Mouna Raagam Serial – E658 – 30th Jan

Despite the challenges faced by smaller films in today’s market, “Aarambham” managed to capture attention with its intriguing trailer and unique concept. However, the film’s lack of A-list stars placed the burden of success squarely on its narrative and execution.

“Aarambham,” a time travel thriller directed by Ajay Veeti, stars Mohan Bhagat as Migil, a prisoner sentenced to death. The film opens with Migil’s daring escape from prison mere hours before his execution. Enter Detective, played by Ravindra Vijay, tasked with solving the seemingly impossible jailbreak. A diary found in Migil’s cell by a fellow inmate (Lakshman) becomes a crucial piece of evidence.

The narrative introduces a scientist, Bhushan Kalyan, living in seclusion and conducting experiments on time travel. Migil becomes an unwilling participant in these experiments, given the opportunity to rewrite his past and potentially change his fate. The core plot bears resemblance to the previously released “Oke Oka Jeevitham” starring Sharwanand, but “Aarambham” struggles to capture the same level of audience engagement.

While the film boasts decent technical aspects, the screenplay suffers from a slow pace in the first half, failing to fully captivate viewers. The second half experiences a welcome increase in tempo, but ultimately falls short of delivering a satisfying conclusion. The pre-climax offers some intriguing twists, though budgetary limitations become evident. The director’s choice to narrate the story in chapters creates a sense of confusion rather than enhancing the narrative flow.

The performances by the cast are adequate, but “Aarambham” requires a significant investment of patience from viewers due to its pacing issues. While the film’s core concept held promise, the execution fails to meet expectations.