Samantha Ruth Prabhu's Subham movie review: A quirky horror-comedy with a touch of family warmth

Samantha Ruth Prabhu makes a special cameo in Subham

Samantha Ruth Prabhu makes a new beginning in her career and steps into the shoes of a producer for the first time with Shubham. The horror-comedy directed by Praveen Kandregula of Cinema Bandi fame has hit the theatres today, and it is hoping to serve audiences something new with a mix of humour, mild scares and small-town nostalgia. But does it hit the mark?

Plot

Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu (2010), while similar to the recent Telugu release Hit and, of course, the Hollywood thriller Nick of Time (1995), the similarities aside, Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu is based on a forgery by a minister's daughter after falling in love with a kabaddi player. Still, it is finally forced to sign a life-ending agreement once their relationship is officially revealed. But just when life appears to be falling into a routine of bliss, things turn strange.

At precisely 9 PM every night, Srivalli becomes cold and distant to the point of being someone else. As Srinivas begins to look into it, he realizes he’s not alone; several women in the village are exhibiting the same odd behaviour. What ties them together? And what is the ghastly secret the town’s been hiding? The mystery unravels in this one-of-a-kind horror story.

Analysis

Subham gets the concept right. Connecting supernatural occurrences with a throwback TV serial setting was a very different taste, and it played well in the mouths of the women, who possibly connected to the era of 2000s serial culture.

The performances are winning. The leads, Harshith Malgireddy and Shriya Kontham, have a warm chemistry, and that becomes the emotional core of the narrative. Srinivas Gavireddy and Charan Tej, if not laugh-out-loud funny, balance the comedy with their good timing and provide relief in a couple of scenes. Shalini Kondepudi and Shravani Laxmi, as supporting actresses, add both warmth and comic depth; their time onscreen is among the film’s most enjoyable.

The horror is gentle and is appropriate for all but the youngest children. The odd sensibility and local flavour add to the fun of watching.

The story deserts him, however, after Subham's strong start in the middle of the first half. The script was getting wobbly, and a few things stalled out. Its second half is redeemed by some finely crafted sequences, but is marred by repetition and predictability.

The characters are promising, but the emotional depth that would take the story to the next level is just not there. Some scenes might have been more powerful with better casting.

Much-ballyhooed Samantha’s cameo sadly disappoints. It’s a forced moment, and not helped by clunking dialogue that has viewers staring at Metal right now and feeling slightly let down.

Technical aspects

Director Praveen Kandregula deserves some praise for trying a genre-mix that is not so often seen in Telugu cinema. Freshness of vision is one thing, but it doesn’t always translate. Mridul Sujit Sen’s cinematography paints the mood well, and Vivek Sagar’s background score provides the right atmospheric sheen. But Avinash’s edit could’ve been tauter, especially during the film’s pacing-lacking portions. Production values are simple but sufficient for the story at hand.

Verdict

Subham is a lemony horror-comedy that serves entertainment laced with some suspense and laughter. It’s not without its flaws — the pacing flags at times, there’s a forgettable cameo and a few storytelling stumbles — but it’s still entertaining. With its relatable characters, nostalgic vibe and family-friendly content, it makes for an easy weekend watch.

Cast: Harshith Reddy, Gavireddy Srinivas, Charan Peri, Samantha, Shriya Kontham, Shravani Lakshmi, Shalini Kondepudi, Vamshidhar Goud

Directors : Praveen Kandregula

Producers: Samantha, Himank Duvvuru

Rating: 3/5