Jiiva, who became familiar to Telugu audiences with the film Rangam, appears on screen occasionally. Now, he is testing his luck once again with a fantasy thriller. Directed by Pa. Vijay, Aghathiyaa stars Raashi Khanna as the female lead, while Arjun Sarja plays a key role.
Aghathiyaa Movie Story: Aghathiyaa (Jiiva) is a destined child born under a rare planetary alignment. He dreams of becoming an art director in films, but his attempts fail. To make use of a film set he created, he decides to turn it into a scary house and earn money. However, things take a shocking turn when real ghosts are found in the house. Strangely, these spirits want to help Aghathiyaa and ensure he leaves unharmed. Who are these ghosts? Why do they want to protect Aghathiyaa? That forms the core of the story.
Performances: Jiiva delivers his signature expressions but struggles in scenes requiring strong reactions. Raashi Khanna has little to do apart from appearing alongside the hero. Arjun Sarja performs well, but his poorly designed character fails to leave an impact. Edward Sonnenblick plays the villain, but weak writing diminishes his role.
Supporting actors, including foreign and South Indian artists, put in their best efforts. Rohini, despite undergoing prosthetic makeup for her role, doesn’t get enough scope to shine. Overall, the performances suffer due to unclear character development and weak execution, making the film less engaging than expected.
Technical Aspects: Yuvan Shankar Raja delivers decent music, but the background score feels disconnected from the scenes. The CGI team seems careless, using stock graphics as if underestimating the audience. The climax fight being animated is a major flaw, but what’s worse is the use of Marvel movie footage.
Director Pa. Vijay attempts to present a deep concept but fails to convey anything effectively. The film juggles four storylines, with two running parallel, yet none feels complete. Poorly structured storytelling and weak execution turn Aghathiyaa into a director’s failure rather than an engaging film.
Analysis: Fantasy films need more than just visuals, they require a strong story and solid narration. Especially in films that highlight India’s rich history, the elements should feel authentic and grounded. When a movie lacks these essentials and solely relies on forced patriotism and motherly sentiment to engage the audience, it ends up like Aghathiyaa.
Verdict: Aghathiyaa fails to deliver as a fantasy thriller. Weak storytelling, inconsistent narration, poor CGI, and underwhelming performances make it a forgettable experience. Despite an interesting premise, the film suffers from execution issues, leaving it as a director’s failure rather than an engaging cinematic experience.
Bottom Line: Fantasy thriller that fails to captivate.
Rating: 1.5/5
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