Starring: Bharath, Vani Bhojan, K.S. Ravikumar, Meerakrishnan, Rajkumar, Kaavya Arivumani
Director: M. Sakthivel
Producer: C.H. Sathish Kumar
Music Director: Prasad S.N.
Cinematographer: Suresh Bala
Editor: Kalaivanan R.
Related Links: Trailer
The Telugu-dubbed version of the Tamil film Miral (2022), featuring ‘Premisthe’ Bharath and Vani Bhojan in lead roles, has hit theaters today. Here’s our review.
Story:
Rama (Vani Bhojan) is tormented by nightmares involving her husband, Hari (Bharath), who narrowly survives a workplace accident. Following her mother’s advice, Rama and Hari visit her hometown to perform rituals intended to ward off bad omens. However, on the night of the ritual, Hari must urgently return to the city. As they travel back, the family experiences bizarre events reminiscent of an incident from ten years ago in the village. What transpired in the past? Will Hari and his family make it back safely? The answers unfold on the big screen.
Plus Points:
Bharath stands out with his strong performance, particularly in the intense quest scenes of the second half, where he effectively conveys a range of emotions. Vani Bhojan delivers a decent performance, and the supporting cast is competent. The cinematography by Suresh Bala creates some thrilling moments.
Minus Points:
The film’s main plot is revealed only in the last 15 minutes, making the rest of the movie feel overly prolonged and tiresome. Despite having potential, the weak screenplay results in a dull experience, with scenes intended to be scary failing to induce fear. The Telugu dubbing is notably poor, with grating voice work for characters from Bharath to K.S. Ravi Kumar to Master Ankit. Several characters seem unnecessary and add little to the narrative.
Technical Aspects:
As both writer and director, M. Sakthivel falls short of delivering an engaging horror thriller. The film lacks the necessary twists and suspense to keep viewers hooked until the end. S.N. Prasad’s musical score is average, while Suresh Bala’s cinematography is decent. Editing by R. Kalaivanan is also just average. The absence of songs and a shorter runtime are the film’s only saving graces.
Verdict:
Overall, Miral fails to captivate and ends up being a tedious watch. Despite Bharath’s commendable performance, the unengaging story, weak screenplay, and poor dubbing make it difficult to recommend. It’s better to explore other entertainment options.