Telugu film ‘Kalinga’ is a suspense thriller, in which actor Dhruv Vayu has not only played the lead role but has also taken over the direction. The film has been produced by Deepthi Kondaveti and Prithvi Yadav. Releasing on 13 September 2024, the film is presented to the audience with a mix of mystery, horror and folklore.
The story revolves around a young man named Ling, who is loved by everyone in the village despite being an orphan. At the same time, a mysterious demon “Asur Bhakshi” is killing and eating innocent people in the village. An attempt has been made to show a combination of romance, mystery and fantasy in the film, but it falls into a routine format.
Though the main plot and some thriller sequences impress, the weak screenplay and slow pace make it difficult to keep the audience’s interest. Technically, the film has some good things – especially the cinematography and background score, which depict the atmosphere correctly.
Overall, ‘Kalinga’ is an average thriller that makes an impact at some places, but falls short due to the lack of a strong story and tightness.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Kalinga |
| Release Date | September 13, 2024 |
| Language | Telugu |
| Genre | Suspense Thriller |
| Director | Dhruva Vayu |
| Producers | Deepti Kondaveeti, Prithvi Yadav |
| Lead Cast | Dhruva Vayu, Pragya Nayan, Aadukalam Naren, Tanikella Bharani |
| Supporting Cast | Murali Dhar Goud, Lakshman Meesala, Preethi Sundar Kumar, Balagam Sanjay |
| Music Directors | Vishnu Shekhar, Anantha Narayanan A.G. |
| Cinematography | Akshay Ram Podishetti |
| Editor | Not Specified |
| Production Banner | Not Specified |
| Rating | 2.5/5 (123Telugu.com) |
Kalinga Story
The story of the film ‘Kalinga’ revolves around an orphan youth Linga (Dhruv Vayu) who lives in harmony with everyone in his village. He loves his childhood friend Paddu (Pragya Nayan) and both have true feelings for each other. But a strange threat looms over this peaceful village – a mysterious and terrifying power called “Asur Bhakshi”. This demon-like power kills innocent people and spreads terror in the village.
The village is ruled by a landlord (Aadukalam Naren) and his brother Bali (Balagam Sanjay), who oppress the villagers. Meanwhile, Linga has to take up the responsibility of finding out the truth about Asur Bhakshi and freeing the village from the curse. He has to go to a mysterious place from where no person has returned.
As the story progresses, Linga unravels many mysteries and eventually confronts Asur Bhakshi. The film is a mix of romance, mystery, horror and action. Will Ling be able to destroy the evil force? Will he be able to save the village and find his love? The climax of the film answers these questions.
Movie Review
The film ‘Kalinga’ is based on a mythological and thriller subject, but the way it is presented makes it a disappointing experience for the audience. The biggest failure of this film is that not only such great mythological concepts are presented in a wrong way, but they are also depicted with the help of ordinary animation and scenes without depth. The character of a goddess like Maa Pratyangira, which should have been presented with great reverence and dignity, is shown in a very simple and insulting manner.
The horrific character shown in the film seems to be a complete copy of the famous character ‘Gollum’ from ‘Lord of the Rings’. Not only this, the story of the film also revolves around a monster guarding a treasure, just like films like ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’. This shows the lack of originality.
Apart from that, the film has clear glimpses of Kantara – a rural jungle setting, greedy landlords, a drug addict hero, a rural lover, and mysterious events involving a deity. The only difference is that there is no logical thrill, no police intervention, and no scientific or mythological explanation for the supernatural events. While films like Kantara show effort in every frame, Kalinga’s cinematography and costumes are very weak. No serious effort has been made to depict the old-world background in the film.
The most regrettable aspect is that in this film, Goddess Pratyangira, who is mentioned with great respect in the Devi Purana, Vishnu Purana and Shiva Purana, has been presented through very superficial and technically weak animation. To associate a character who destroys and protects evil forces with scary and unclear CGI is not only an insult to religious sentiments but also an insult to the faith of the audience.
If you really want to know the greatness and power of Maa Pratyangira and other Puranic deities, it is better to study Devi Purana, Vishnu Purana, or Shiva Purana. The depth and respect with which these characters are described in those texts cannot be found in any modern film or animation.
In conclusion, this movie takes a great subject and presents it superficially. Reading classical texts instead of watching it would be a better and more informative option. Do not waste your time and emotions on this movie.
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
The film ‘Kalinga’ tries to be a mythological and suspense thriller but fails to impress the audience due to weak screenplay, inadequate CGI and incomplete story. The reverence and impact with which a divine character like Maa Pratyangira should have been portrayed is completely missing. The film lacks originality and many scenes have a resemblance to popular films. If you are interested in mythological subjects, this film may disappoint you. Overall, it is a mediocre film that is not a must-watch.