BOTTOM LINE
Struggles To ‘Deliver’
OUR RATING
2.25/5
CENSOR
•UA•
What Is the Film About?
Yashodha is an action thriller genre flick against the backdrop of surrogacy. Yashoda (Samantha) joins Eva hospital’s facility, which is known to provide world-class care to women opting for surrogacy. However, everything is not as good as it seems, and women keep disappearing one by one.
Did Yashoda uncover the mystery? Who is Madhu (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar)? And how different death inside and outside the hospital are connected forms the movie’s overall plot.
Performances
Samantha, who has been seen doing meaty roles for a long time, gets another women-centric film in Yashoda. A movie like this usually has moments that make the flick and the actor shine. However, that doesn’t happen with Yashoda.
Well, there is nothing to complain about, Samantha. And that’s where the problem lies. Yashoda is Samantha, as usual, doing everything we have seen her do before. While this in itself is not a problem as she does them as well as she can and the writing permits. It is the lack of memorable scenes or blocks to take home once we are out of cinemas where Yashoda fails. It is another movie in her repertoire, and that’s it.
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar plays another pivotal role in the movie. However, it is not as well developed as the lead and, more importantly, lacks the impact. She has a crucial flashback and some key moments which should elevate the proceedings, but they are underwhelming and don’t give the required elevation. A significant reason here is the class portrayal of the antagonist. She ends up looking ordinary, unlike her mass negative acts.
Analysis
Hari-Harish jointly directs Yashoda. It is an action thriller plot-wise, but the focus shifts more towards action as the movie progress rather than the other way around.
Yasodha starts on an exciting note introducing two different subplots via killings. One is instantly drawn into the narrative. However, things stagnate once the main plot involving Samantha is presented.
There is a visible shift in tone, and also the location plays a crucial role. The writing is bland, and the humour and character-building don’t work. Simultaneously, the ‘space’ where the proceedings take place generates a huge artificial vibe. The production design is good, but one can’t shake off the feeling of artificiality.
The combination of these various factors leads to a laboured narrative where the intriguing bits are small thriller elements. It all leads to an exciting pre-interval to interval stretch where one is genuinely hooked. A slight twist and the promise of what lies ahead, imagining the premise, raises curiosity.
However, all hopes come crashing the second half, albeit slowly and block by block. The two flashbacks and a twist are all okay on paper, but the screenplay lets it down on the big screen. Neither the antagonist’s backstory nor the big twist makes the desired impact. It is mainly about how they are shown instead of the execution. Revealing anything further will spoil it all together, but suffice it to say things fail when they have to leave one high.
Once the core theme, which is intriguing in parts with no doubts, is revealed along with the twist, the rest of the narrative moves like a proper commercial movie. Again, the setting and many characters and plots make the whole thing look clumsy and convoluted.
The hospital space is a critical element of the movie as much as the supporting cast. The entire action parts happen to be like a game moving from one level to another. It should also have been thrilling, but that is not felt due to the artificialness. The climax after all the trouble ends on a simple and silly note.
Overall, Yashoda has an intriguing premise mixing surrogacy and beauty. But, the narrative hardly offers the thrills and entirely misses impact-worth scenes. One might find things okay with very low expectations, but the bar here is really low.
Performances by Others Actors
Unni Mukundam appears in another crucial part. He is like a generic supporting actor seen in flicks that lacks any depth and presence but gets to be in vital parts. Rao Ramesh is in elements playing the bad politician. We have seen him do the same before, so the whole thing lacks any punch despite being good. Sampath, seen as an investigation officer, is sincere. Murali Sharma and others are adequate.
Music and Other Departments?
Mani Sharma provides the music and the background score. The songs are forgettable, but the background score is okay. It serves the purpose, and that’s it.
M Sukumar’s cinematography is neat. Marthand K Venkatesh’s editing is okay. Things come across as rushed in parts as it aggravates the sense of clumsiness. The writing could have been much better.
Highlights?
Core Plot Idea
Preinterval to Interval
Samatha’s Characterisation
Drawbacks?
Turns Routine Drama
No thrills or twists
Artificiality
Did I Enjoy It?
Few parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with huge reservations
Yashoda Telugu Movie Review by M9News
Final Report:
Yashoda’s second half moves on to routine action drama after a final predictable twist. Samantha is alright, doing action and emotion. Finally, Yashoda is an okay watch with limited expectations.
— Yashoda second half started with the flashback episode of Madhu (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar).
First Half Report:
Yashoda’s first half is flat for the most part until the last twenty minutes before the interval. It shifts gears to a thriller and shows promise for an exciting second half. Let’s see what is in the store.
— The story is taking place in a surrogate facility. And there’s a murder investigation underway.
— Yashoda show started with a rape murder mystery. A simple intro for Sam introducing surrogacy.
Yashoda U.S. Premiere report will up soon.
