Subham Telugu Movie Review: This Horror-Comedy Turns Marital Discord on Its Head

Subham, produced by Samantha Ruth Prabhu on Tralala Moving Pictures, hits the screens this week. From the start, the makers have described their movie as an unconventional horror-comedy. Let's find out how the movie is... Story : The story involves three married couples. The female partners are hell-bent on watching a melodramatic TV serial titled Janma Janmala Bandham. The male partners, who are control freaks with loads of male ego in their heads, demean their creative choices. Slowly, they start noticing that their wives start behaving weirdly while watching the 9 pm mega serial. The women acquire unreal physical capabilities, disobey their husbands' orders at will, and create chaos. Subham is essentially about what this mystery is all about and what the poor husbands must do. Analysis: The actors, who are new to the big screen, lean into measured portrayals to underscore the absurdity of the social dynamics. They pull off nice performances without resorting to overly polished smiles, melodramatic gestures, or other aspects that would have watered down the impact of the film. Harshith Malgireddy and Shriya Kontham are natural as a couple. Charan Peri and Shalini Kondepudi are seen as the other couple. Gavireddy Srinivas and Shravani Lakshmi are the third couple. Director Praveen Kandregula avoids cliches in narrating a layered story that appears comedic only on the surface. Many jokes and dialogues are not played for laughs; they are food for thought. The status of women in Indian households has spawned loads of sociological literature. Probably, writer Vasanth Mariganti is clued in about those takes. While there is a possibility that Subham will be portrayed as a feminist movie by some, it is anything but. When Srivalli (Shriya) seeks to find her voice, she is navigating her way into her new family. Her equations with her in-laws are as important as they get. The other two couples have their share of discussions. One of the highlights of the movie is what the three husbands do to extricate themselves out of the mess they are in. Instead of opting for lazy tropes, the film dials up the imagination factor. The writing is sharp even in the non-humourous portions. Clinton Cerejo's songs make for interesting montages. Vivek Sagar 's background music is eminently enjoyable. Mridul Sujit Sen's cinematography is sharp. Ram Charan Tej's production design amplifies the overall setting. Dharmendra Kakarla's editing is good. Verdict : Subham delivers on its promise of an unconventional horror-comedy, offering a thought-provoking and often humorous take on marital dynamics. While not explicitly feminist, the film cleverly uses a supernatural premise to explore themes of control, ego, and the evolving roles within a marriage. The fresh-faced cast delivers measured performances, and Praveen Kandregula's direction avoids clich s, allowing Vasanth Mariganti's sharp writing to shine. Samantha Ruth Prabhu deserves applause for backing a meaningful horror-comedy.