Chandrakala Review

Behind the Movie Chandrakala: This is dubbed version to Tamil film Aran Manai. There are three beautiful babpes Hansika Motwani, Andrea Jeremiah and Lakshmi Rai as main attraction. Directed by Sundar C, let us see how far this flick will be able to scare us?

In the Movie Chandrakala: Story begins with introduction to an old palace put for sale and joint owners of a family arriving to complete the formalities. During nights, some shocking incidents are witnessed inside this bungalow. However, the family of Eshwari (Kovai Sarala, Manobala), her brother’s daughter Maya (Lakshmi Rai) and one more newly married couple of Murali (Vinay) and Madhavi (Andrea) enter into the palatial house. Later comes in Madhavi’s advocate brother Ravi (C Sundar). Once strange happenings fall in eye of Ravi, he begins the investigation to find that none other than his sister Madhavi is impersonated with evil spirit of Chandrakala (Hansika). Who is Chandrakala? How is she related to Murali? What is her flashback and what is she expecting?

Values & Out of the Movie Chandrakala: There are many horror films released in last few years with inspiration of ‘Chandramukhi.’ Definitely, director C Sundar cooked this horror-comedy with same inspiration. There is not even iota of novelty either in story, scripting or direction. Everything is predictable even by a novice movie lover. The intention of C Sundar was only to offer chills and he has joined over-and-above stuff which isn’t connected to main line. Picking three hot heroines says the exact purpose of director. Spooky episodes here are a complete regular boring stuff seen and seen in innumerable past films. Till the time exact identity of evil Chandrakala spirit wasn’t revealed, it was bearable. Once the lock is opened, there is nothing that goes beyond your minimal common sense. Cinematography of Senthil Kumar is bright and illuminating. VFX were also of decent standards. Srikanth’s editing is a mediocre work. Music by Karthik Raja offered nothing new. Dialogues were out of sync clearly showing the sub standard work. Rest is the good production values of CK Entertainments Pvt. Ltd appreciable.

Performance wise, Hansika is in title role and she comes only in second half. When story pivoted centrally on Hansika, her screen time should have been little higher. As usual, Hansika has done a honest job. Andrea Jeremiah outshined the rest during climax. Lakshmi Rai is just meant to serve a skin show feast. C Sundar is the real hero here. His character is possessed with all those heroic fights and investigative masala. Santhanam’s comedy is tame. Romantic episodes on Manobala, Kovai Sarala are of pure Aravam tinge. Kota Srinivas Rao comes only in starting and closing parts. 

‘Chandrakala’ is a total formula movie made with time tested story. A family enters into old palace and gets haunted by evil soul. The evil soul has a purpose of flashback. To complete the revenge, this soul takes help of a physical body from this family. This is spick and span. I do not know whether Tamil version is a hit or flop but for Telugu viewers this is a disappointment. If you have enjoyed films like ‘Muni, Chandramukhi’ or recently released ‘The End,’ this is a no match. 

Cinejosh Verdict of Chandrakala: Nothing Good.

                                                      Cinejosh Rating: 2.25/5

                                                                                              Reviewed by Srivaas