Sarvam Maya OTT review: Nivin Pauly and Riya Shibu’s horror comedy is a must watch

Sarvam Maya review

• Sarvam Maya now streaming on Jio Hotstar in multiple languages, including Telugu
• Riya Shibu shines as Delulu, adding charm to the supernatural comedy.
• Nivin Pauly delivers a strong performance, but predictable plot limits surprises

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Released on Christmas Eve, Sarvam Maya marks Nivin Pauly’s return to familiar, feel-good territory with a light supernatural twist. The Malayalam movie had a good run in theaters, and now it's available digitally on Jio Hotstar in a number of languages, including Telugu. Here’s a closer look at how the film fares on OTT.

Plot:

Prabhendu (Nivin Pauly) is a free-spirited guitarist and a firm atheist who lives away from his family due to ideological clashes with his father. When his long-awaited Europe tour falls through after his visa gets cancelled, he is forced to return home. Prabhendu starts helping his cousin Rupesh, a priest, with religious and exorcism-related tasks to make ends meet.

Prabhendu has a strange experience that changes his life during one of these jobs. Soon, he can feel a young girl in his room. She uses his phone without asking and acts in ways that are both strange and endearing. He finally meets her in person and calls her Delulu (Riya Shibu). Delulu doesn't look like a typical ghost because she doesn't remember her past and has a strange personality. As she becomes a part of his life all the time, she starts to affect Prabhendu's emotions and spirit. Who is Delulu ? What does she have to do with Prabhendu, and how will this strange relationship change his view of the world? These are the movie's main emotional themes.

What works

Even though the premise is based on a common supernatural story, Sarvam Maya does well with its soft, character-driven storytelling. Riya Shibu is the best part of the movie. As Delulu, she is great. Her innocent, playful, and naughty performance gives the story a new twist and stops the movie from using common horror tropes. Her screen presence, expressions, and comic timing make the character instantly lovable and memorable.

Nivin Pauly plays a rationalist who is faced with the unexplainable in a calm but powerful way. He moves easily between fear, humor, vulnerability, and emotion, especially in scenes with Riya Shibu, which are the best parts of the movie. Their chemistry is what makes the story so emotional.

Among the supporting cast, Preity Mukhundhan makes her presence felt despite limited screen time, while Aju Varghese adds light humour. Veteran actor Janardhanan is dependable as Prabhendu’s uncle. The emotional payoff in the climax, particularly the reveal surrounding Delulu’s identity, lands well and provides a satisfying emotional closure.

What doesn't work

Even though the treatment is interesting, the story itself is mostly predictable. There aren't many real surprises because a lot of the time, things happen that are expected. The humor works well in scenes with characters, but not so much in scenes that go on for a long time.

There aren't enough funny moments with Nivin Pauly and Aju Varghese, who have great chemistry. Similarly, Preity Mukhundhan’s character lacks depth and exits the story rather abruptly.

Technicalities:

Director Akhil Sathyan does a good job of handling the material with clarity and restraint. He mixes humor, drama, and supernatural elements well, but the second half could have been crisper. The light tone of the movie is matched by Sharan Velayudhan's cinematography, and Justin Prabhakaran's music adds to the emotional moments without being too obvious. The editing is fine, but it could have been better if some of the scenes that were too similar had been cut down. The production values are good, and the Telugu dubbing works, but it's not perfect.

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Verdict:

Sarvam Maya is a pleasant supernatural comedy that leans heavily on its characters rather than plot twists. The story is average, but the movie is still interesting because of how well it is put together and its actors, especially Riya Shibu as Delulu. Nivin Pauly does a good job of supporting the story, but Delulu really steals the show. Sarvam Maya isn't going to change the genre, but it's a good choice for a relaxing and fun weekend OTT pick.