Vrusshabha (2025) [Movie Review] — A Grand Idea That Never Takes Flight

Vrusshabha (Release: Dec 25, 2025) arrives as a bilingual ambition — a Telugu–Malayalam fantasy action drama directed and co-written by Nanda Kishore, starring Mohanlal in a dual-ranged avatar. On paper, the film promises a sweeping reincarnation drama rooted in duty, curse and familial tragedy, with music by Sam C. S. and cinematography by Antony Samson. Instead, what reaches the screen is a slog that wastes marquee talent and a premise that could have been compelling.

Premise & Promise

Reincarnation, a sacred linga and a tragic mistake — an intriguing setup that needed sharper handling

Vrusshabha opens with the kingdom of Trilinga, a ruler bound to a sacred Aatma Linga and a destiny marred by a single battlefield error. The narrative’s throughline — guilt echoing across births, fate colliding with parental bonds — offers emotional and mythic potential. This central idea is the film’s lone spark: it’s clear why Mohanlal signed on. But the screenplay never translates philosophical weight into dramatic urgency; instead, the plot trudges, scattering set pieces without building sustained stakes.

Performances

A great actor left stranded — Mohanlal’s presence isn’t matched by material around him

Mohanlal, billed as the film’s pillar, is intermittently alert but largely underused. When the material gives him space, he hints at depth; more often, he’s reduced to reacting to thin dialogue and shapeless scenes. Supporting players — including Samarjit Lankesh and Nayan Sarika — are saddled with underwritten roles that offer little to do. Even seasoned technicians and cameo appearances (notably Jeetendra) feel decorative rather than integral. The collective result: performances that could have buoyed the material instead underscore how little the film gives its cast.

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Writing & Direction

A promising concept undone by loose structure and unimaginative direction

This is the film’s most damning weakness. The screenplay lacks discipline: scenes drift, emotional beats are undercut by careless plotting, and the love track feels grafted on rather than earned. Nanda Kishore’s direction struggles to unify the film’s mythic ambitions with believable human drama. Dialogue is often clunky, pacing uneven, and important relationships never develop enough to provoke genuine investment. A runtime of roughly 127 minutes feels longer because the film never finds a rhythm.

Visuals & Technicals

Some competent craft is peppered among jarring AI effects and uninspired production design

Technically, the movie oscillates. Antony Samson’s cinematography, along with a few sequences—notably a later sword duel—provides glimpses of what the film could have been: kinetic staging and a sense of scale. But these moments are drowned by questionable visual effects and obviously AI-generated imagery that often reads as amateurish. Editing by K. M. Prakash is frequently clumsy, and the background score, despite Sam C. S.’s pedigree, becomes intrusive rather than enhancing atmosphere. On the upside, the film genuinely being shot in Telugu is noteworthy for a bilingual project, but that authenticity can’t rescue the film’s broader production gaps.

Music & Sound

Score and sound feel more like padding than propulsion

Sam C. S.’s soundtrack has flashes of suitability, but the background score’s inconsistent application and forgettable songs fail to enrich scenes emotionally. Sound design, which could have amplified the mythic ambience, often flattens action sequences instead.

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Verdict — Is Vrusshabha Worth Your Time?

A concept with promise, executed poorly — skip it this holiday season

Vrusshabha is a cautionary example of how a strong central idea, a superstar lead and capable technicians cannot compensate for a sloppy script and uninspired direction. Beyond a handful of watchable action beats and the germ of an interesting reincarnation theme, the film offers little — poor visual effects, wasted performers, and a narrative that rarely engages. With a rating of 1.5/5, this is one holiday release best avoided; those curious about the premise will find more satisfying takes on past-life drama elsewhere.