Tantra - Uneven mantra

 

Movie: Tantra
Rating: 1.5/5
Cast: Ananya Nagalla, Dhanush Raghumudri, Saloni, Temper Vamsi, Meesala Lakshman, Kushalini, Manoj Muthyam, and others
Director: Srinivas Gopisetti
Produced By: Naresh Babu P, Ravi Chaitanya

Release Date: 15th March 2024

Story:

Rekha, portrayed by Ananya Nagalla, resides with her strict father following her mother's demise. Suddenly, she begins witnessing malevolent spirits, causing great distress in her life. Meanwhile, Rekha is romantically involved with Teja, played by Dhanush Raghumudri, who discovers that someone is performing tantric rituals against Rekha. Who is the individual responsible for these rituals? Why did he choose Rekha as his target? What is Rekha's past? And what actions did Teja take to safeguard Rekha? All these questions can be answered by watching the film.

Performances:

Ananya Nagalla did get the lead role, but the scope of her character is limited. She has showcased her utmost potential in the scenes involving the tantric Pooja. Saloni makes a comeback; despite having limited screen time, her role gets registered as she gets a few emotional scenes. Portraying the antagonist, Temper Vamsi gets a meaty role and does a good job. Dhanush Raghumudri, in the lead role, performs adequately within the narrative.

What Worked For The Film:

Numerous movies centered around black magic and horror elements have come recently, and Tantra also follows the same route. Director Srinivas Gopisetti skillfully crafts a satisfactory plot that has the potential to be a perfect horror thriller with ample plot twists. However, the execution of these twists leaves much to be desired. Tantra consists of multiple chapters, each holding its importance. The director intended to captivate the audience from the first scene, and he was successful only in parts.

What Did Not Work For The Film:

Director Srinivas Gopisetti has effectively portrayed the scenes involving Tantric teachings and black magic. However, the emotional connection within the story leaves much to be desired. The film's pacing could be better, with episodes taking too long to engage the audience, and those that do often have problems with the storyline. The predictability of certain scenes is evident right from the start, except for a key twist. The scenes revolving around Saloni's marriage are particularly uninteresting. Srinivas saves the best for the pre-climax and climax and tries to get the tempo back. Unfortunately, the audience is already tired of the repetitive and bland spooky scenes by this point.

Tantra Review And Verdict:

Tantra is an uneven horror thriller. Regarding the script, the film's director, Srinivas Gopisetti had numerous opportunities to captivate the audience. Yet, he opted for a lackluster screenplay and leisurely pace to unfold his narrative, ultimately resulting in Tantra being a letdown.