‘Rahasyam Idham Jagath’ Movie Review: This indie film is sincere but far from impressive

Rakesh Gelve in ‘Rahasyam Idham Jagat’ Photo credit: Special Arrangements

How far are you willing to go to help your loved one? This question is often explored in books and movies. If done well, it can be an emotional drama. Komal R Bharadwaj, who has written and directed Telugu indie films Mysterious worldGiving this concept a different spin, interweaving elements of science fiction and mythology. There is romance, a bitter past, the possibility of revenge, unexplained mysterious events in a terrifying setting, and the possibility of time travel through wormholes. It’s an ambitious, interesting idea on paper but despite the film’s earnest execution it doesn’t translate into an engaging adventure.

Mysterious world Fully exposed in the woods around Portland, Oregon, USA. The story follows the journey of a young couple, Abhi (Rakesh Galeve) and Akira (Srabanti Pratipathy), who decide to return to India after a personal loss, valuing family ties over their American dream. Before they go home, they plan a short vacation and join their friends; But nothing goes according to plan.

The narrative stays true to its middle and uses the brooding nature of Portland’s winter and blizzards to set the stage for a mysterious turn of events. The film’s prologue hints at what’s to come through a story from the Ramayana. Long before we explore the possibility of time travel through wormholes, we are introduced to the main characters and their relationship dynamics. Among the group of friends, one is struggling to overcome a disturbing past and is on a downward spiral of drug addiction, and the other (Mansa Veena the Nerdy Aru) is on the cusp of a revolutionary medical science project.

An adventure ride begins when the group is stranded in a cottage in the wilderness due to a blizzard. There is more than betrayal and revenge as cases of crime are reported in the forest and the police are eager to find answers. The tonal transition from the drama of the relationship between Abhi and Akira to the realm of mystery is seamless thanks to the film’s team of cinematographers who use the low-light, moody winter setting to their advantage. Reportedly unsteady, handheld camera movements and close-up shots in the early part give way to wider frames that capture the breathtaking beauty of the locales and their inherent vibrancy.

Telugu Indie Film ‘Rahasyam Idham Jagath’

Concepts such as location auras, multidimensional existence, parallel universes, and time travel are discussed as the story progresses. Where credit is due, the film has tried to explain all this in simple terms. It also stays true to its genre and doesn’t dilute the narrative with fake comedy or romance. Most of the dialogues are in Telugu as the story centers on Telugu-speaking NRIs, but there is a fair amount of English as well and the makers trust their audience to follow and understand the process.

On the flip side, the execution doesn’t match the film’s ambitions, partly due to budget constraints and partly due to a lack of emotional balance. When Aru and his mentor are nervous about stumbling into their dream project, it’s hard to empathize with their plight because it lacks a sense of urgency. When Abhi takes a leap of faith into the unknown after the dark turn of events, it also didn’t move me as much as it should have.

There are also other minor distractions. For example, a conversation between friends at a bar is drowned out by a live music performance in the background. In another scene, clinking glasses at the bar makes the dialogue almost inaudible.

The final stretch is rewarding but the journey towards it can be more interesting. Between performances, Rakesh Galeve manages to portray the fear and urgency of protecting his loved ones and Mansa fits the bill of a nerdy science researcher.

Mysterious world An admirable attempt to attempt a medley of adventure, science and mystery but falls far short of realizing its potential.