Saahas Pagadala, who had gained decent popularity with his recent outing 7: 11 PM, is back in action, both on screen, with his latest release - Dhimahi. In addition to his lead role, he has co-directed the film alongside Naveen Kante and produced it with Virat Kapur. The film released in theatres today, and now it's time to see how it performs at the box office and if the film resonates with the audience.
Plot
Dhimahi is set in Australia and revolves around a happy Indian family. Jaidev and Mythri are parents to a visually challenged girl named Mahi, who is a budding musician. She is also quite close to her uncle Karthik, a medical professional. One day, Mahi goes missing, and even after weeks of searching, her family struggles to find her. Karthik takes charge of the situation to uncover the truth. What follows forms the crux of the story.
Performances and Technical Aspects
Saahas Pagadala excels in his role, and Nikhita Chopra is fantastic. Virat Kapur, Sreejith Gangadharan, and Ashika Pagadala deliver solid performances. On the technical side, both the cinematography and music complement the film's atmosphere and serve their purpose. The rest of the departments manage to do their jobs just okay.
Analysis
The story of Dhimahi follows a familiar theme - a protagonist standing up for a family member and going to great lengths to reconnect and seek vengeance. Before focusing on the family, the thriller starts with a chilling folklore about the Perumal clan, an ancient practice of communicating with the deceased and a sacred text describing its rituals.
Dhimahi attempts to blend ancient beliefs with a scientific foundation through an emotional tale that pushes the protagonist to risk his life for his loved ones. Nidhi, Karthik's romantic interest, is cleverly integrated into the story. The post-intermission twists add urgency to the plot, and the raw action sequences and supernatural elements are intriguing.
While the first half focuses on the family's trauma after Mahi's disappearance, the second half digs into the antagonist's motives, the conflicts affecting Karthik's life, and a resolution. A screenplay-driven film like Dhimahi could have done without songs for a stronger impact.
The explanation of the scientific aspects could have been clearer. The film's most interesting segments revolve around how the protagonist navigates the world of the unknown. For thriller enthusiasts, "Dhimahi" offers something new and presents an unconventional narrative in an easily understandable format.
Verdict
Despite its shorter run-time, sharp writing, and strong performances, Dhimahi could have left a more significant impact in terms of direction. Nevertheless, the film is worth watching for its unique approach to an abstract theme using cinematic creativity.
