What’s it about?
The villagers of Odela, instead of cremating the body of Tirupathi (Vasishta) — a man who raped and murdered several women — choose to bury him using a method called “Shava Samadhi.” However, Tirupathi’s vengeful spirit begins to haunt the village, possessing the bodies of those who come near his grave.
The spirit goes on a murderous spree, killing two newlywed couples and spreading terror. At the same time, Bhairavi (Tamannaah), the estranged sister of Radha (Hebah Patel) — who had killed Tirupathi to end his evil — returns to the village. Now a Naga Sadhu, will Bhairavi be able to stop Tirupathi’s spirit and bring peace back to Odela?
Analysis
“Odela 2,” the sequel to the 2022 OTT film “Odela Railway Station,” is a classic tale of good vs evil — a highly spiritual person confronting an evil spirit. Many Telugu films have explored similar templates in the supernatural thriller genre. What writer Sampath Nandi attempts here is to add another layer through the power of Odela Mallikarjuna Swamy, aka Lord Shiva, and the world of Shiva Sadhus. However, the blend of devotional themes with a supernatural thriller feels superficial, making the whole experience lack the emotional and narrative impact it aims for.
“Odela 2” picks up right where Odela Railway Station left off. With the villain killed in the first part, the sequel opens with villagers once again tormented — this time by his vengeful spirit. Possessing the bodies of innocent people who come near his grave, the spirit continues its reign of terror. The first half focuses on this haunting, as two brides and a police officer fall victim. It’s only after nearly an hour and a half that Tamannaah’s character enters, shifting the tone towards a devotional narrative. Unfortunately, this change in direction makes the screenplay feel predictable and emotionally flat.
The film has a few intriguing moments — especially in the first half, and one more in the second where the spirit wreaks havoc in the form of a whirlwind, drawing a mystical boundary around the village. But these two or three sequences aren’t enough to sustain a film that runs for nearly two hours and twenty minutes.
Pacing is a major issue. So is the predictability of the screenplay. The crucial climax — which runs for nearly 20 minutes — fails to evoke either the devotional grandeur or emotional intensity it aims for.
Tamannaah, playing a Naga Sadhu, explores a new dimension of her acting. She does full justice to this role. She brings spirutual authenticity with her apperance and acting. But in the final sequences, where her character should’ve matched the fierce energy of Anushka in Arundhati, she appears subdued — both in role and performance.
Vasishta N. Simha is effective as the vengeful spirit, with decent scope to perform. Hebah Patel makes a brief appearance.
On the technical front, the film has strong strengths. Soundarrajan’s cinematography and ‘Kantara’ fame Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score elevate certain moments. The visual effects, however, are average. The production design is effective.
Director Ashok Teja’s narrative execution and Sampath Nandi’s screenplay could have used more sharpness and conviction for a film of this kind.
Bottom line: “Odela 2” is a supernatural thriller with a couple of engaging moments. But when it shifts into devotional mode, it fails to evoke the intended depth and impact. Despite working in parts, the film falls short of being truly compelling. At times, the film looks more like a new spin on Anushka’s “Arundhati”; the only difference is the film is high on spirituality and less on supernatural thrills.
Rating: 2.5/5
Movie: Odela 2
Cast: Tamannaah Bhatia, Hebah Patel, Vasishta N Simha, Yuva, Naga Mahesh, Vamshi, and Pooja Reddy
Music: Ajaneesh Loknath
DOP: Soundar Rajan. S
Editor: Koti
Art Director: Rajeev Nair
Producer: D Madhu
Created by: Sampath Nandi
Directed by: Ashok Teja
Release Date: April 17, 2025
