‘Adbhutham’ movie review: Doesn’t live up to its title

This Telugu science fiction romance comedy does not leverage on its interesting premise

A grandmother’s (played by Tulasi) reference to Ramayana helps one of the lead characters draw a parallel to a strange turn of events in her life. Later in the story, the grandmother urges her granddaughter Vennela (debutante Shivani Rajasekhar) not to try to change destiny. The mythological reference to underline the divine intervention does not come as a surprise, since the story is by Prasanth Varma (director of Awe and Zombie Reddy), who has used it as a plot device in his earlier work too.

Adbhutham, directed by Mallik Ram, was supposed to introduce erstwhile child actor Teja Sajja as a hero. The much-delayed film now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar has well known members in its crew — writer Lakshmi Bhupala, editor Garry B H, music director Radhan and cinematographer Vidyasagar Chinta — who have since gone on to establish themselves with other projects. Teja, meanwhile, acted in Oh! Baby, Zombie Reddy and Ishq.

Adbhutham begins on a science fiction premise and then attempts to be a romance, comedy and family drama rolled into one. The result is far from satisfactory. Surya (Teja Sajja) is a failed musician who grapples with personal loss and finds no happiness in his job as a newsreader; he decides to end his life. In a bid to leave a note, he sends an sms to his own number, and is shocked when he gets a response. At the other end is Vennela, who is also about to end her life, unable to clear her exams to pursue higher studies and not wanting to get married at the insistence of her father.