Karuvanam

When this web series was launched on YouTube, it was released regularly with couple of episodes every week, with each having a duration of approximately 45 mins. But then, when few started going for the binge-watch, they started feeling it's lengthy. I thought let me start watching it with remote constantly glued to my hand, so that I can wrap up the entire show in a short span. To my surprise, I felt that every scene had a significance, and nothing is added here unwanted.

The little girl going to the local photo studio to restore the old film roll brings more mystery on par with the main crisis dealt by Shalini and Meera. Similarly, we are introduced to a lunatic character in the mental health center, where Shalini's husband gets admitted, only to get shocked that the guy who was considered as a clown has a biggest mystery to break.

OMG! The final moments between Shalini and her husband at the hospital, where the mystery gets broken send ultimate fear into the spines.

The Karuvanam web series is truly captivating. I was initially unsure if it would be worth my time, but it quickly delivered unexpected thrills and chills that I didn't see coming. The series is packed with twists, and the shocking revelations towards the end left me eager for a rewatch. The final four episodes feel like an intense, continuous climax, making the experience even more gripping. I'm eagerly anticipating the next season, hoping the creators will bring back the beloved supporting characters. Additionally, a spin-off featuring the two exorcists, Guru Somasundaram and Abbas Akbar, would be incredibly exciting to see. The music in this series is outstanding, and the sound department has truly excelled, deserving all the recognition for their remarkable work. Hope the mainstream Tamil web series makers have a look at 'Karuvanam' and start making more such International standard web series.

Horror narratives that emphasize the emotions of female characters tend to capture our attention effectively. Whether it's Eeram or acclaimed films like Mama from Hollywood, this theme is consistently present. In Karuvanam, the story focuses on twin sisters. The opening episode presents a stage play where one sister must shoot the other character, but she hesitates to do so. This moment hints at a potentially similar climax, which indeed shares that connection, albeit with an unexpected twist. While it may seem like a spoiler, there's much more to discover.

The cinematographer has done an exceptional job with the visual composition. Many scenes showcase a deliberate use of shadow and limited lighting in the interiors, yet the visuals remain striking. The pinnacle of the technical team's achievements unfolds in the final episode.

I find common ground with many viewers regarding the standout moment: the revelation of the true ghost.

IMO, Karuvanam is a best horror watch many years after 'Eeram'.

There is one happy and sad thing about 'KARUVANAM' web series. The sadness is that such a brilliant work gets stuck to just YouTube, and it would have been a world famous hit, if it was streamed on giant platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime or Hotstar. The happiest thing lies beneath the reason I cited above. Yes, it's a scintillating web series that makes you feel worthy of watching the entire show without skipping any episodes. The writing is good and I felt that a slight tweaking would have made it much more impactful. But end of the show, the way, writers justify their reason behind taking time to establish the premise and giving importance to all characters, is a sheer brilliance. One of the best web series of 2024, and it's surprising that it comes from other part of the world, and not Tamil Nadu. Such web series should be extolled and made sure that the producers take a note of the ambitious drive of this team, and try to bring on more instalments from this franchise.

Karuvanam strives to compete with the International 'Horror' genre, and manages to keep it standards on par with those acclaimed works on global platform. The characterisations are neatly written, and the way, the actors have inhaled the qualities, thereby delivering promising performances is appreciable. The first four episodes keeps us glued to the screens, and yes, the middle episodes go back in time to establish what's the actual mystery existing inside the house. But it's 'BOOM' moment from the Episode 9, especially, where an unexpected character turns out to be the 'Ghost' hunting down the victims. That's a spoiler, you would never like to reveal. Special mention to Sound Mixing and Background score. I loved the character of 'exorcist' who comes after 7th episode. His appearance is limited, but he just eclipses other actors with his realistic performance.