The unique combination of horror and historical elements is rarely seen in Tamil cinema, but Aghatiya is a bold attempt in this direction. The film released in 2025 and thrilled the audience with a unique story. Written and directed by renowned director Pa. Vijay, the film is a historical horror thriller that intertwines the past and the present in a thrilling manner. Jeeva plays a double role in this film, as a struggling art director Aghathiyan and a freedom fighter Nanjilan. He is accompanied by Arjun Sarja as a Siddha doctor and Raashi Khanna as his fiancée Veena in the lead roles. The story of the film revolves around a mysterious mansion and the secrets hidden in it from the 1940s.
The film is also technically strong thanks to Yuvan Shankar Raja’s brilliant music, Deepak Kumar Padhi’s gorgeous cinematography and San Lokesh’s impressive editing. Aghatiya is not just full of horror and suspense, but it also reveals historical truths, which makes it worth watching.
The story of the Aghathiya movie revolves around a young art director Aghathiyan (Jeeva) and his fiancée Veena (Raashi Khanna) who get trapped in an old French mansion. The mansion is located in Puducherry and holds many secrets of the past.
Aghathiyan rents the mansion for his first film, but the shooting of the film remains incomplete. He, along with his childhood friend Veena, decides to convert it into a “haunted house” attraction. Everything is going well, but suddenly they find an antique piano and an 8mm film roll, which records the story of Siddharthan (Arjun Sarja), a Siddha doctor from the 1940s. Through the course of the film, they learn that during the British rule, a ruthless governor Edwin Dupleix (Edward Sonnenblick) betrayed Siddharthan and stole his valuable medicinal discoveries. Meanwhile, Veena is possessed by the spirit of Jacqueline (Edwin’s sister), and mysterious events begin to increase in the mansion.
Agathiyan discovers that he has been blessed with a divine power since his birth, which allows him to counter this ghostly force. Finally, the spirits of Siddharthan and freedom fighter Nanjilan (who was Agathiyan’s past life) join together and succeed in defeating Edwin’s evil spirit.
The film ends with Agathiyan’s mother recovering and revealing age-old secrets.
Movie Review
Aghathiya: A brilliant horror-mystery drama
Aghathiya, a film that blends elements of horror and mystery in Tamil cinema, offers a unique cinematic experience. The film presents the mythological tale with a strong screenplay and engaging visuals, taking the audience to a different world altogether.
Story and Presentation The story of the film revolves around a film production designer named Aghathiya (Jeeva) who rents an old mansion to shoot his film. But soon he realises that the place is haunted by some mysterious power. As he tries to unravel the mystery behind it, the story takes interesting turns. The film brilliantly weaves romance, torture, humour, betrayal, horror and family emotions, keeping the audience hooked throughout the film.
Pa. Vijay has brought this brilliant idea to the big screen and has left no loose ends in the story. He has presented the ancient culture of our country, the pre-independence era and the legacy of the ancestors through a powerful flashback. This flashback matches the story perfectly and gives the film a historical depth.
Acting and Performances The film features brilliant performances from Jeeva, Arjun Sarja, Shah Ra, Radha Ravi, Raashi Khanna and Matilda. Jeeva plays a curious and determined character as Agathiya, who drives the story forward. Arjun Sarja plays an impressive role as a Siddha doctor, which adds to the mystery of the story. Raashi Khanna and Matilda also bring life to their characters, which maintains the perfect balance of horror and emotional elements in the film.
Technical aspects and direction The technical aspects of the film are quite strong. DOP Deepak Kumar and editor Sun Lokesh have made this mystery drama even more impressive. Their camera shots and editing have presented the suspense and horror theme of the film in a great way. The colorist, VFX team and art department have also effectively carved out the horror atmosphere of the film, giving the audience an authentic haunted mansion experience.
Pa. Vijay’s direction is the strongest link of this film. He has crafted every scene thoughtfully and has taken the story forward at a precise pace to maintain the thrill. Every element of the story—be it romance, family emotions, or horror—is kept in a perfect proportion, making the film not only scary but also successful in connecting the audience emotionally.
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
Aghathiya is a brilliant horror-mystery film that offers the audience a cinematic experience full of suspense and thrill. The story, direction and technical aspects of the film are excellent, making it an impressive horror entertainer. The brilliant performances of Jeeva, Arjun Sarja and Raashi Khanna along with the excellent cinematography and VFX make the film even more attractive. The perfect balance of thrill, scare and emotional aspects makes it special. If you are a fan of horror and suspense stories, then Agathiya is a great choice for you. This film succeeds in keeping the audience completely engaged.
