Subham Review: Interesting Premise Falls Short of Spooky Laughs

Subham, produced by Samantha Ruth Prabhu on Tralala Moving Pictures, is scheduled to be released in theatres this Friday. Its early paid premieres were held on Wednesday evening in Hyderabad and a few other cities like Vizag. Telugu Funda tells you whether the movie is worth watching.

Telugu Funda’s reveal of the basic premise:

The story is set in a small town where a TV serial titled Janma Janmala Bandham is the biggest obsession of the womenfolk. The wives of three friends turn into possessed creatures as the clock strikes nine every night. As they watch the never-ending TV serial that is thousands of episodes old, they mysteriously attack their husband. Why do these wives, otherwise obedient and soft-spoken, turn violent while watching the TV serial? What do they want? How do the terrorized husbands plan to bail themselves out of the situation? That’s what the second half is all about.

Telugu Funda’s take on the Performances:

Harshith Malgireddy (he played a Shambala rebel in Kalki 2898 AD), Shriya Kontham (14 Days: Girlfriend Intlo fame), Charan Peri (SonyLIV’s Bench Life fame), Shalini Kondepudi (she used to appear in Film Companion’s video reviews), Gavireddy Srinivas, and Shravani Lakshmi play the three married couples.

The artists are taking baby steps in the film industry. While the horror-comedy suits them because they come with no baggage, director Praveen Kandregula should have made use of their talents in a better way. Harshith and Shriya are shown as the primary leads; their initial scenes, including the nuptial night scene, are very good. By and by, however, the couple has nothing much to offer. As a result, their performances also get watered down. Charan Peri has a lot of potential in future. Shalini’s comic timing wasn’t used well.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu plays a fake godwoman named Maya, while Gangavva has a cameo. Rag Mayur has a supporting role. Vamshidhar Goud, who is seen as a rival cable TV operator, has a few scenes.

Telugu Funda’s take on the Technical Output:

Clinton Cerejo’s songs are largely derivative. They don’t distract the narrative because director Praveen adopts an indie-style treatment of the songs. Vivek Sagar’s background music is a qualified plus.

Mridul Sujit Sen’s cinematography and Dharmendra Kakarla’s editing are largely seamless.

Telugu Funda’s take on the Merits:

1. Vasanth Mariganti’s storyline is the biggest merit of the movie. A TV serial forms the backdrop against which the domestic equations between three couples unfold. This is a novel idea.
2. There is an element of social message. While it could have been delivered with more nuance, the compelling argument made feels relevant.
3. At 125 minutes, the film doesn’t overstay its welcome. In this regard, Subham learns from TV serials that don’t know when to exit from public consciousness.
4. Some early scenes involving the primary couple make the audience stay invested.

Telugu Funda’s take on the Demerits:

1. Subham fails to build on the momentum offered by its excellent premise. The second half should have come with more gravity and tightness.
2. Many comedy scenes are basic in nature. We get the feeling that some artists are trying too hard to evoke laughs. After the entry of Rag Mayur’s character, the film’s desperation to somehow make the audience laugh out loud becomes evident.
3. The horror-comedy scenes lack the punch. They don’t excite the audience members even in key segments like the climax.
4. Praveen Kandregula, who has previously directed Cinema Bandi, doesn’t infuse the film with a thorough reading of the psychology of husbands and wives. The resolution arrives all of a sudden.

Telugu Funda’s Verdict:

While Subham boasts a refreshingly unique storyline and a crisp runtime, its inability to capitalize on its potential is sad. Weak comedy in the second half and a lackluster screenplay make Subham an OTT watch-worthy movie and nothing more.

Rating: 2.5

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