Movie Name : Odela 2
Release Date : April 17, 2025
Cast : Tamannaah Bhatia, Hebah Patel, Vasishta N Simha, Murali Sharma, Sharath Lohithaswa, Yuva, Naga Mahesh, Vamsi, Gagan Vihari, Surender Reddy, Srikanth Iyengar, Pooja Reddy, Bhupal etc.
Director : Ashok Teja
Music Director : B. Ajaneesh Loknath
Telugumopo.com Rating : 2.5/5
Story:
In the village of Odela, darkness looms after Tirupati (Vasishta Simha) develops a horrifying pattern of targeting and killing newlywed brides. When his wife Radha (Hebah Patel) discovers his horror crimes, she ends his life. Horrified by his deeds, the villagers decline to conduct his last rites and curse his soul instead, condemning him to turmoil even in death.
Tirupati’s vengeance spirit comes back with fury and wreaks havoc on Odela by killing two young couples, who were each newly wedded. Panic reaches the village and the villagers find themselves helpless with no idea about how to deal with the horror. Desperate, they turn their minds toward Bhairavi (Tamannaah), the woman who once left the village as a little girl and grew up to be a fierce Naga Sadhu.
Determined to protect her people, Bhairavi returns to Odela. What awaits her in the haunted village? Can she confront the wrath of Tirupati’s spirit? Will Odela finally find peace?
The answers to these haunting questions unfold on the silver screen.
Review:
Vasishta stands out as the bad guy, dominating the screen with his fiendish performance. His fear-inducing performance as he torments the villagers is excellent, his booming voice heightening the danger of his character. How he gets into both the appearance and mannerisms of the bad guy makes for a rich addition to his performance, him being one of the highlights of the film.
Tamannaah, in her role as a Naga Sadhu, nails the character’s look and fits well into the spiritual persona. However, there are instances where her expressions feel slightly disconnected, yet she still manages to leave a strong impact in critical scenes, showcasing her acting range and versatility.
Hebah Patel, however crucial to the story, falters when it matters in the film. The disjuncture between the voice and expression of the actor works to defuse the emotion behind the character, missing what should have been the intended intensity.
Murali Sharma’s role is deprived of the required intensity to make an impact. His performance lacks punch and doesn’t connect with the audience. Srikanth Iyengar, however, despite the limited screen time, makes his presence felt through his short yet effective performance. The rest of the supporting cast is average and doesn’t add much to the overall impact of the film.
The age-old battle between good and evil, faith and darkness, has always found a strong place in Telugu cinema. From mythological sagas to supernatural thrillers, filmmakers have time and again explored this formula with varying degrees of success. Odela 2, directed by Sampath Nandi, attempts to tap into this popular narrative yet again—but with mixed results.
Though promoted as an original tale, Odela 2 often gives off strong déjà vu vibes. The film’s core premise—an evil spirit haunting a village—feels too familiar.
On the technical front, the film tries to impress with grand visuals and heavy use of CGI. In some moments, the visual effects enhance the mood. However, at other times, they feel overdone and out of sync with the emotion the scene demands. The artificiality occasionally dilutes the narrative intensity.
Where Odela 2 does score is in the way the villain’s backstory is developed. The idea of a soul being punished after death and then returning for revenge brings an intriguing layer to the film. The first act builds curiosity well, setting the stage for a promising supernatural conflict.
Unfortunately, the mid-section struggles to maintain that momentum. As Tirupati’s vengeful spirit begins targeting newlywed couples, the events become predictable and repetitive. The suspense fades quickly, and the scares feel routine.
Tamannaah makes a powerful entry in the second half as Bhairavi, bringing a much-needed boost in energy. Her transformation into a Naga Sadhu is visually striking and emotionally convincing. But when it comes to her face-off with the evil spirit, the film falters. What could have been a gripping showdown between two intense forces ends up being a series of lengthy, flat dialogues that fail to elevate the tension.
However, Odela 2 picks up again in the final 20 minutes. The climax, rooted in divine symbolism and Lord Shiva’s mythology, is impactful. The visual effects finally align with the emotional tone, delivering a satisfying finish to an otherwise uneven ride.
Although Ajaneesh Loknath’s songs are not as good as the movie’s pace, his background score does a significant job in elevating the intensity, particularly in the scenes of the villain.
The VFX efforts are good, providing scale and grandeur to the supernatural elements of the tale. The production values are high for this kind of film, and they go a long way in supporting the overall experience.
Director Sampath Nandi, who also produced the script, proves his mettle in developing the character of the villain. Though the story for itself is not that different, his direction makes some moments shine. But the execution could have been better, particularly in dealing with certain scenes. The movie could have toned down the violence and explicitness levels so that it can reach a broader audience.
Ashok Teja’s direction is adequate but does not introduce anything remotely new or different to the proceedings. The plot develops nicely enough but does not have the fizz it needs to really grab audience attention.
In the end, Odela-2 has flashes of brilliance but is weighed down by predictability. It gives you a few chills, some visually appealing sequences, and an intriguing setup — but struggles to sustain its impact. It’s a passable supernatural drama, best enjoyed with tempered expectations.
