Ooru Peru Bhairavakona Movie Review: Not Very Scary
There has been a recent surge in the popularity of fantasy films and those based on mythology from India and Hinduism. Due to the popularity of “Kantara” and “Hanu Man,” the need for more stories like these has been increasing.
The intriguing commercial videos for “Ooru Peru Bhairavakona” attracted a lot of attention. Audiences were clearly interested in the picture because of the massive reaction to the paid premieres that took place two days before its official release. Will the picture live up to these lofty expectations, though?
On the day of her wedding, Basava (Sundeep Kishan), an extra in a film, steals a bag with the bride’s gold jewellery. As the cops close up on them, he and his companion John (Viva Harsha) escape in a stolen vehicle.
While they’re on the run, they stumble upon Geetha (Kavya Thapar), a woman who has fallen and is unconscious by the roadside. They rush her to a local hospital. The town of Bhairavakona is the closest one.
John and Basava find themselves in a world where spirits reside while the doctor (Vennela Kishore) tends to her.
Why is there a high mortality rate in that town? When Basava stole the jewels, why did he do it? In the grand scheme of things, what does Bhoomi’s (Varsha Bollamma) part play?
Basava, played with conviction by Sundeep Kishan, is a troubled soul who must face the repercussions of his betrayal of the girl he loves. He expertly plays the part of a typical fantasy film protagonist, despite the constraints of the position.
Actress Varsha Bollamma plays a little girl from a tribal community. Though her screen time is minimal, she contributes to two critically acclaimed tracks.
Although she appears in the film with the hero, Kavya Thapar plays the part of a sidekick.
Vennela Kishore provides humorous moments. Together with Viva Harsha, he adds to the entertainment value.
At least from a technical standpoint, the picture holds up. Musically, Sekhar Chandra is merely adequate. The infectious tunes of “Humma Humma” and “Nijame Ne Chebutunna” have gone viral. The score for the backdrop is inadequate.
Review of the Film
Beginning as a standard entertainer, “Ooru Peru Bhairavakona” progressively captures the attention of the audience. The story picks up speed as it nears the pre-interval sequence. Although “Bhairavakona” shares some visual similarities with last year’s smash hit “Virupaksha,” the latter is far more interesting and enjoyable.
Delving into the Garuda Puranam, the video takes viewers on a journey through the afterlife and into a region where spirits live. But these spectres aren’t like the ones in all those movies, and the location isn’t like the normal haunted house movie either. Vi Anand, the writer and filmmaker, incorporates zombie movie tropes into the story.
The picture falls flat, though, because it doesn’t fit neatly into any one genre—be it zombie flick, supernatural thriller, horror drama, or mystic thriller. It tries too hard to be exciting by combining aspects from other genres, but it falls flat.
Sundeep Kishan and Viva Harsha, the movie’s protagonists, manage to pique our interest in the opening scenes when they accidentally find Bhairavakona. Despite several entertaining humorous exchanges between Harsha and Vennela Kishore, the film’s horror elements fall short of expectations. But the picture starts to drag when the main story twist is out.
Not to mention how dull and naive the extended scene with Ravi Shankar is. The supposed emotional drama falls flat, and the twist involving Sundeep Kishan and Varsha Bollamma in the last act isn’t convincing.
With its elaborate production design and visual effects, “Ooru Peru Bhairavakona” continues director Vi Anand’s tradition of visually rich narrative. But Anand fails to provide an engaging story, even though he does a fantastic job with the visuals. The second half of most of Anand’s films, including “Ooru Peru Bhairavakona,” is dull, with the exception of “Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada,” in which he successfully kept the storyline together.
“Ooru Peru Bhairavakona” has two memorable songs and a decently entertaining first half, but it fails to achieve its objectives. The picture really falls flat at a pivotal point in the second half.
Movie: Ooru Peru Bhairavakona
ibomma Rating: 3/5
Cast: Sundeep Kishan, Kavya Thapar, Varsha Bollamma, Vennela Kishore, Viva Harsha, Ravi Shankar, JP and others
Writers: Bhanu Bhogavarapu, Nandu Savirigana
Music: Shekar Chandra
DOP: Raj Thota
Editor: Chota K Prasad
Art Director: A. Ramanjaneyulu
Producer: Razesh Danda
Written and Directed by: VI Anand
Release Date: Feb 16, 2024
