Despite an interesting plot and fascinating elements, 'Sabdham' ends up only as a partly engaging thriller that refuses to rise above mediocrity.
A poster of the film 'Sabdham'. (X)
Director Arivazhagan, who has a knack for dealing with unusual storylines, last helmed the web series Tamil Rockerz which was released in 2022.
His action drama Borrder, which had him teaming up with Arun Vijay for the third time, is yet to see the light of day. After multiple release date announcements and postponements, the movie has joined the list of long pending Kollywood projects.
However, his latest, titled Sabdham, has him joining hands with Aadhi with whom the filmmaker collaborated for his debut vehicle Eeram (2009).
Its trailer piqued the curiosity of film buffs owing to its peculiar genre and intriguing factor.
Sabdham starts with the mysterious death of a student in a medical college in Munnar leaving the institution in shock. The college faculty seeks the help of Ruben (Aadhi), a Mumbai-based paranormal investigator, to solve the puzzle behind the death.
Soon after he takes up the assignment, another student loses his life in a bizarre circumstance. His dedicated, but unusual research leads him to an incident involving the demise of several children that happened four decades ago.
As he attempts to unravel the connection between all the tragic deaths, he realizes that his inferences are just the tip of the iceberg.
Aadhi Pinishetty in ‘Sabdham’. (X)
The plot of Sabdham is established without wasting much time; the baffling death of a student leaves the viewers intrigued. The protagonist enters the scheme of things sooner and the proceedings are quick and to the point.
His approach towards the case and the investigation that follows keep us invested in the storytelling. The introduction of another character who is a faculty in the college helps the movie’s staging and fast-paced narration.
Arun Bathmanaban’s crisp visuals and Sabu Joseph’s slick editing style elevate the suspense-laden sequences. The background score enhances the eerie ambience in a few crucial episodes, though it goes loud at times.
A still for the film ‘Sabdham’. (X)
While the technical aspects deserve appreciation for keeping the audience glued to its mystic genre, the screenplay lacks emotional connection due to which the viewers lose interest in the plot after a certain point in the latter half.
Some of the scientific terms that are thrown at regular intervals sound interesting, but the complex ideas aren’t engagingly presented. A couple of significant characters who make appearances in the latter half are underwritten.
The revelation of an evil character towards the climax serves no purpose. The shallow characters let down the interesting plot and the convoluted screenplay rubs salt in the wound.
‘Sabdham’ is a thriller. (X)
Aadhi aptly fits into the shoes of a ghost investigator. His exciting histrionics provide the required ambiguity to the story.
The character’s curious nature helps the viewers to empathize with his actions. Lakshmi Menon’s character offers promise in the beginning but fizzles out in the long run.
Simran’s role, too, is expected to leave a lasting impact when it is introduced, but it is clearly underwritten. The likes of Rajiv Menon and Laila are introduced in a hurry and they don’t have much to do.
Redin Kingsley might have been brought on board to offer some relief in the serious film, but he has nothing worth doing. MS Bhaskar and Vivek Prasanna are wasted in small roles.
Sabdham is a clear case of style dominating substance. The film’s technical aspects stand out and impress us on many occasions.
However, the absence of a gripping screenplay and the lack of arresting performances dilute the interesting nature of the film. It ends up as a partly engaging thriller that refuses to rise above mediocrity.
(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)
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