Kalinga

In an attempt to craft a grand spectacle that mirrors the recent success of films like *Kantara*, *Tumbbad*, *Arundathi*, and *Virupaksha*, the director of this movie had lofty ambitions. The idea was to blend elements of horror, folklore, and mysticism into a narrative that would thrill audiences, just as these previous films did. However, despite the potential of the concept, the execution fell short in several critical areas, especially in terms of the screenplay and overall storytelling.

From the outset, it is clear that the director aimed for an engaging and immersive experience. The first 20 minutes of the film truly deliver in terms of horror and intrigue. There's a palpable sense of dread, and the tension is built up effectively. The dark, eerie atmosphere works well, drawing the audience in and setting high expectations for what's to follow. But as the story progresses, this early momentum begins to wane. The script, which had the potential to craft a gripping tale, is hampered by a disjointed and poorly executed screenplay.

The biggest letdown is the film's pacing. After the promising start, the narrative gets bogged down by unnecessary scenes that drag on without adding much to the story. What starts as a horror movie with great promise slowly turns into a collection of missed opportunities. The director seems to have struggled with maintaining a consistent tone throughout the film, and this becomes especially evident as the middle section drags on without significant developments. The tension that was built up in the early parts fizzles out, leaving the audience waiting for something impactful to happen.

The film promises a major twist in the final 20 minutes, but even this plot development falls flat. The build-up to the twist is inconsistent, and when it finally arrives, it lacks the punch needed to make it memorable or impactful. It's evident that the director had a vision for a shocking revelation, but the poor execution of the screenplay means that the twist feels rushed and not as surprising as it could have been. With better pacing and buildup, this twist could have elevated the film, but instead, it ends up being underwhelming.

While the narrative falters, there are some aspects of the movie that deserve praise. The locations chosen for the film are stunning. The visual representation of the story's setting is one of the movie's strongest points, and the cinematography captures the grandeur and mystery of these locales beautifully. The attention to detail in the set design and the atmospheric use of lighting also enhance the film's visual appeal, drawing the audience into a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly.

However, the film's visual effects (VFX) leave much to be desired. In a movie that leans heavily on supernatural and mystical elements, strong VFX is crucial to bringing these scenes to life. Unfortunately, the VFX here are subpar and fail to complement the otherwise impressive visuals. There are moments where the effects look outdated or poorly rendered, breaking the immersion and detracting from the overall experience. This is especially disappointing given the high standard set by other recent films in the genre, which have utilized cutting-edge technology to create stunning visual spectacles.

Despite these issues, the film does manage to end on a somewhat positive note. The conclusion ties the story together, and there's a sense that, with better direction and a more polished screenplay, the film could have been a major success. The introduction and ending are highlights, but the journey in between is too inconsistent to leave a lasting impression. The director's vision was clear, but the execution was flawed, particularly when it came to translating the script into a cohesive and engaging narrative.

In summary, this film had the potential to be a hit in the South Indian film industry, following in the footsteps of *Kantara*, *Tumbbad*, and others. The concept was strong, the script was decent, and the locations were breathtaking, but the film was ultimately let down by its poor screenplay and lackluster VFX. If more attention had been paid to pacing and character development, and if the twist had been delivered with more finesse, this could have been another standout film in the genre. For these reasons, I would give the movie 5 stars for its potential and the director's ambition, but it's a bittersweet rating, as I can't help but feel that this story could have been told in a much better way.

Extremely overhyped movie with sub par cinematography and an equally incoherent storyline. Not sure why and how this movie is getting so much hype, but to be honest, please save 2 hours from your schedule and skip watching this one.

They even used AI generated images at the start of the movie which itself gives an impression of a badly produced social media content.

The mythology doesn't make much sense and yes, songs in the middle of a movie with such a somber tone is a total mood killer. The movie is made for target audiences who are not very familiar with world horror movies. I think Tumbbad was far better than this.

You don't expect to be disappointed with a movie with a 9.0 IMDb rating but this was an exception. Lot of people out there calling this movie "super" or "hit" and it baffles me.

It's a very long movie and for 1.5hrs it goes absolutely nowhere. When the creature finally appears, it gets killed in 5 mins!!!

They've tried to mix in so many elements that nothing shines through. There's the horror element, the mythology element, then there is romance angle to develop the character (but it's so half assed you feel nothing), then there is Linga's backstory which is supposed to be the thriller element and finally the story about the treasure.

The background music in the climax had me scratching my head, I've never seen a movie that uses such an elaborate background score for the creature's entry and fight scene, yous generally want to use minimal background score to keep the focus on the creature, it was the exact opposite here.

Overall, cheap wannabe movie with poor acting and a very mixed up story. Rather than watching the movie, go outside for a walk.

Kalinga is a prime example of a film that misses the mark on every level. From its lackluster performances to its nonsensical plot, this movie is a complete waste of time.

The acting is over-the-top and cringe-worthy, with actors hamming it up at every opportunity. The unnecessary songs disrupt the flow of the narrative and add nothing to the story. The action sequences are poorly choreographed and executed, making them laughable rather than thrilling.

The editing is sloppy and amateurish, with jarring cuts and transitions. The overall pacing of the film is uneven, with some scenes dragging on while others feel rushed.

In short, Kalinga is a cinematic disaster that should be avoided at all costs.

The Telugu film 'Kalinga' is quite the mixed experience! Directed by Dhruva Vaayu, it's a fantasy action horror that seems to be reaching for too much. Starring Dhruva Vaayu and Pragya Nayan in the main roles, it occasionally comes off as a bit self-indulgent. Dhruva Vaayu is trying to be the center of the story and sometimes feels that all he wants!

The cinematography is top-notch, but the CGI leaves a lot to be desired. There's a heavy dose of religious Hindu-themed animation, the acting is just okay, and the songs? Not great either. Honestly, that pretty much sums up my hour and 56 minutes with it.