What’s it about?
Raghav (Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas) and Mythili (Anupama Parameswaran) run ghost-walking tours in the enigmatic town of Kishkindhapuri. Their business thrives on offering thrill-seekers spooky, staged experiences until one peculiar customer (Hyper Aadi) insists on visiting a genuinely haunted location.
This leads them to the long-abandoned Suvarnamaya Radio Station. The adventure soon takes a sinister turn when two of their visitors mysteriously die shortly after the visit, and a chilling, malevolent presence with an unsettling female voice begins to manifest.
Realizing that a genuine ghost is at play, Raghav and Mythili embark on a desperate quest to uncover the identity of the ghost, Viswaputra. What is the true story behind the Suvarnamaya Radio Station and what compels Viswaputra’s vengeful rampage?
Analysis
“Kishkindhapuri” opens on a rather strange note, with monkeys attacking a child and Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas heroically saving the child, followed by rescuing a baby monkey from a fire. As a result, he receives a bracelet embossed with Lord Sriram’s symbol. This introductory sequence, as the film’s attempt to integrate a devotional thread, appears more like a strategy to follow current trends. The setting of Kishkindhapuri, an imaginary village teeming with monkeys, does little to justify this angle.
It takes almost 45 minutes for the film to find its footing. After a customary action introduction, a romantic song, and Hyper Aadi’s comedic bits, the story finally arrives at its core when the plot shifts to the eerie Suvarnamaya Radio Station. It is here that the ghost and horror elements begin to unfold.
Director Koushik Pegallapati, who earlier helmed “Chaavu Kaburu Challaga,” attempts to set up suspense and drama from the midpoint. A couple of twists do manage to keep the audience moderately intrigued. The mystery around the ghost’s haunting holds attention for a while, but once the motive is revealed, predictability takes over. The film concludes by teasing a second part in a rather uninspired manner.
The concept of a ghost using a radio station to broadcast ominous news is somewhat fresh in the context of regional horror cinema, but the overall execution suffers due to generic motives and easily foreseeable scenes. Nevertheless, “Kishkindhapuri” does offer two standout episodes in the latter half that are well-executed and engaging, providing some relief.
Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas gives a decent performance in the final act, where he convincingly portrays two distinct shades of his character. In the remaining portions, he is routine. Anupama Parameswaran performs well in the crucial hospital episode. The actor portraying Viswaputra is effective in creating the right sense of menace. Other supporting actors deliver standard performances.
Technically, the film’s strongest assets are its music and sound design.
Chaitan Bharadwaj’s background score stands out, injecting life into otherwise generic sequences, while M. R. Rajakrishnan’s sound design helps amplify the eerie atmosphere effectively. The production design and cinematography are competent, matching the genre’s requirements but lacking in visual flair.
Where Kishkindhapuri falters is in its screenplay and dialogue writing, both of which feel routine.
Bottom-line: “Kishkindhapuri” offers a couple of engaging episodes in the latter half, supported by a solid sound. But it is just another generic horror drama that has regular and predictable horror sequences. Despite its routine plot and lack of novelty, the background score and sound design help the film. For Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas, the film provides a modest departure from mindless action fare.
Rating: 2.75/5
Movie: kishkindhapuri
Cast: Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, Anupama Parameswaran, Prema, Sudarshan, Hyper Aadi, Makarand Deshpande, Tanikella Bharani, and others
Music: Chaitan Bharadwaj
DOP: Chinmay Salaskar
Editor: Niranjan Devaramane
Production Designer: Manisha A. Dutt
Producer: Sahu Garapati
Written and Directed by: Koushik Pegallapati
Release Date: September 12, 2025
