I just walked out of Prakambanam and honestly, I'm still trying to process what I watched. It's one of those movies that leaves you with a weird mix of confusion and amusement. I wasn't scared, I wasn't rolling with laughter, but I wasn't bored either. It's like the filmmakers couldn't decide if they wanted to make me jump or chuckle, so they tried to do both at the same time. The image of that elderly woman's spirit is still stuck in my head, but not in a good horror way - more in a 'what were they thinking?' way. My friend and I just looked at each other when the credits rolled and burst out laughing.
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What's Prakambanam About?
Prakambanam follows a group of college students whose lives get turned upside down when one of them becomes possessed by the spirit of an old woman. What starts as typical campus hijinks quickly descends into supernatural chaos. The movie tries to balance genuine scares with comedy, often switching tones within the same scene. It's essentially a possession story set against the backdrop of student life, with all the friendship drama and youthful energy you'd expect from that setup.
What Works in Prakambanam
- ✓ Mallika Sukumaran as the possessed student - she really committed to the physicality of the role, especially in that library scene where her body contorted in ways that made my back hurt just watching.
- ✓ The campus locations felt authentic - I recognized some spots from my own college days, which added a layer of relatability to the setting.
- ✓ Some genuinely funny moments, like when the friends try to use Google to research exorcism methods - that felt very real to how students would actually react.
- ✓ The practical effects for the possession were surprisingly decent, especially considering what appeared to be a modest budget.
What Doesn't Work
- ✗ The tone was all over the place - one minute I'm supposed to be scared, the next I'm watching slapstick comedy, and it never really blended well.
- ✗ The runtime felt unnecessarily long at 128 minutes - the middle section dragged with repetitive possession scenes that added little to the plot.
- ✗ Ganapathi S. Poduval's character felt underdeveloped - he had potential as the group leader but ended up just reacting to everything around him.
Standout Moments & Performances
There's this scene where the possessed student confronts her friends in the abandoned hostel wing that actually managed to create some tension. The lighting was moody, and for a moment, I thought the horror might actually work. Then there's the comedy bit where they try to record the possession on their phones for 'proof' - that felt so authentically Gen Z that I couldn't help but laugh. The most memorable moment, though, has to be the climactic confrontation in the rain. Without spoiling it, let's just say the practical effects team went all out, and while it wasn't exactly scary, it was certainly... memorable. I'll probably be thinking about that final shot for a while.
Main Cast: Ganapathi S. Poduval, Sagar Surya, Ameen, Mallika Sukumaran, Azees Nedumangad
Direction, Music & Visuals
Director Vijesh Panathur seemed to be trying something ambitious by blending genres, but the execution felt uneven. The cinematography was actually quite good in places - some of the nighttime shots on campus had a nice atmosphere. The music, however, was distracting; the score would switch from horror strings to comedic cues so abruptly it took me out of the movie. Performance-wise, Mallika Sukumaran was the clear standout - she gave her all to a role that demanded both physical comedy and horror. Azees Nedumangad had some funny moments as the comic relief friend, but Sagar Surya felt underutilized. The editing could have been tighter, especially in the second act where scenes seemed to linger too long.
Director: Vijesh Panathur
Who Should Watch Prakambanam?
If you're a fan of so-bad-it's-good cinema or enjoy horror-comedies that don't take themselves too seriously, you might find some enjoyment here. It could work for a group of friends looking for something to laugh at together, especially if you appreciate campy supernatural elements. College students might relate to the setting and dynamic between the friends, even if the horror elements fall flat. Basically, go in with zero expectations and a willingness to enjoy the ridiculousness.
Who Might Want to Skip?
Serious horror fans should definitely skip this - you won't find any genuine scares here. Likewise, if you prefer your comedies to have consistent tone and sharp writing, this isn't for you. People who get frustrated by messy storytelling and uneven pacing should probably give this a pass.
Final Verdict
Prakambanam is a confused film that can't decide what it wants to be, and that's both its biggest flaw and its strange charm. I wouldn't call it a good movie by any objective standard, but I can't say I regretted watching it either. There's something oddly endearing about its ambition and the cast's commitment to the material. Would I recommend it? Only to very specific viewers who enjoy genre mashups gone wrong. Would I watch it again? Probably not, but I'll definitely remember certain scenes. It's the kind of movie that's more fun to talk about afterward than to actually watch.
