Mangalavaaram is one of the most awaited films in recent times as Payal Rajput has teamed up with Ajay Bhupathi for the second time. The film was released today, and let’s review it here.
Story: Mangalavaaram is set in Mahalakshmipuram. Things take a U-turn when scary things start happening every Tuesday and two people from the village keep getting killed. A cop played by Nandita Swetha enters the scene and starts her investigation to only know that a girl named Shailu is behind all this. Who is this Shailu? What is her backstory? and how is she connected to the village? That forms the story.
Performances: Payal Rajput gets a dream role and she nails it big time. It is a very dark and bold role and only Payal could have portrayed such a role in Mangalavaaram. She comes only in the second half and holds our attention till the end with a solid performance. Krishna Chaitanya gets a meaty role as the village head and does well. Ajay Ghosh is amazing in his role and evokes good laughs. Ajmal is seen in a negative role and is good. Nandita Setha overacts for no reason in the film. Sri Tej was neat in his role along with Divya Pillai.
Technicalities: Mangalavaaram is high on technical aspects. The one that holds your attention right away is the music and BGM by Ajaneesh Lokanath of Kantara fame. He elevates the film to another level. The production values are top notch and the camerawork showcasing the village backdrop is neat. The editing is a bit dull as the film’s runtime could have been trimmed in the first half. Dialogues are neat and so is the production design. The screenplay was good for the most part.
Analysis: Mangalavaaram touches upon a very unique and bold subject that no one has really tried before. Weaving a subject around such a topic is very hard, especially in Telugu cinema and credit should go to Ajay Bhupathi for mixing thrill with emotions beautifully. He has worked hard on the script and this shows on screen.
The first half of the film is all about people getting killed in the village and the second half showcases Payal’s flashback and what issues she faces in life. The entire drama is elevated in the second half of the film and Payal steals the show with her stunning performance which will really shock you.
The twists and turns that are thrown at the audience are also well executed. But to enjoy all this, one has to sit through the slow first half. Nothing much happens during this time and only key characters are introduced. But once Payal Rajput’s health issue is showcased, the film gets bold and touches upon a topic that is hard to explain.
But still, Ajay Bhupathi handles it well in the last segment of the film. The film delivers for the most part but has some hiccups in places. Ajay Bhupathi has made a better film when compared to Maha Samudram and has added elements that will reach the common man. The twists in the climax are the icing on the cake and make this film a decent watch at the box office.
Verdict: Overall, Mangalavaaram has a very unique backdrop that is new to Telugu cinema. The performances, BGM, and climax twists hold your attention. If you ignore the slightly slow first half, the film holds your attention till the end.
Bottom Line – Bold Thriller
Rating: 2.5/5
