“Shanmukh” Movie Review

“Shanmukh”, starring Aadi Saikumar and Avika Gor in lead roles, is a suspense-horror thriller directed by Shanmugam Sappani. The film features music by Ravi Basrur and has been released worldwide today. Let’s dive into the movie review to see how it fares.

Plot Summary

The story revolves around Shanmukh, a mystically deformed child born with six heads. In an attempt to transform him into a normal human, his father turns to occult rituals and tantric worship. According to tantric beliefs, if Shanmukh undergoes a blood sacrifice on a solar eclipse that falls on an Amavasya (new moon) night, he can become normal. However, for the ritual to work, the blood of six girls born under special astrological constellations is required.

Furthermore, if after this initial blood sacrifice, the blood of a girl born under a unique planetary alignment (called Kleemkara) is offered, Shanmukh will not only become handsome but also immortal. With this goal in mind, Shanmukh’s father kidnaps six girls born under the required astrological signs.

Meanwhile, Surya (Aadi Saikumar), a police officer, begins investigating the mysterious disappearances of these girls. How does Sara (Avika Gor) assist him in this case? Can Surya stop Shanmukh’s father before the final sacrifice? Will Shanmukh ever become a normal human? These questions form the crux of the movie.

Narrative & Technical Aspects

Director Shanmugam Sappani presents a unique concept, but the execution could have been handled with more depth. We often hear about rare and abnormal births, and the film builds its premise around such an event, incorporating astrology, planetary alignments, and occult rituals. While the father’s desperation to “cure” his son makes for an interesting plot point, harming others for personal gain is unacceptable to society, and the movie highlights this theme effectively.

However, certain scenes might make viewers wonder why the execution feels so simplistic. That aside, the film caters well to fans of horror and crime thrillers. The depiction of tantric rituals and black magic could have been more authentic and well-researched, which would have elevated the horror factor.

The romantic sequences between the lead pair provide some relief in this intense storyline, but they seem forced and unnecessary. The background score by Ravi Basrur could have been more impactful, and the production values are just decent. The cinematography is good, but the editing could have been sharper to enhance the film’s pacing.

Performance Review

• Aadi Saikumar delivers a decent performance as SI Surya.
• Avika Gor, returning to the big screen after a long time, looks glamorous and does justice to her role.
• The supporting cast performs well within their limited screen time.

Final Verdict

“Shanmukh” is a decent horror thriller with an intriguing premise, but its execution and screenplay could have been stronger. The occult theme and suspenseful elements make it an interesting watch, but some sequences feel underdeveloped.

Punchline: A thriller that delivers moments of suspense with decent horror.

Rating: 2.75/5