BOTTOM LINE
Decent Thriller with Divine Touch
PLATFORM
AHA
RUNTIME
120 Mins
What Is the Show About?
Frederick, an influential businessman, moves with his family to a mansion in the countryside. Despite multiple warnings from locals against demolishing an idol of the deity Pochamma on his premises, Frederick proceeds with it, only to invite ill luck upon his household. A series of eerie deaths and occurrences soon cripple the family’s happiness. Is this a supernatural curse, or a well-plotted conspiracy?
Performances
Acknowledging that the show stays within the confines of the mystical thriller genre, the performances are sharp, with the roles having strict boundaries. Achyuth Kumar is not the best casting choice for Raghupathi, given his image, which weakens the mystery to an extent. Meanwhile, Snehal Kamat, a regular face in Telugu OTT, passes muster with her screen presence.
Vivek Simha, as Achyuth Kumar’s son, is one of the weaker links; his rigid, limited expressions do not help his performance. Ramesh Indira, in the role of the snobbish yet well-intentioned owner, makes a mark. Arjun Ambati and Sri Pooja Reddy also deliver the goods within the minimal scope of their roles. Priya Shatamarshan does justice to the portrayal of Nancy, highlighting her innate anxieties.
Analysis
In most cases, expectations burden the viewing experience. They force you to imagine something out of thin air before knowing the world of the story, dictating how you judge the aftertaste. In the case of Pochamma, watching with a blank slate is immensely helpful; you go in expecting nothing and come out reasonably satisfied. It does not attempt anything pathbreaking, yet you do not mind the journey at all.
The show starts as a hill-station mystery with a mystical touch. An air of suspicion envelopes the house where Frederick and his family, comprising his wife, two daughters, and a son-in-law, reside. Their loyal servant has a shrewd wife, a deceptive son, and a relatively innocent daughter. Meanwhile, a local politician eyes the property, and a corrupt cop remains wary of the activities within the house.
Named after a local deity who remains a mute witness to the conspiracies plotted within the household, the story ignites when Frederick orders the idol’s destruction. All hell breaks loose. Actor-director Ramesh Indira operates in a primitive setting, yet keeps his world compact. With a limited set of characters, he builds enough tension to effectively draw the viewer in.
The power hierarchy within the household heavily influences the proceedings. The owners treat the service staff with contempt, and the latter suffer without choice. Just as you sense a Parasite-style plot where the staff might teach the owners a lesson, the director distracts you with various subplots, including the creepy behaviour of the elder daughter’s husband and a budding romance between Jessy and Suresh.
As one event after another wreaks havoc on Frederick’s family, the guessing game begins. The director guards the mystery behind the eerie occurrences in the household efficiently and teases you with multiple perspectives and versions of the mishaps. The visual motifs are basic – like the dense forests, mythical masks, and an idol submerged in a water body – but do their part in adding a layer to the thrills.
The crisp episodes, lasting around 25-30 minutes, wrap up quickly and give no reason to complain. While the initial two or three episodes provide a sense of the milieu and the traits of the grey characters, episodes four and five are the pick of the lot. If you are a fan of rustic thrillers, the culprits can be smelt from a distance; however, with the way it is staged, the predictability does not hinder the proceedings too much.
Like most mystical thrillers, the divine element in the story is a mere facade concealing a dark conspiracy. The team does not try to blow any twist out of proportion or rack up the background score to generate tension. They operate on expected lines and still keep the storytelling simple. For someone looking for a show with the runtime of a feature film to kill time, you take it in and say thank you. It is nothing more and nothing less.
Pochamma is definitely a notch above a generic mystical thriller. Yet, do not expect anything out of the blue. It is ideal for casual viewing.
Music and Other Departments?
The music by LV Muthu Ganesh is too Kantara-coded to ignore and sounds somewhat derivative. Despite limited resources and locations, cinematographer Shreesha Kuduvalli does not let the budget hamper the show’s aesthetics too much. The editing by Rajendra Urs is occasionally gimmicky, though it still keeps the viewer invested. While the show is based on a simple plot, it is camouflaged smartly.
Highlights?
Keeps you engaged
Familiar plot, though packaged smartly
Crisp episodes
Drawbacks?
Slightly predictable
Few casting choices and performances
Did I Enjoy It?
I went in with a blank slate and wasn’t disappointed.
Will You Recommend It?
If you don’t mind a crisp, time-pass, mystical thriller with not many familiar faces
Pochamma Web Series Reviewed by M9 News
