Eesha (2025) Review: A Chilling Confrontation Between Rationality and the Supernatural
The landscape of Telugu horror cinema has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Moving away from the formulaic horror-comedies of the previous decade, filmmakers are now exploring more atmospheric, psychological, and socially relevant themes. Eesha (2025), directed by Srinivas Manne, is a prime example of this evolution. Released on December 25, 2025, the film attempts to bridge the gap between hard-nosed skepticism and the terrifying unknown, offering a narrative that challenges the audience’s own perceptions of faith and fear.
Eesha (2025) Quick Reference
| Feature | Details |
| Director | Srinivas Manne |
| Lead Cast | Adith Arun (Thrigun), Hebah Patel, Akhil Raj, Siri Hanumanth |
| Supporting Cast | Babloo Prithiveeraj, Mime Madhu, Prithveeraj |
| Genre | Horror / Psychological Thriller |
| Release Date | December 25, 2025 |
| Runtime | 127 Minutes |
| Language | Telugu |
| Production House | HVR Productions |
Full Plot Synopsis
The story of Eesha centers on four lifelong friends: Kalyan (Adith Arun), Nayana (Hebah Patel), Vinay (Akhil Raj), and Aparna (Siri Hanumanth). United by a shared commitment to logic and science, the group operates as modern-day rationalists. Their primary mission is to debunk supernatural myths and expose fraudulent “godmen” who utilize stage magic and psychological manipulation to exploit the fears of the public.
The narrative shifts when the group encounters Dr. Aadidev (Babloo Prithiveeraj), a character who embodies the film’s central conflict. Aadidev was once a highly respected neurosurgeon based in the United States, but following the tragic and unexplained death of his wife, he underwent a radical transformation. Now living on the Andhra–Odisha border, he has reinvented himself as a spiritual guru who claims to possess the power to communicate with and expel malevolent spirits.
Viewing Aadidev as their ultimate target, the four friends travel to his remote ashram to unmask him as a charlatan. However, a chilling road accident involving a woman named Punyavathi (Mime Madhu) disrupts their plans. Sensing their arrogance, Aadidev poses a challenge: the friends must spend three consecutive nights in a notorious, abandoned mansion rumored to be inhabited by a vengeful entity. If they survive without encountering the supernatural, he will publicly admit his fraudulence. Confident in their scientific world-view, the group accepts. As the sun sets on the first night, the rationalists find their reality fracturing as they face “Eesha,” a force that refuses to be explained away by logic.
Detailed Critique: A Marriage of Mind and Myth
Direction and Screenplay
Srinivas Manne demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of tension. The first act of Eesha is meticulously paced, focusing on the group’s dynamic and their intellectual conviction. By establishing them as firm non-believers, Manne makes their eventual descent into terror more effective. However, the screenplay occasionally struggles with the transition into the second act, relying on some familiar “haunted house” tropes that we have seen in classics like The Others or recent Telugu hits like Virupaksha. While the middle section slows down, the final thirty minutes deliver a powerful payoff that successfully blends a scientific explanation with an emotional, spiritual core.
Acting and Characterization
Hebah Patel delivers one of the most nuanced performances of her career. As Nayana, she moves from confident skepticism to raw, palpable terror with convincing ease. Adith Arun (Thrigun) provides the emotional weight necessary for the film to work, portraying Kalyan as a man desperately clinging to his logic even as it fails him.
Babloo Prithiveeraj is the film’s “secret weapon.” His portrayal of Dr. Aadidev is not that of a typical villain; he brings a quiet, scholarly intensity to the role that keeps the audience guessing about his true intentions until the very end. Mime Madhu, in the role of Punyavathi, utilizes physical acting to create an unsettling presence that lingers long after she leaves the screen.
Visuals and Soundscape
The technical departments are where Eesha truly shines. Cinematographer Santosh Sanamoni captures the decaying grandeur of the central mansion with a murky, atmospheric palette. The use of long, uninterrupted shots through dark hallways creates a sense of “something watching” that is essential for psychological horror.
The sound design by RR Dhruvan is arguably the film’s strongest asset. Rather than constant jump-scare “stings,” the film uses low-frequency rumbles and organic, scratching sounds to create a constant state of unease. The background score is haunting, effectively accentuating the film’s themes of grief and the afterlife.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
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Intellectual Hook: The battle between a neurosurgeon-turned-guru and a group of young rationalists is a fresh take on the genre.
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Atmospheric Horror: The film prioritizes mood and psychological dread over cheap, repetitive jump scares.
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Strong Climax: The ending provides a satisfying resolution that ties together the scientific and supernatural elements.
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Exceptional Sound Design: The auditory experience significantly enhances the theatrical impact.
Weaknesses
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Pacing: The setup in the first half may feel overly long for viewers looking for immediate action.
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Familiar Tropes: Some of the horror sequences in the second act (creaking doors, shadowy figures) feel derivative of older films.
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Underdeveloped Supporting Leads: While the core conflict is strong, the characters of Vinay and Aparna could have been given more depth beyond their roles as the “married couple” in the group.
Final Verdict
Eesha (2025) is a thoughtful, well-crafted addition to the Telugu horror-thriller library. While it doesn’t entirely reinvent the wheel, it approaches the genre with a level of maturity and technical finesse that is often lacking in commercial cinema. It is a film that rewards patient viewers with a chilling, emotionally resonant story about the things science cannot yet explain. For fans of atmospheric horror that engages the brain as much as the pulse, Eesha is a must-watch.
Final Rating: 3.0 / 5.0
Review Schema
| Schema Field | Value |
| Movie Title | Eesha |
| Reviewer | Gemini Art 23 |
| Rating | 3.0 / 5.0 |
| Review Date | December 31, 2025 |
| Director | Srinivas Manne |
| Main Cast | Adith Arun, Hebah Patel, Babloo Prithiveeraj, Siri Hanumanth |
| Keywords | Eesha 2025 Movie Review, Telugu Horror Thriller, Thrigun, Hebah Patel, Srinivas Manne, Supernatural Movies 2025 |