Bandi Review: Aditya Om's survival thriller is novel and has decent thrills

3/5

Bandi Story

Aditya Varma (Aditya) is a money-minded man who does not believe in human relationships. However, his life turns upside down when he gets stranded alone in a forest. On top of that, he must deal with a mysterious girl who has honey-trapped him for money. How Aditya Varma navigates this bizarre situation in the forest forms the basic plot of the film.

Bandi Review

Bandi is a survival thriller produced by Raghu Tirumala. The film features only one character, Aditya Om, and revolves around his life story, how he gets stuck in the forest and eventually escapes. The film carries an underlying message about human exploitation of nature, which ultimately leads to dire consequences. This theme is beautifully conveyed in the film’s climax by Raghu Tirumala.

Since there is only one character, audiences might wonder how the director manages to sustain engagement within such a limited setup. However, Raghu Tirumala deserves appreciation for attempting something new and unconventional. Considering the budget constraints and the fact that he is a debut director, Raghu has done an impressive job with Bandi.

The film is slightly low on emotions, and this aspect could have been enhanced. However, the focus on thrills rather than emotions does not disappoint. One of the biggest highlights is the way Aditya Om’s character gets trapped in the forest, with the thrilling moments unfolding organically. Another strong point is the film’s crisp runtime, which ensures minimal deviations from the core storyline.

The production values are top-notch, and Raghu Tirumala’s use of nature to create thrilling sequences is one of the film’s biggest strengths.

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When it comes to performances, Aditya Om, a seasoned actor, delivers a compelling performance. He portrays the transition from an arrogant, money-minded man to someone in a helpless situation remarkably well.

The music and BGM by Veeral, Lavan, and Sudesh Sawant are impactful, enhancing the film’s atmosphere. Since the entire movie is shot in a forest, the cinematography by Madhusudan Kota plays a crucial role. His visual storytelling effectively showcases both the beauty and cruelty of nature.

Bandi, meaning "getting caged," is a theme well-highlighted throughout the film. While there are minor pacing issues and a lack of emotional depth, the engaging thrills and fresh concept make up for these shortcomings.

Bandi Verdict

On the whole, Bandi is a survival thriller that has solid visuals, amazing backdrop and sincere writing. If you ignore the slightly weak emotional graph, the film makes up a decent watch this weekend.

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