Mohanlal’s latest film Vrusshabha hit the screens today with very little buzz in Telugu. The film has released amidst a lot of low budget films and let’s see how it is.
Plot:
The story revolves around Vijayendra Vrusshabha (Mohan Lal), the king of Trilinga, who protects the sacred Aatma Linga. During a battle to defend his kingdom, he accidentally kills a child and is cursed by the grieving mother. This curse continues to haunt him in his next birth, forming the base of a reincarnation drama
What about on-screen performances?
Despite having an interesting premise and a legendary actor in the lead, the film fails to deliver on most fronts.
It is disappointing to see an actor of Mohanlal’s stature reduced to an ineffective presence. He does not get to create much of an impact.
The supporting cast is poorly utilized, with actors like Samarjit and Nayan Sarika being given weakly written roles that offer no scope to make an impact.
Their characters feel underdeveloped and disconnected from the main narrative. Even Jeetendra’s cameo comes across as unnecessary, lacking purpose or relevance to the story.
Instead of adding weight or excitement, these appearances feel forced, further highlighting the film’s poor writing and missed opportunities in using its ensemble effectively.
What about off-screen performances?
Vrusshabha feels slow and boring despite its short runtime. Poor dialogues, a forced love track, weak AI-driven visuals, and below-par production values further drag the film down.
What works in the film is mainly the idea itself. The theme of guilt, karma, and rebirth is different, and this emotional angle is likely what attracted Mohanlal to the project.
A sword-fight sequence in the second half is fairly well executed and offers a brief moment of engagement. However, the positives end there. The writing is extremely weak, and the screenplay lacks flow and clarity.
Technically, the film leaves a lot to be desired. The visuals in the opening sequence itself hint at the poor quality to follow.
While the music and cinematography work in a few scenes, the overall technical execution is underwhelming. Director and writer Naandda Kishore fails to do justice to both the concept and Mohanlal.
What’s Good:
A few thrills
Production values
What’s Bad:
Ineffective Mohanlal
Slow pace
Lack of depth in emotion
Uneven narrative
Verdict:
Overall, Vrusshabha is a forgettable reincarnation action drama that tests the viewer’s patience. Except for its basic idea and a couple of scenes, the film offers little to hold interest. Just skip this film and look for something else on OTT.
TeluguBulletin.com Rating 1.75/5