Story
Raghav (Sreenivas Bellamkonda) and Mythili (Anupama Parameswaran) are live-in partners residing in Kishkindhapuri. They work at a travel agency that offers ghost-themed experiences - usually staged setups designed to thrill visitors. However, things take a dark turn when they unknowingly organize a tour to an old, abandoned mansion that once operated as a radio station named “Suvarnamaya” 35 years ago. What begins as a routine spooky tour soon turns real, as eerie and terrifying events unfold. Members of the group that entered the mansion - eleven in total - start dying one after another under mysterious circumstances. Raghav takes it upon himself to uncover the truth behind the haunting and stop the killings. The rest of the story follows his journey to solve the mystery and save the remaining survivors.

Artists Performance

Bellamkonda Sreenivas delivers a committed performance, working hard to embody a primal edge despite his character’s modern mindset - and he pulls it off quite well. Anupama Parameswaran goes beyond being just the charming female lead and brings a pleasant surprise. However, it’s Sandy Master who steals the show in a key role. His portrayal carries an unsettling aura and a strong sense of negative energy that fits the character perfectly. Interestingly, he also played a negative role recently in the Malayalam film Lokah (Kotha Lokah in Telugu). The child actor who plays his younger version also delivers a standout performance. Hyper Aadhi is entertaining as a regular tour participant, though he disappears from the narrative in the latter half. Sudarshan makes a notable contribution as part of the tour operator team, adding to the film’s comedic and narrative flow. Bhadram and Shrikanth Bharath make good contributions, while Tanikella Bharani plays an important role with his usual depth. Prema is excellent as the mother, bringing emotional weight to her character.

Story - screenplay - direction: Director Koushik Pegallapati does a commendable job in building the world of Kishkindhapuri. The core idea - a haunted radio station as the central setting—is fresh and intriguing. He wastes no time in establishing the eerie tone by opening the film with the mysterious killings that led to the downfall of Suvarnamaya radio station. The first half is engaging, with a well-paced screenplay that gradually builds suspense, culminating in the intriguing reveal of the ghost at the interval. Koushik effectively uses camera work and sound design to create a tense and unsettling atmosphere within the theatre. Since the antagonist is revealed by the midpoint, the second half shifts focus to his backstory and motivations. Here, the director plays with the narrative structure a bit to keep the audience guessing. However, once the ghost element is revealed midway, the second half needed a much stronger and more innovative narrative to sustain the intrigue. Unfortunately, as the film nears its climax, it slips into familiar territory, lacking the chills and freshness that the first half offered. A delayed ghost reveal in the latter part could have enhanced the impact. The Thailand duet at the beginning disrupts the flow of the story, as do some of the fight sequences, though they seem tailored to cater to Bellamkonda Sreenivas’s image and his Hindi YouTube/OTT audience. Despite these bumps, Kishkindhapuri is a decent effort from Koushik Pegallapati, who succeeds in delivering genuinely thrilling and spooky moments in the first half, making for an engaging theatrical experience.

Other departments: Chaitan Bharadwaj’s background score is excellent, enhancing the fear factor in an organic and immersive way. The mother song stands out for its emotional impact - well-composed, well-written, and soulfully rendered. Cinematographer Chinmay Salaskar delivers impressive work, relying heavily on handheld camera movements to heighten the sense of unease. His visuals strongly contribute to the film’s suspenseful atmosphere. Manisha A. Dutt’s production design and D. Siva Kamesh’s art direction deserve special mention. Since the haunted radio station is set in 1989, they’ve authentically recreated the era with period-accurate radios, props, and set design. Even the tour van and the hero’s car have a distinct, fitting look. Editing by Niranjan Devaramane is crisp, maintaining the film’s tension throughout. The VFX is well-executed, and the overall production values from Shine Screens (Sahu Garapati) are top-notch, lending the film an unsettling, cinematic feel.

Analysis: Horror thrillers are often a go-to genre for new filmmakers and low-budget producers, as they can be shot in limited locations and are relatively cost-effective. However, director Koushik takes a different route with Kishkindhapuri by crafting a more expansive narrative that unfolds across multiple villages and locations. The film is backed by a good budget, which reflects in its production quality and visual appeal. The first half is highly engaging, setting up the premise and atmosphere effectively. The second half is fairly decent, though not as gripping. If you're a fan of horror films and are looking for something with a fresh setting and unique mood, Kishkindhapuri is worth checking out.