Movie: Kalavathi
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Good Cinema Group
Cast: Siddharth, Trisha, Hansika, Poonam Bajwa, Sundar C, Vaibhav Reddy, Soori and others
Dialogues: Shashank Vennelakanti
Music: Hiphop Tamizha
Cinematography: U. K. Senthil Kumar
Editing: N. B. Srikanth
Produced by: Good Friends
Written and Directed by: Sunder C
Release Date: 29 January 2016
Hansika starrer 'Chandrakala' was a surprise hit in 2014. The film was successful both in Tamil and Telugu languages and when director Sunder C announced sequel to the movie, the expectations increased. The sequel titled “Kalavathi” is here.
Let’s see if “Kalavathi” works or not.
Story:
The story happens in a palatial bungalow in a remote village. The house owner (Radharavi) is attacked by an evil force and gets bedridden. His son Murali (Siddharth) comes down to his village along with his fiancé Anitha (Trisha). He notices that there indeed is some unknown persons/force hiding in the bungalow. Odd events begin to happen eventually, forcing him to seek the help of a friend and Anita’s brother Ravi (Sunder C).
After Ravi comes to their house, they come to know that Kala (Hansika) is doing all these things. What is Kala’s story?
Artistes’ Performances:
For Siddharth, the role is very simple one and he has done okay. Hansika in the title role has once again given good performance like she did in “Chandrakala”.
Trisha has got meaty role and she has given her best shot at it. She also has shown off enough skin in the first song.
Radha Ravi as father, Poonam Bajwa as Malayali nurse, Kovai Sarala as aged spinster, Soori in the comic role are just okay. Sunder C gets a big role.
Technical Excellence:
Horror thrillers need high technical values to work but the film doesn’t boast any such. Cinematography, editing, music, artwork and graphics... all are on low standard or barely passable.
Highlights:
- Trisha’s glamour show
- Some episodes in the second half
- Hansika
Drawbacks:
- Routine narration
- Cheap graphics
- Predictable twists and turns
Analysis:
Director Sunder C has made “Chandrakala” again with a little difference. The palatial bungalow, the village, comedy actors, three heroines, and some flashback episode in the second half... all these were in “Chandrakala” and now in the sequel “Kalavathi’ he has repeated the same. Only difference is that he seems to have made the sequel with no seriousness and carelessly.
The ghost activities and scares are on lower side, comedy gets more focus. While the first half is sprinkled with comedy track on Kovai Sarala and Soori with occasional ghost angle, the second-half turns sentimental and ghostly. But it doesn’t have effectiveness in the treatment. The story and scenes are too predictable.
To be fair, the post interval sequences are better compared to the mean first half. Hansika’s flashback episode, the ghost trying to take revenge on the last person and entire drama till the climax scene have evoked interest. But the climax sequences again are not up to the mark.
Nevertheless, post interval is the better part of the movie. On the whole, lack of novelty in the storyline, not enough thrills will leave you unsatisfied.
Cheap production values have made the movie look like an attempt on cashing in on the genre. It can work in B and C centres as it offers some good masala moments. That would be enough for Sundar to make another movie under this franchise.
Yeah, he made sure to keep the plot open at the end like every horror movie does. So Chandrakala 3 is definitely on. After all audiences are willing to pay for watching the same movie over and over again. So why not?
Bottom-line: Star cast is the only saving grace
