Mangalavaaram (2023)

Director Ajay Bhupathi, best known for his daring debut film RX 100 (2017), which won both critical acclaim and box office success, is all set to reunite with Payal Rajput for his upcoming project, Mangalavaram. Billed as ‘bold as never seen before’ cinema, the collaboration has generated anticipation.

The story begins in the village of Maha Lakshmi Puram, initially depicting an innocent friendship between young children Shailaja and Ravi. However, their relationship breaks due to an accident, and Shailja is left alone after a tragic incident at home.

Movie Storyline

The story moves forward 15 years, depicting a transformed village now inhabited by people engaged in opportunistic relationships and meddling in the affairs of others. Kasi Raju (Ajay Ghosh) and Puli Gaadu (Meesala Lakshman) serve as narrators, offering constant commentary on the dynamics of the village.

Despite the decline in his financial resources, Prakasam Babu (Chaitanya Krishna) dominates as the landlord. His wife, Lakshmi (Divya Pillai), is devout and philanthropic, managing the household affairs, leading to frequent fights due to the landlord’s atheism.

As vivid characters weave through the canvas of Maha Lakshmi Puram, the story unfolds to reveal mysterious wall writings, exposing the illicit relations hidden within the community. These revelations lead to the untimely deaths of those exposed, leaving a cloud of uncertainty—were these suicides or murders? Suspicions point in different directions, deepening the mystery. The newly appointed Sub Inspector (Nandita Shweta) firmly believes that these are murders and works diligently to uncover the truth.

Mangalavaram promises to be a cinematic venture that explores bold themes and uncharted territories, building on the unique storytelling style established by Ajay Bhupathi in his earlier works.

The film highlights the complexities of societal double standards and hypocrisy regarding immoral sexual relations. Ajay Bhupathi juxtaposes these social norms with the struggles of a sexually deviant character. However, the ambitious endeavor to highlight social contradictions somewhat weakens the primary narrative.

Open display of sexuality, especially in a woman, faces criticism in Indian society, particularly in a traditional village like Maha Lakshmi Puram.

Starcast Performance

Ajay Bhupathi, who explored bold themes in his previous film RX 100, aspires to push the boundaries in Mangalavaram, but the ambitious endeavor dilutes the core message.

Despite the film’s narrative challenges, Ajay Bhupathi is adept at crafting a world rich with diverse and interesting characters. Artists like Ajay Ghosh, Meesala Laxman, Chaitanya Krishna, Divya Pillai, Ravindra Banerjee, Nandita Swetha, and Payal Rajput gave stellar performances.

Dashradhi Shivendra’s cinematography, especially in the night sequences, is complemented by Ajneesh Loknath’s captivating musical score. The film maintains top-notch production standards, delivering a visually and aurally intense experience despite the narrative complexities.

The depiction of Shailaja’s sexual awakening and desires, metaphorically conveyed through butterflies, effectively conveys her emotions. However, the introduction of sadomasochistic elements, such as the use of rubber bands, generated mixed reactions.

The contrast between the sexually liberated Shailaja and the innocent child introduced at the beginning of the film makes a stark difference, which makes it challenging to fully understand her character.

Positive outlook of this movie

Mangalavaram comes across as an ambitious film that delves into the intricacies of the world it creates. With an A certification, this is undoubtedly an adult-oriented film, not suitable for children or casual home viewing. The film boldly explores the sexual identity of men and women in society, contributing to an important discussion.

Ajay Bhupathi deserves praise for choosing such a bold and thought-provoking subject, even if the film gets lost in the complexities of the narrative jungle it has created.

Direction and Production

On a positive note, Ajaneesh Loknath’s background music makes a significant impact, effectively creating the right ambiance for the film.

Dasharadhi Sivendra’s cinematography captures the rustic village setting well, although the editing by Madhava Kumar Gullapalli could have been more polished in the first half. Situational songs, satisfactory dialogues, and commendable production values collectively contribute to the technical aspects of the film.

Payal Rajput deserves praise for her portrayal of a nymphomaniac character, displaying perfect emotions, expressions, and impressive screen presence.

Despite his role coming to the fore at the end of the first half, Chaitanya Krishna steals the show in the second, elevating the film with his natural and realistic performance.

Chaitanya Krishna displays commendable intensity in his role as a landlord, showcasing impressive body language and screen presence.

Nandita Shwetha gives a strong performance as a determined police officer, and the supporting cast including Ravindra Vijay, Divya Pillai, Ajay Ghosh, and Sritej contribute their efforts in varying degrees.

Yomovies Conclusion

Mangalavaram, despite initial hopes of presenting a captivating blend of horror and thrilling elements, fails and leans more towards a traditional murder mystery.

Ajay Bhupathi’s attempt to highlight the novel concept of nymphomaniac syndrome gets somewhat hampered by the routine aspects of the story.

The overall execution, including story, screenplay, and direction, is considered average. It becomes clear that the film would have benefited from including more thrilling and scary elements to increase its impact and connect more strongly with the audience.

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