Cast: Anushka Shetty, Shalini Pandey, R Madhavan, Anjali, Michael Madsen
When officer Maha’s (Anjali) new case reaches a deadlock she narrates an unsolved ghost-file that involves three murders, three women, and a haunted house. Set in the United States, Hemant Madhukar’s Nishabdham, released today in Amazon Prime tells a predictable, ponderous, and derivative thriller story.
Sakshi played by Anushka Shetty is a mute-and-deaf artist who grew up in an orphanage and is later engaged to a multi-millionaire musician Anthony (Madhavan) who falls in love with her over a painting. The two go on a small holiday to take a break from their very stressful ongoing search for Sakshi’s best friend Sonali (Shalini Pandey) who goes missing right after their engagement. A visit to a haunted house in the woods turns things around and Sakshi’s normal life takes a spin. A murder has been committed in the most gruesome, demonic way. Is is it a paranormal happening or is there something more malicious behind the crime scene?
A two-hour film that feels longer, Nishabdham delivers a dull, cliched story-line that even the biggest reveals are a miss. The film lacks originality with every scene, twists, and plot ringing several bells of familiarity. There is barely any storyline, structure, or memorable performances, that complete with a mediocre screenplay, dialogues by Kona Venkat, and an unnecessary soundtrack by Gopi Sundar.
There is too much happening in the film, with too many characters and backstories thrown in, that at the end of the film you don’t know any of them in depth. Though we have least to complain about Anushka Shetty this is not one among her best performances. She plays the role of a mute artist, naive and beautiful, and well….. brave? But somehow the character’s depth is not felt. Anjali plays officer Maha who’s badly acted role in the movie carries quite a lot of weightage. Throughout the film, her acting seems too forced almost like she doesn’t fit the role. Finally Arjun Reddy famed Shalini Pandey who plays childish, possessive, Sonali.
It was good to watch Madhavan in a Tollywood film after a break, but one could only have wished for a little more as his character is also weekly written and performed. And let’s not miss mentioning Hollywood actor Michael Madsen (who has worked in films like Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) who’s acting skills were also put to waste in this movie.
Overall the movie just doesn’t sit right and everything about it feels forced and unnatural. It’s a pity as with such a stellar cast a lot more can be delivered.
RATING: 2/5
Weightage for Women in Film: 4/5
Performances: 2/5
