Ooru Peru Bhairavakona

Ooru Peru Bhairavakona goes wrong in many aspects. The first and foremost thing is the love track upon which the entire movie revolves. There are not enough scenes between Sundeep Kishan and Varsha Bollamma, making it tough to connect to their emotion. The key scene/twist reveal in the second half featuring the lead pair should have been emotional and shocking, but the presentation here made it inconsequential. There are two chartbuster songs, but they don't add much value to the proceedings due to their placement.

Multiple genres are incorporated into the film, but enough justice isn't done regarding execution. From the opening scene, the director tried to project that there was some mystery behind Bhairavakona, but the suspense was not built properly. The stakes were never high, so we would hardly be interested in knowing the enigma surrounding Bhairavakona.

The fun moments in the first half are passable, but the actual story is brought in during the halfway mark. The interval episode is neat, but as the staging of scenes and world-building aren't done well, the impact is minimal. There are no high moments or thrills in both the halves. There are some really good, fun moments, but the movie somewhat disappoints on the whole due to a lack of emotional depth and flat narration.

Everything regarding the second half looks very rushed, and one would get a feeling that the movie ended abruptly. The heroine's backstory is a beaten-to-death concept, and the makers tried to blend it with fantasy, comedy, horror, and suspense elements, but these elements look somewhat contrived.

Basava (Sundeep Kishan) is a stunt double who is also a petty thief. He is in love with Bhoomi (Varsha Bollamma). Basava along with his friend John, steals bridal jewellery during a wedding and escapes in a stolen vehicle. On the way, they come across Agraharam Geetha (Kavya Thapar), who pretends to be met with an accident and they try to save her. Escaping the police, they enter a mysterious village Bhairavakona. As they face paranormal experiences, they try to uncover the mystery i.e. Bhairavakona and it's residents. Why Basava chose to steal the jewellery and what is the story of Bhoomi, forms rest of the story.

VI Anand definitely gets the first half right with a decent blend of mystery and humor. The non-linear narrative too tries to work in the film's favor. As the first tries to keep the mystery alive and build the Basava - Bhoomi story, the pre-interval scenes make the right impact. It is the second half that largely suffers from the writing. The entire sub-plot involving Rajappa (Ravishankar) is underwritten. Adding to that, the love story of Basava - Bhoomi lacks the emotional impact it aims for and in the end, the proceedings look all too convenient. Despite decent performances and narrative pace, the second half doesn't match the first half.

Ooru Peru Bhairavakona is a visually-striking film that blends fantasy, romance, and a dash of horror.

The idea of a hidden town, Bhairavakona, fueled by folklore and the Garuda Purana, is interesting. The initial mystery around the stolen jewelry and Basava's (Sundeep Kishan) backstory keeps you hooked. The film has its share of funny moments, and the lead cast delivers decent performances. Sundeep Kishan and Harsha Chemudu have good comic timing.

The second half falters. The Rajappa subplot feels underdeveloped, the love story lacks emotional depth, and the ending feels rushed. The rich folklore and fantasy elements are introduced but not deeply explored, leaving a sense of missed opportunity. The film juggles fantasy, comedy, and horror, but the transitions can feel awkward at times.

The cinematography is a highlight, with beautiful visuals that bring Bhairavakona to life. The songs by Shekar Chandra are pleasant but might feel slightly out of place due to the narrative issues.

Ooru Peru Bhairavakona has a promising premise but doesn't quite deliver on its full potential. The first half is engaging, but the second half falters with a weak plot and underdeveloped characters. Still, the film's visuals and some fun moments make it a watchable one-time watch, especially for fans of fantasy and light-hearted adventures.

A fantasy drama set in a village has become quite a trend in so called pan Indian South Indian cinema, especially in Telugu films. This wave started with movies like Karthikeya 2, Hanuman, and Kantara, which churned out big numbers. However, simply trying to capitalize on the trend often fails, and that's exactly what happened with this one.

The story follows a thief who, after a major robbery, escapes from the police and ends up in a village called Bhairavakona. Little did they know, the village is haunted by ghostly inhabitants, leaving them with no way back home. Moreover, the village holds a mysterious connection to the thief's past and love life.

This is a movie that makes no sense in any way. Even if you go in expecting a no-brainer, you'll find yourself in disbelief, wondering how such scripts get approved for production. With caricature-like characters and an absurd storyline, the film neither scares nor amuses. Even the so-called comedy feels like mockery.

Sundeep Kishan, despite being given a weirdly written character, holds his ground, making the film barely tolerable. Viva Harsha as his friend fails to deliver either comedy or impactful acting. Kavya Thapar's performance was amateurish, though Varsha Bollamma fares slightly better. Among the supporting cast, only Vennela Kishore stands out with his good comic timing. The rest either overact or seem to have forgotten how to act.

The screenplay is the biggest flaw here. It doesn't fit into any genre-be it horror, comedy, or fantasy. Logic takes a backseat, and you're expected not to question anything that unfolds on screen. Director VI Anand seems confused in his vision and should work on refining his craft.

Movies like this should only be watched when you're in the mood to watch just anything. It's not so bad that it'll give you a headache, but it's far from engaging.

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The film presents a promising story but falls short in its execution. The screenplay struggles, leading to a narrative that often feels uninspired and lackluster, although it does have its moments with a very few standout scenes. Unfortunately, the dialogue fails to elevate the material, lacking depth and impact.

Musically, the film manages to deliver two nice songs.

Sandeep Kishan delivers a commendable performance, consistent with his reputation for solid acting. Varsha Bollamma shines in her role, Kavya Thapar adds a spark to the film with her presence. Kishore and Harsha are fun.

The supporting cast turns in acceptable performances, doing what they can with the material provided. The cinematography is competent, offering some visual appeal, though the film's VFX elements do not meet the same standard, detracting from the overall experience.

While it may not justify the price of a movie ticket, the film could be an option for streaming on OTT platforms for those who find the premise intriguing enough to overlook its shortcomings.