Virupaksha (2023): Ancient Rituals, Occult Secrets, and Fear in the Forest | 🩸 ASRS Entertainment 🕯️ | 10 August 2025
Virupaksha (2023): Ancient Rituals, Occult Secrets, and Fear in the Forest
Introduction
In a cinematic world flooded with urban ghosts and haunted houses, Virupaksha (2023) takes us back to rural India—where beliefs are ancient, forests are sacred, and fear wears the face of tradition. Directed by Karthik Dandu and produced by Sukumar, this Telugu-language supernatural thriller is intelligent horror at its finest, blending age-old occult practices with new-age logic.
It’s spine-chilling, story-driven, and visually hypnotic—an unforgettable experience in Indian horror.
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Set in 1990s Andhra Pradesh, the story follows Surya (played by Sai Dharam Tej) who visits a remote village named Rudravanam for a temple festival. But celebrations are cut short when a series of mysterious deaths begin to plague the village. People die in grotesque ways—none of which science can explain.
As fear spreads, villagers believe they’re cursed. A strict lockdown is imposed, isolating the village from the outside world. Surya, an outsider and man of logic, begins to uncover a shocking history of black magic, ritual sacrifice, and revenge. All evidence points to a 30-year-old occult event that’s returning to finish what it started.
What he discovers may not just save the village—but decide the fate of his own soul.
What Makes Virupaksha Truly Terrifying
🌕 Setting – The dense forests, eerie silence, and remote temple architecture build an unsettling atmosphere.
🩸 Occult Lore – This isn’t jump-scare horror. It’s ritual-based, almost Lovecraftian, with ancient handwritten scripts, blood rituals, hexes, and chants.
🧠 Science vs. Superstition – Surya’s journey from disbelief to horror is what makes the plot compelling. It’s about what happens when reason is no match for ritual.
🔥 Realistic Fear – Instead of ghosts, the film explores fear of the unknown, mass panic, and blind faith—making it disturbingly relatable.
Key Themes
-
The power of belief: Whether in science or rituals, belief defines outcomes.
-
Generational sins: The past doesn’t die—it waits for the right time.
-
Isolation as horror: The village lockdown feels suffocating and adds to the terror.
-
Feminine rage & trauma: A subplot uncovers deep injustices done to a woman accused of witchcraft—whose story becomes the core of the horror.
Cinematography, Music & Direction
Karthik Dandu’s direction is crisp and haunting. Each frame, especially the temple interiors and forest shots, oozes dread.
-
Cinematographer Shamdat Sainudeen paints a haunting portrait of shadows and flickering lamps.
-
B. Ajaneesh Loknath’s music—especially the occult chants and background score—feels primal and haunting.
The tension builds without flashy VFX or jump scares. Instead, it's slow-burn horror that tightens like a ritual noose.
Performances
-
Sai Dharam Tej delivers his career-best, grounded and real.
-
Samyuktha Menon is subtle but magnetic—especially in the final act.
-
Supporting cast adds authentic rural depth—villagers, priests, and the mysterious outcasts.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss Virupaksha
-
You enjoy ritualistic horror rooted in Indian folk tradition
-
You’re done with urban horror tropes
-
You want a story-first horror film with emotional weight
-
You believe that sometimes, the past can curse the future
"Some curses are not broken—they’re inherited. And they return… when you least expect them."
Read Also
👉 [Tumbbad: When Greed Becomes a Monster]
👉 [13B: What If Your TV Watched You Back?]
👉 [Pari: Bollywood’s Bloodiest Angel]
👉 [Aval: The Spirit Next Door Still Screams]
🥁 Thanks! 💌
Comments
Post a Comment