Tantra Movie Review:
In the background of tantric education and occult worship, the films are getting good audience. ‘Masuda’ and ‘Virupaksha’ were huge hits.
That genre movie ‘Tantra’ was released in theatres. Ananya Nagalla of ‘Mallesham’, ‘Play Back’, ‘Vakeel Saab’ fame and the scenes in the promotional films have raised the expectations of the film. So, how is this horror thriller? Is it scary? Or? Check out the review.
Story (Tantra Movie Story): Rekha (Ananya Nagalla) sees ghosts. She lost her mother when she was young… and always scolded her father. Rekha’s love interest is Teja (Dhanush Raghumudri), a friend since childhood. He loves her too. But… Teja learns that someone has done magic on the line. What happened next is a movie.
Why does a bloodthirsty spirit/ghoul come near the line on every full moon? Vigati (‘Temper’ Vamsi), who was away from the village for 18 years, why did Rekha’s problems start after she came back? Who is Rajeshwari (Saloni)? Who used Vajroli Rati on whom? What did Teja do to save Rekha? Answers to such questions should be known by watching the movie.
Analysis (Tantra Telugu Review): While making a horror thriller, the director-writers have a flexibility. There is no need to tell the audience that the story is like pulling a banana for small children from the very first scene. What next? What happens in the next scene? If it is said to make the audience interested, it is a hit! The twists before the climactic scenes give the thrill of the reveal. The specialty of ‘Tantra’ is to move the story forward from the first scene without any interest.
Bloodthirst, Patalakutti, Enemy Arrival, Mahankali in Mask, Vajroli Rati, Chinnamastha Devi… ‘Tantra’ has six chapters. There is no benefit to the story by naming those names. Names like Mahankali in the mask, some dialogues made the story a comedy. It would have been more effective if the story had been told directly without any names. Director Srinivas Gopi Shetty has written the subject. He wrote the point of creating curiosity in the background of Tantric education and occult worship. But the direction was slower than the serial.
The beginning of the ‘tantra’ is normal. Ananya has no interesting point except seeing ghosts. Apart from the love story between the hero and the heroine, the stories about occult worship are not interesting. There is not a single horror moment or thrilling scene. Something moves forward slowly. Saloni Love and Marriage track is more boring. The twists in the story are revealed from the pre-climax. But, by then it was too late. Music director RR Dhrivan tried to make the film accessible to the audience with songs and background music. But it was a wasted effort as the scenes lacked strength. Build values are good.
Srihari’s brother’s son Dhanush Raghumudri has good screen presence. Despite getting less screen space… he proved his talent. Ananya Nagalla played the main lead role as Rekha. Acted according to the scope of the role. She got the scope to act in key scenes. Well done. Saloni Roll, those scenes will surprise the audience. Emotional scenes are well done. Due to the performance of Temper Vamsi, Meesala Laxman and others, the respective roles were registered.
The story of ‘Tantra’ is good. But the story will test the audience’s patience. No matter how long it does not move forward. There is no novelty in the scenes. Ananya Nagalla, Dhanush Raghumudri and Saloni’s acting is good. However, the film could not sustain. Some stories are good at the idea level. But the matter of execution is overturned. The ideas and scenes that look good on paper, the directors fail in bringing the scenes to connect with the audience perfectly. ‘Tantra’ is also such a film. No horror, no thrills, full lag! Better to avoid this movie.