What’s “Mahendragiri Varahi” about?
Centuries ago, the Rajas of the Mahendragiri region committed several atrocities. One of them raped and killed a young woman who was believed to have been blessed by Goddess Varahi. Varahi then killed the Raja. Subsequently, a curse was placed on the royal family, with every male heir dying at the age of 33. The curse is said to have continued for the past 150 years.
In the present day, Siddharth (Sumanth) runs a YouTube channel that exposes superstitions. When he and his family visit the Varahi temple near Mahendragiri, Nagendravarma, a descendant of the royal family, and Siddharth’s brother Rajeev (Kamal Kamaraju) are killed by a bull at the temple. Siddharth then begins investigating the mystery behind these deaths and discovers that some people are using the name of Goddess Varahi to carry out the killings. Who is behind it, and how does Siddharth crack the mystery?
Analysis
“Mahendragiri Varahi” begins with Siddhu Jonnalagadda and Malavika Nair’s characters dying on Siddhu’s 33rd birthday. From there, the film establishes the curse placed on the Raja family by Goddess Varahi, which has supposedly continued for several decades.
The opening portion itself takes around 20 minutes to establish that the royal family has been cursed. The film then shifts to 31-year-old YouTuber Siddharth, played by Sumanth, who begins digging into the mystery behind the deaths.
The bigger problem is that, after nearly two hours, another character once again narrates the same story about the atrocities committed by the royals, the goddess’s curse and the deaths of male members of the lineage at the age of 33. In effect, the film tells us the same backstory twice through different characters.
The only real mystery Siddharth uncovers is that some people are using Goddess Varahi’s name to carry out the killings. He is also helped by a mysterious woman, Vaishnavi (Aishwarya Rajesh).
Almost everything is conveniently set up for the protagonist. Despite the divine setup, the film is less about the goddess and more about cracking a murder mystery. But once the real motive behind the killings and the perpetrators are revealed, the explanation feels far-fetched.
More importantly, the entire setup undermines the divine element that the film spends so much time establishing. If the goddess allows people to commit several murders in her name for generations, why does she suddenly intervene only when Siddharth starts investigating the case? The film itself ends up making the goddess appear less like a divine force and more like a convenient plot device.
The director also seems unclear about what he wants to say. The film starts as a supernatural story, turns into a murder mystery and eventually takes the familiar route of an atheist protagonist becoming a believer.
Sumanth, who is in his 50s, playing a 30-year-old YouTuber is another mismatch. He does little actual detective work, as he is repeatedly helped by the goddess and even the spirit of a dead person. That leaves very little for the protagonist to establish himself as a hero.
Anup Rubens tries to create a divine atmosphere with chants and hymns, but they are often used without adding much to the narrative.
Sumanth sleepwalks through the role, which gives him little scope to showcase his acting. Siddhu Jonnalagadda, in his cameo, is essentially playing an extension of his “Tillu” persona. Malavika Nair and Aishwarya Rajesh appear in forgettable cameo roles that do little justice to their talents. Rajeev Kanakala, Vennela Kishore and Brahmanandam get relatively better parts towards the end.
Technically, there is not much to write home about either. The VFX work is subpar, and the film relies heavily on creating a so-called divine feel rather than building a strong narrative. Director Santhosh Jagarlapudi, who previously made “Subramanyapuram” and “Lakshya”, fails to turn the intriguing premise into a compelling mystery.
Bottom Line
“Mahendragiri Varahi” is another attempt to ride the devotional wave and build a film around a divine figure, but the weak mystery, convenient writing and unconvincing climax work against it. It uses the goddess more as a plot device than as the foundation for a compelling story.
Rating: 2.25/5
By TC Staff
| Movie Name | Mahendragiri Varahi |
|---|---|
| Cast | Sumanth, Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Meenakshi Goswami, Aishwarya Rajesh, Malvika Nair, Brahmanandam, Rajeev Kanakala, Vennela Kishore, and others. |
| Director | Santhosh Jagarlapudi |
| Producer | Madhu Kalipu, Laxman |
| Music Director | Anup Rubens |
| DOP | Pratap R Krishna |
| Editor | Junaid Siddiqui |
| Release Date | 2026-09-11 |
