Yashoda - Is there in truth, no beauty?

Yashoda

2022, Telugu

Directors Hari Shankar and Harish Narayan

Stars Samantha, Unni Mukundan, Varalaxmi, Sampath Raj, Murali Sharma, Rao Ramesh 

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐

There seems to be a new fascination among the directors in Tollywood of late - surrogacy. One of many good options for childless couples, it opens the world to the joys, struggles, and inexplicable chaos of parenting. It's also a way for a poor woman to earn a significant amount of money, what to speak of a good amount of pampering. 

But, from the perspective of the title character, Yashoda, something isn't quite right with the upscale resort in which she and a large group of other surrogates reside. She decides to investigate and in the process the audience is led into a very creepy thriller. 

Makes one wish there isn't a second half. Because after the interval the movie transforms into cops, sadistic villains, and personal agendas. There is no grief, reflection or even disdain at what we were exposed to minutes before. 

Samantha progresses through the story with limited facial expressions, and a certain disattachment to all that's going on. Moments of emotion are brought out as screams, sadness as controlled. It seems that she too is aware the director is losing focus on the frightening message being. 

Frightful is how a lack of planning ruined what started off as an interesting movie.