Eesha is one new age horror thriller that has been promoted by the makers on an aggressive note. The film has hit the screens along with several noted films this Christmas eve. Directed by Srinivas Mane, let’s see if the film lives up to all the hype created.
Plot:
Four youngsters set out on a mission to unmask godmen who exploit blind faith. Their trail leads them to Aadhi Dev, a US-returned neurologist who has reinvented himself as a powerful baba on the Andhra–Odisha border. When they confront him, he throws down a bold challenge: spend three nights in a deserted house believed to be haunted and prove that the supernatural is a myth. In return, he agrees to abandon his deceitful ways. Confident in logic and reason, the group accepts the dare. However, as the nights pass, eerie and unexplained events begin to unfold. How did they survive is the basic story of the film.
What about on-screen performances?
Trigun, Hebah Patel, Siri Hanumanthu, and Akhil Raj deliver decent performances, though they appear dull in a few portions.
Overall, only two actors truly stand out in the film. Prithviraj and Mime Madhu leave a strong impression with their performances.
Prithviraj, known for Pelli, appears in a slightly different avatar as a doctor-cum-tantrik, and the dubbing suited his character well.
Mime Madhu is effective as the ghostly presence, and even though his actions are a bit exaggerated at times, it works within the horror setup.
Jogi Krishnam Raju, Mirchi Madhavi, Dayanand Reddy, and others handle their supporting roles adequately.
What about off screen talents?
The technical team has clearly put in sincere effort, especially music director R. R. Dhruvan, whose background score elevates several scenes and adds intensity throughout.
Director Srinivas Manne tries to present a different idea using the horror genre, which works to some extent.
A few scary moments are effective due to sound effects like sudden noises and eerie background sounds. The mystery around the character Eesha is explained in the climax, and that part is fairly engaging.
The film’s promotions raised expectations of a strong horror experience, but the movie fails to deliver consistent scares.
The story feels routine, and the narration is slow, especially in the first half. Most scenes depend on jump scares and loud sounds, but they lack real impact.
The second half repeats the same formula, and the final message does not justify the long runtime. Performances are average and feel artificial at times.
The CGI is also mediocre. Weak writing and unanswered questions hurt the film badly. Though the technical team tries hard, the cinematography, music, and sound are not used effectively for a horror setup.
What’s Good:
Background score
A few thrills
What’s Bad:
Routine Story
Slow Pace
Weak VFX
Verdict:
On the whole, Eesha has a routine story but the the thrills have been established in a okay manner. Novelty wise there is nothing new but the way the film is packaged as whole creates interest in a few scenes.
TeluguBulletin.com Rating 2.25/5