49Cn7j Exactly my thoughts, except the part where The Wailing is mentioned (because I haven't seen it yet).

Review by Des Saint ★★★★

The gothic atmosphere of this move creates a kind of unique cult horror movie. In remote Indian village deaths suddenly occur, all related to an incident that occurred some dozen years ago where a couple was burned alive because it was believed that they were into sorcery related to a cholera outbreak that was killing local children. Fastforward to the present were the love of a man and a woman unites to overcome vengeful evil spirits. I liked the authentic staging of this movie that transported you into i a different place and time, Although it had nothing to do with the Thai movie: Bang Rajan, it had the same authentic atmospheric feel. The ending comes with a twist and is quite unexpected. Perhaps the message is that true love conquers all.

Review by Moresbi ★★★½ 2

"Hold your breath" (lmao)

"Beast comportment occult is highly vicious." (it definitely sounds that way lol)

"...but I believe in his love." (Can't help it, just too stylish (and overdramatic) to avoid laughing lol)

"If it's merely your strong resolve then you are the only savior!" ( 1) I'm pretty sure it was just a script thing lol 2) A savior needing some driving lessons, for sure! lol Won't even comment the next scene, which was stunningly ridiculous, even by the movie's standards.)

"Hey! Nandini!" (LMAO *shaking my head* twice!)

"Virupaksha" was, sadly (and IMO), somewhat of a victim of itself and it's overbearing style.

Don't get me wrong. The movie has several great elements throughout but, in a way,…

Review by Karunakar ★★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

prathi saari ee premaasthram entry entra

Review by Dickus Biggus ★★★★

90% Budget : VFX Crows

Every once in a while you watch a movie, it's not perfect, it's probably not even the best you've watched in a while, but you're just glad that it exists and that it was made. That they decided to take some risks before falling prey to the usual suspects. Felt this way after a long time (after Avane Srimannarayana). But kudos to one thing : Watch almost every regional language movie at the cinemas every week, this is probably the only movie in a long time where all the subplots have some significance.

Review by ash ★ 1

Seriously don't understand why Telugu movie heroes behave in such a way that makes us feel that they haven't seen a woman in their life. Most of them will be coming from cities and even abroad and will immediately start misbehaving with the village girl they meet during their visit and eventually get away with it . Absurd. Eyeballs touching storyline

Atleast get a better wig for the hero next time, it's jarring to see that on top of his expressionless face

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Karataka Damanaka Movie Review: Shivarajkumar-Prabhudheva take on water scarcity in this commercial entertainer

Y ogaraj Bhat, celebrated for his romantic films, occasionally ventures into commercial entertainers infused with social themes. In his latest outing, Karataka Damanaka , he revisits the essence of old-school masala films, this time examining the pressing issue of water scarcity.

Cast: Shivarajkumar, Prabhudheva, Ravi Shankar, Priya Anand, Nishvika, and Rockline Venkatesh

Direction: Yogaraj Bhat

Taking inspiration from the Panchatantra, the director explores the duality of foxes, symbolising the eternal struggle between good and evil. The title itself, Karataka Damanaka , reflects this dichotomy, drawing on the timeless themes of friendship and betrayal depicted in the Mitra Beda tale.

Virupaksha (Shivarajkumar) and Balraj (Prabhudheva), are seasoned con artists who delve into the world of deception and redemption. The two, with their cunning prowess, navigate a web of deceit with practised ease, their faces mirroring the slyness of foxes. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when their decades-long spree of swindling comes to an abrupt halt as they find themselves behind bars. Amidst the chaos of incarceration, they encounter Jailer (Rockline Venkatesh), a no-nonsense cop determined to unravel their tangled web of schemes. Just when the con artists thought they had reached a dead end, fate takes an unexpected twist as the Jailer offers them a shot at freedom—with a risky mission in the obscure town of Nandikoluru.

Thrown into a world of drought-ridden landscapes and dwindling hope, Virupaksha and Balraj, now disguised as Nagaraju Shiva Puttaswamy and Basavaraju, must navigate a treacherous path fraught with challenges and deceit. As they step into the parched village, they’re greeted not by the vibrancy of life, but by the desperate cries of a community on the brink of collapse.

With the weight of their past sins heavy on their shoulders, the duo must tread carefully, balancing on the fine line between redemption and relapse. But amidst the dust and despair of Nandikoluru, they find unexpected allies and an untapped reservoir of strength within themselves.

They manage to win the trust of Ramanna (Tanikella Bharani), a key figure in the town’s intricate network. As they delve deeper into the heart of the village, they not only confront the harsh realities of drought but also the deeper wounds of the human spirit. Can Virupaksha and Balraj rise above their past transgressions to bring hope to a forsaken community? The answers lie within the dusty streets and forgotten dreams of Nandikoluru.

Yogaraj Bhat sheds light on the interconnectedness of all living beings. As water scarcity takes center stage, the film evolves into a poignant reflection on contemporary issues, offering a blend of social commentary, traditional storytelling, and masala entertainment, but somewhere it gets lost in the journey.

Karataka Damanaka ’s narrative, peppered with fun episodes and lively dance sequences, is further enriched by the debut pairing of Shivarajkumar and Prabhu deva. Shivanna’s unwavering energy, coupled with Prabhudeva’s quick wit, inject vitality into the script, complementing the duo’s impressive dance moves. Priya Anand and Nishvika Naidu add to the allure, ensuring the show stays engaging despite occasional hiccups.

The ensemble cast, including Telugu actor Tanikella Bharani, Ravi Shankar as the antagonist, along with Nayana, Govinde Gowda, and Rangayana Raghu add essential strength to the narrative.

Harikrishna’s music brings in the commercial touch through various songs, and background scores, while Santhosh Rai Pathaje’s cinematography captures the stark reality of drought-ridden villages, portraying the dry, desolate landscape with authenticity.

Amidst the entertainment, the film subtly touches upon important themes like water conservation, rural migration, and agricultural challenges. It’s in these moments that the film finds its true resonance.

So, is Karataka Damanaka worth a watch? With Shivanna and Prabhu Deva leading the charge, this just might surprise you with its blend of entertainment and relevant message

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