Kishkindhapuri Movie Review: A Chilling Horror Thriller with Moderate Impact
Introduction
Kishkindhapuri, a Telugu horror thriller, hit the screens on September 12, 2025. Featuring Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas and Anupama Parameswaran in the lead, the film also stars Tanikella Bharani, Srikanth Iyenger, Hyper Aadi, Makrand Deshpande, and Sudarshan in pivotal roles. Directed by Koushik Pegallapati and produced by Sahu Garapati, the technical team includes Chaitan Bharadwaj (music), Chinmay Salaskar (cinematography), and Niranjan Devaramane (editing).
Story
The plot revolves around Raghav (Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas) and Mythili (Anupama Parameswaran), who work for a company that conducts ghost-themed walking tours in the mysterious town of Kishkindhapuri. During a tour at the abandoned Suvarnamaya radio station, an old radio unexpectedly comes to life, spreading terror. Soon, mysterious deaths begin haunting those who entered the station. Determined to stop the evil, Raghav and Mythili dig deep into the station’s secrets to confront the supernatural menace.
Actors’ Performance
Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas delivers a commendable performance, showing growth in handling both intense and emotional moments. Anupama Parameswaran impresses in crucial sequences—especially her hospital scene—adding emotional weight. Makrand Deshpande makes a strong impact as the antagonist. Veterans like Tanikella Bharani and Srikanth Iyenger offer solid support, while Hyper Aadi and Sudarshan bring light moments, though some characters feel underutilized.
Technical Aspects
The film scores high technically. Chaitan Bharadwaj’s background score, paired with Radhakrishna’s sound design, effectively sets a spooky atmosphere. Chinmay Salaskar’s visuals elevate the eerie tone, while Niranjan Devaramane’s sharp editing ensures a crisp flow. The production design by Manisha Dutt and art direction by Siva Kamesh give authenticity to the haunted settings, enhancing the immersive feel.
Highlights
- Strong horror atmosphere and chilling setup
- Well-crafted jump scares with engaging twists
- Convincing lead performances
- Fresh ghost-tour concept rarely explored in Telugu cinema
- Tight focus on horror without excessive diversions
Drawbacks
- The storyline becomes predictable in the latter half
- Emotional depth feels rushed, reducing impact
- Some supporting roles lack development
- The opening and climax sequences feel underwhelming
- Certain narrative threads wrap up too quickly
Analysis
Kishkindhapuri is an earnest attempt at delivering genre-driven horror. While it succeeds in creating a creepy setting and offers a few memorable scares, it doesn’t fully deliver due to predictable storytelling and limited emotional engagement. The ghost-walk concept, effective flashbacks, and strong technical work stand out, but the narrative lacks the dramatic weight needed to make it a truly haunting experience.
Verdict
On the whole, Kishkindhapuri is a decent horror thriller with engaging atmosphere, committed performances, and flashes of brilliance in execution. It remains watchable for fans of the horror genre, though its shortcomings in emotional depth and narrative strength prevent it from achieving greatness.
Rating
2.5/5
