Samantha’s Production Debut Delivers a Quirky Horror Comedy
Sarkar Rating: 2.5/5 Release Date : May 09, 2025
Cast
Harshith Reddy, Gavireddy Srinivas, Charan Peri, Samantha, Shriya Kontham, Shravani Lakshmi, Shalini Kondepudi, Vamshidhar Goud
Crew
Directors : Praveen Kandregula
Producers : Himank Duvvuru
Music Director : Shor Police (Songs), Vivek Sagar (Score)
Cinematographer : Mridul Sujit Sen
Editor : Dharmendra Kakarala
Samantha ventures into film production with Subham, a horror-comedy helmed by Cinema Bandi director Praveen Kandregula. Featuring mostly fresh faces, the film hit the screens today. Does it live up to expectations? Let’s find out.
Story:
Set in a quaint small town, Subham revolves around three men whose lives spiral into chaos when their wives begin getting possessed every night at 9 PM while watching a specific TV serial. With each passing day, the situation grows more bizarre. The trio tries various ways to stop the possessions, but all their efforts fail. The core mystery—why the serial is triggering these possessions and how they resolve the issue—forms the crux of the story.
Performances:
Harshith shines as Srinivas, bringing charm and natural flair to his role. Despite being a Telangana native, his effort to deliver dialogues in the Uttarandhra dialect deserves praise. Srinivas Gavireddy delivers big laughs with his excellent comic timing and expressive body language, particularly as a husband who silently endures his wife’s aggression.
Charan Peri, while competent, isn’t given enough to stand out. Among the female leads, Shalini Kondepudi steals the spotlight with her convincing portrayal of a possessed woman. Her performance feels authentic and impactful. Vamsidhar Goud provides comic relief with his effortless humor, and while Samantha makes only a brief appearance, her presence is passable.
Technical Aspects:
Vivek Sagar’s background score enhances the film significantly, especially with its nostalgic 90s touch in the opening scenes. The innovative Shore Police rap tracks inject freshness into an otherwise familiar storyline. Cinematography is functional, and the production design does a commendable job of recreating the early 2000s setting. Vasanth Maringanti’s writing hits home with satirical takes on TV serial addiction and the absurdities of daily soaps.
Analysis:
Subham taps into a story many households can relate to—especially those who lived through the golden era of television serials before OTT platforms took over. While Gen Z viewers might find it harder to connect, the premise will resonate strongly with older audiences.
Director Praveen Kandregula shows maturity in his storytelling. Though the first half feels slightly stretched in building up to the interval, the second half more than makes up for it, especially in its sensitive and smart take on feminism. The climax, where the fate of the haunted TV serial is addressed, strikes an emotional chord.
The clever nod to a “Praveen Kandregula Cinematic Universe” and the inclusion of the Cinema Bandi team as part of the narrative is a fun surprise for fans. Clocking in at just over two hours, the runtime works in the film’s favor. However, some scenes could’ve used tighter writing to avoid repetition.
Verdict:
With Subham, Samantha marks a promising start as a producer, while Praveen Kandregula cements his reputation with a unique blend of satire, horror, and heart. A few narrative missteps aside, Subham is a refreshing take on an age-old genre and worth a watch for its originality and humor.
Bottom Line: A quirky, passable horror-comedy with heart.
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