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New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Subham movie review: A wacky, hilarious fable about female desire and masculinity
Also the writer of Cinema Bandi, Vasanth Maringanti explores some sharp themes while scripting this madcap fable about feminism and masculinity. Subham has the kind of unique premise that could go completely haywire while indulging in its wacky possibilities — but here, the narrative constantly moves in the right direction and escalates the tension amidst its many hilarious set-pieces. Among the three male protagonists we have here, there is one of each kind — the one who is confused, the one who follows, and the one who leads. The last one (played by Srinivas Gavireddy), who also proclaims to be an 'Alpha male,' delivers the funniest moments as he gradually gets emasculated in the most uproarious of demeanors. In one of the developments, the 'Alpha' suggests a way that could help them get rid of their problem with ghosts. As that solution misfires later on, the three men learn one thing — they don't understand their wives. And at the core of it, that's what Subham is about — it redefines masculinity as the ability to understand and empathise with the women in your lives. In an amusing throwaway visual, the protagonist's friends stop him from getting down on his knees — even when he wants to make a proposal. There are bona fide commandments for being an 'Alpha,' and none of them include asking for help — something they unlearn with each hurdle in their journey of becoming a 'good husband.' Of course, Subham, for its all satirical tropes, is an optimistic movie — so the men come around. Yet, this doesn't take away from the film's biting moments of satire earlier where it takes a dig at the current obsession with 'alpha' masculinity. There are so many delightfully absurd devices at play here. In a hilarious turn of events, the two worlds, divided by a TV screen, collide as the fandom directly confront their favourite screen idol, reprimanding him for everything problematic about his long-running TV show. Even the name of the TV show — 'Janma Janmala Bandham' (a bond spanning many lifetimes) — is a fabulous dig at how the world thrives in creating a never-ending quest for peace, instead of helping cultivate a society where the viewers don't seek a closure with such desperation. Later on, as the three wives sit down to write the perfect way to exorcise their own ghosts, you wonder if the writer is making a point about giving a space to their supressed voices, creating a world where everyone is equally listened to before the big decisions are made. It's also interesting that the film stages Srivalli and her husband (Harshith Reddy) as the protagonist couple — for it also gives us a peek into the inner life of a woman who lives with her in-laws, the most common family system in the Indian middle class. At one point, Srivalli, a working woman, feels guilty of distancing her husband because of her strong-headed personality, and suddenly starts behaving like a homemaker. You feel a tinge of fear, watching this moment unfold, knowing Telugu cinema's tendencies to domesticate their 'strong women' — but that is where Subham stands apart. The writer-director team stage this moment as a momentary fear felt by Srivalli, not a permanent, personality-moulding experience. Srivalli's fears, of not being an 'ideal housewife,' should be transient — and the team knows it. Vivek Sagar deserves a special mention for his funky background music that keeps up with the manic energy of the narrative. Cinematographer Mridul Sujit Sen captures Bheemilipuram with disarming idyllicism and beauty — it looks like a town you want to settle down in, despite all its horrors. While all the lead actors — Harshith Reddy, Shriya Kontham, Gavireddy Srinivas, Charan Peri, Shravani Lakshmi, Shalini Kondepudi — put in commendable performances, Shriya and Srinivas particularly stand out. Among the ensemble cast, Rag Mayur makes a delightful appearance in a special cameo. Samantha Ruth Prabhu too flourishes in her brief cameo, bringing great deadpan humour to her scenes.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Subham' movie review: Samantha's maiden production is a hilarious genre bender
It is always a joy when a modest film swings big and lands comfortably, and Subham, a Telugu horror comedy, does just that. Marking actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu's debut as a producer, the film is directed by Cinema Bandi's Praveen Kandregula and written by Vasanth Maringanti. On the surface, it is a spooky comedy, but at heart, it is a sharp commentary on gender sensitivity — made all the more effective by smart writing and charming performances. Set in the early 2000s, in the pre-internet days of coastal Bheemili, undivided Andhra Pradesh, the story begins with a sweetly awkward pelli choopulu (an arranged marriage meet-cute) between Srinu (Harshith Reddy), a cable TV operator, and Sri Valli (Shriya Kontham), a bank employee. The backdrop — where cable still reigns while satellite TV starts inching in — adds nostalgia without overwhelming the narrative. The title Subham, a nod to the 'happy ending' title cards of old Telugu films, invites viewers to reflect on what a truly happy family looks like. Here, the answer is refreshingly modern: gender equity. Even when the script takes contemporary creative liberties, it does not feel out of place — thanks to its lightness of touch, plenty of laughs, and clever scares over a tight 125-minute runtime. Subham (Telugu) Director: Praveen Kandregula Cast: Harshith Reddy, Gavireddy Srinivas, Charan Peri, Shriya Kontham, Shravani Lakshmi, Shalini Kondepudi, and Vamshidhar Goud Run time: 125 minutes Storyline: In a small town, the women get possessed while watching a television soap. The men must find solutions and it requires them to look inward. The subtle gender commentary in Subham begins to surface early on — elders casually question Sri Valli's suitability as a bride simply because she works and does not quite fit the docile mould. Meanwhile, Srinu's friends school him in 'alpha male' behaviour, believing it is the secret to keeping their wives impressed. These moments unfold with humour, highlighting the men's cluelessness more than any toxic intent. Then, the twist: the women of the town start getting possessed while watching a melodramatic TV soap. Cue chaos. What begins as satire turns into hilariously eerie mayhem, with jumpscares and slapstick humour as men scramble to understand what's going on. Director Praveen Kandregula and writer Vasanth Maringanti anchor the film in small-town quirks — familiar chatter, cable TV nostalgia, and idiosyncratic characters. Vivek Sagar's music moves effortlessly from romance to horror, and Mridul Sen's cinematography captures the tonal shift with a deft hand. The soap opera within the film, Janma Janmala Bandham, becomes a clever narrative device. Unlike recent films that use fictional soaps as running gags (Mathu Vadalara and its sequel comes to mind), Subham lets it reflect the gender dynamics between three couples, adding weight to the madness. There are some lulls in the first half, but the pace picks up soon enough. Samantha's deadpan cameo, playing against her usual image, is brief but effective. Her silence says more than a monologue. Just when you think it might head towards a predictable resolution, Praveen and Vasanth throw in a surprise twist. If you have seen Cinema Bandi, you will enjoy the crossover even more, but it still works if you have not. This is the director's playful answer to cinematic universes, reminding us that indie films can have shared worlds too. Harshith Reddy (who stood out in Mail and Kalki 2898 AD) brings warmth to Srinu, and Shriya Kontham holds her own as a quietly assertive Sri Valli. The rest of the cast — Gavireddy Srinivas, Charan Peri, Shravani Lakshmi, Shalini Kondepudi, and Vamshidhar Goud — add to the fun without overplaying their parts. There is also delightful detail, like a character proudly claiming he watches 'Rings of the Lord'. One loose thread, though, is why the women get possessed in the first place. The film avoids giving a reason, and maybe that is for the best — some things are funnier when left unexplained. Subham is a horror-comedy with a sharp message for all the 'alpha males' out there. And it lands the punch with plenty of laughs.
