SABDHAM MOVIE REVIEW
Cast: Aadhi, Lakshmi Menon, Simran, Laila, Redin Kingsley, M.S. Bhaskar, Rajiv Menon, Vivek Prasanna
Director: Arivazhagan Venkatachalam
Rating: 3.5/5
Arivazhagan’s return to the horror genre with Sabdham brings back memories of his impressive debut Eeram. This time, instead of water, sound becomes the medium for supernatural communication in a chilling tale set within the misty grounds of a medical college.
The story kicks off when a series of mysterious student deaths at Holy Angel College prompts the management to bring in paranormal investigator Ruben Vaidhyalingam (Aadhi Pinisetty). His path crosses with Avantika (Lakshmi Menon), a skeptical house surgeon working on a thesis to disprove the existence of ghosts. As more deaths occur, Ruben must unravel the connection between these incidents and the college’s dark past, with characters played by Simran and Laila adding layers to the mystery.
The film shines brightest in its first half, building tension with an eerie atmosphere and a constant sense of dread. The interval sequence stands as perhaps the boldest experiment in Tamil horror cinema – the screen goes completely black for several minutes while a symphony of terrifying sounds plays, creating a uniquely chilling experience that puts your imagination into overdrive.
Technically, Sabdham impresses. The sound design lives up to the film’s title, with every creak, footstep, and whisper meticulously crafted to raise goosebumps. Thaman’s background score amplifies the horror elements effectively, though occasionally it overwhelms quieter moments. Arun Bathmanaban’s cinematography makes excellent use of the misty hill station setting, creating a visual language that speaks to the isolation of the characters.
Aadhi delivers a convincing performance as the ghost hunter with scientific methods, bringing quiet intensity to scenes that could have easily fallen into melodrama. Simran makes a strong impression in her limited screen time, stealing scenes whenever she appears.
Where Sabdham stumbles is in its second half, when the narrative shifts from mystery to explanation. The film tries to marry science with the supernatural, resulting in some convoluted plot developments that don’t quite land. The romance between the leads feels underdeveloped, and some character motivations remain unclear.
Despite these hiccups, Sabdham remains an engaging horror thriller that attempts to elevate the genre with its technical prowess and atmospheric storytelling.