Shanmukha Review: Aadi Saikumar's film is high on thrills but low on drama

2.5/5

Shanmukha Story

The film begins with several young women mysteriously disappearing, while their boyfriends are also being killed under strange circumstances. Sara (Avika Gor), an investigative journalist, starts looking into the case. After some time, SI Karthik (Aadi Saikumar) joins the investigation, and together they uncover a shocking truth—a deranged man with a deformed face and six heads is behind the kidnappings. The rest of the story follows Sara and Karthik as they continue their investigation and work to expose the criminal.

Shanmukha Review

Shanmukha was written and directed by Shanmugam Sappani. He has chosen a very intriguing story and set it against an impressive backdrop. However, the sad part is that the presentation feels half-baked. While there are glimpses of brilliance in the film, they are overshadowed by some poorly executed scenes that bore the audience.

The concept of a person with seven heads, his backstory, and the crime angle are all well-established in the first half. The interval twist and how key revelations unfold are also quite engaging. However, one of the film’s biggest drawbacks is its screenplay. Director Shanmugam attempts to add layers of complexity with subplots and misleading sequences, but instead of enhancing the narrative, they end up confusing the audience.

While this technique might seem intriguing on paper, its execution leaves much to be desired. One gets the feeling that the screenplay didn’t need to be this convoluted—a simpler, more direct storytelling approach would have significantly improved the film. Unfortunately, that does not happen.

That being said, the investigation scenes featuring Aadi Sai Kumar are well-executed. His journey through a tangled web of crime and his relentless pursuit of the criminal deserve credit, as they are some of the film’s stronger moments. The production values are also commendable, adding to the overall thrill factor.

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Coming to the performances, Aadi Saikumar delivers yet another honest performance. Playing a cop, he commands a strong screen presence and handles his role with ease. His chemistry with Avika Gor is quite impressive, and together they make an effective team. Avika, who gets a significant role after a long gap, delivers a standout performance. 

Director Shanmugam gives her ample scope to showcase her talent, and she surprises the audience with her depth and screen presence. Aditya Om, who plays a key role, is also commendable. The rest of the cast does a decent job, though their characters lack depth.

On the technical front, the editing, especially in the second half, could have been much sharper. The pacing slows down considerably, making certain portions feel dragged out. As mentioned earlier, a more straightforward screenplay would have worked in the film’s favor. Director Shanmugam tries hard to bring novelty to his storytelling, and while he succeeds to an extent, the execution falls short in places. The film needed more drama and a tighter screenplay to keep the audience thoroughly engaged.

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The dialogues are impressive, and the production design is equally strong. However, another major drawback is Ravi Basrur’s background score. Despite the film having a promising premise, his score fails to elevate the tension and excitement. His work stands out in only a few key moments but otherwise lacks impact. On the other hand, the cinematography is well done, capturing the eerie mood of the film effectively.

In the end, Shanmukha could have been a solid thriller if not for its excessive detailing and inconsistent pacing. The first half holds the audience’s attention with some gripping moments, but the narrative slows down in the latter half. Fortunately, the climax manages to bring things back on track, leaving the audience with a somewhat satisfying conclusion.

Shanmukha Verdict

On the whole, Shanmukha has a very interesting subject and decent thrills. But the confusing screenplay in the second half makes things a bit dull for the audience. If you love cop thrillers, give this film a shot but keep your expectations in check.

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