Review: Shabdham - Intriguing and Erratic

Movie: Shabdham
Rating:2.5/5

Cast: Aadhi Pinisetty, Lakshmi Menon, Simran, Laila, Redin Kingsley, MS Baskar, Rajiv Menon, Vivek Prasanna, and Others

Director: Arivazhagalan Venkatachalam

Produced By: 7G Films, AAlpha Frames

Release Date: February 28, 2025

Story:

Mysterious student deaths at Holy Angel College fuel ghost stories about the college. Management hires ghost investigator Vyoma (Aadhi Pinisetty) to reveal the truth as fear grows. Vyoma discovers Avantika, a student cum junior professor, aiming to refute the idea of spirits. He soon sees something strange in her actions. Another girl, Deepika, mysteriously dies amid dramatic events. Who is responsible for these deaths? Are there really ghosts at the college? What secrets are buried behind the deaths? What part does Diana (Simran) have in this mystery? The film gradually unravels these answers.

Performances:

Aadhi Pinisetty performed well and does a. convincing job, Lakshmi Menon also impresses with her performance. Simran makes her presence felt, while Laila, Redin Kingsley, MS Baskar, Rajiv Menon, and Vivek Prasanna were okay. 

What worked for the film:

Director Arivazhagan presents a captivating mix of horror, suspense, and emotional drama in Shabdham. Vyoma's resolve to save lives and the spirits' quest for justice fit this genre perfectly. The first half of the film captivates, despite some dull moments, and ends with a strong interval punch. 

What did not work for the film:

Shabdham falls victim to genre clichés. Most horror flicks start high with suspense and have a sentimental backstory for the ghosts. Such stories often feature a flashback revealing the spirits' history, and Shabdham follows this pattern.

A standard backstory must surprise viewers or deepen the story's immersion. In the second half, Arivazhagan fails to keep the audience engaged. The second half has many logical gaps and unanswered questions, surprising for a film focused on science and reasoning. 

Shabdham Review and Verdict: 

Shabdham had the potential to be a perfect horror thriller! On a technical level, the film shines. The idea of Sound is fascinating, and the story keeps you hooked until halfway through, but then it drags with some dull and predictable parts.