Trikaala’ Movie Review

• Trikaal explores mythology and dark fantasy
• Ajay performance stands out in Trikaal
• Visuals and background score impress strongly

Trikaala: A Script of God is a new-age mythological dark thriller that brings together karma philosophy, reincarnation, tantric powers, psychological fear, and emotional drama into one visually immersive cinematic experience. Directed by Mani Tellagooti, the film had already generated strong curiosity through its teaser, trailer, and posters, reminding audiences of dark mystical worlds seen in films like Tumbbad and Kantara. Released worldwide by Chaganti Productions, Trikaal attempts to create a unique mythological horror universe on the big screen.

Story

The story begins centuries ago in the mythical land of “Kumari Khandam,” where sages hide powerful tantric scriptures and ancient technological secrets to prevent them from falling into the hands of demonic forces. To protect these secrets, they create a divine weapon called “Shakti Aetha” and entrust it to the warrior king Trikaal Varma. During a fierce battle against evil forces, Trikaal Varma dies, and the sages imprison his soul inside a mystical cosmic egg, predicting that he will awaken again in the Kali Yuga when humanity faces its greatest threat.

In the present day, Shiva (Master Mahendran) arrives in the city searching for his missing lover Nidhi (Sahithi). He carries a haunted mobile phone possessed by dark energy. During his search, he discovers the mysterious Vaitaran (Ajay), a man suffering from Porphyria, a rare condition that prevents him from tolerating sunlight. However, Vaitaran is actually the reincarnation of Trikaal Varma.

Tormented by emotional trauma and psychological conflict, Vaitaran murders his father and stepmother (Aamani) before taking his own life. Yet his spirit continues to haunt a terrifying mansion. Psychiatrist Maya (Shraddha Das) becomes trapped inside the house, while an ancient demon king prepares to rise again and reclaim dominance over Earth.

How the Darwadi tantric tribe reactivates the mystical cosmic egg, how Trikaal Varma’s soul returns, and Shiva’s true connection to this supernatural battle form the core of the story.

Plus Points

Concept & Writing

The strongest aspect of Trikaal is undoubtedly its concept. Rather than simply discussing karma and reincarnation through dialogues, the film visualizes these themes through layered character arcs, psychological trauma, and spiritual conflict. The blend of mythology with modern-day horror elements gives the film a fresh cinematic identity.

Performances

Ajay delivers one of the film’s most memorable performances as Vaitaran. His portrayal of a mentally disturbed man trapped between darkness, fear, and supernatural forces is intense and haunting. The specially designed masks, costumes, and dark visual styling around his character add depth to the role.

Master Mahendran gives a natural and emotionally engaging performance. He handles innocence, fear, romance, and emotional breakdowns with ease, especially in the climax portions where his emotional scenes connect strongly with the audience.

Shraddha Das is another major highlight of the film. Her role carries more mystery than glamour, and she delivers a controlled yet impactful performance as psychiatrist Maya. Her screen presence enhances the film’s dark tone, particularly during the horror and emotional sequences.

Veteran actress Aamani also leaves a strong impact. She portrays motherhood, fear, emotional pain, and suspicion with remarkable authenticity, adding emotional weight to the narrative.

Director Mani Tellagooti’s Vision

Director Mani Tellagooti proves himself to be a technically strong filmmaker with a clear cinematic vision. Unlike conventional filmmakers who focus on VFX only during post-production, Mani appears to have designed every frame visually right from the scripting stage.

Each shot in Trikaal follows a distinct dark visual language. Through shadow-heavy frames, empty corridors, dim lighting, and slow camera movements, he builds a haunting atmosphere that constantly creates suspense and uneasiness. The film often feels like an expansive “dark mystic universe.”

His editing approach also stands out. Instead of relying on commercial fast-cut editing, the film focuses more on cinematic rhythm, sound design, and visual mood. Even the trailer shots feel designed specifically for a theatrical big-screen experience.

One of the film’s biggest strengths is how it achieves a grand scale despite not relying heavily on massive physical sets. Through smart frame composition, CGI backdrops, and digital extensions, Mani creates visuals that often resemble Hollywood dark fantasy cinema.

Pawan Channa’s Visual Magic

Cinematographer Pawan Channa elevates the film significantly with his visual storytelling. His camera captures not just the characters, but the emotions hidden within every frame.

The film’s lighting design is exceptional, especially in scenes involving mythology, ancient temples, haunted mansions, and spiritual warfare. The use of deep black tones combined with golden light beams creates a rich mystical atmosphere.

Several frames resemble gothic paintings, giving the movie an international dark fantasy aesthetic. The use of shadows in Vaitaran’s scenes, wide-angle shots inside ancient caves, and dimly lit temple corridors leave a lasting visual impact.

Particularly in horror sequences, the slow and uncomfortable camera movements make viewers feel trapped within the fear itself. In many scenes, tension is created purely through lighting and framing rather than jump scares.

Pawan Channa’s greatest strength lies in making even limited-budget frames appear visually rich and cinematic. That is why the film’s posters, teaser, and trailer consistently carry a “big-screen visual experience” feel.

Music & Background Score

Music by Harshavardhan Rameshwar, known for films like Arjun Reddy and Animal, becomes one of the film’s biggest assets. His compositions and sound textures elevate the dark emotional atmosphere effectively.

Additionally, SHAJITH HUMAYUN’s background score gives life to the film’s horror and tantric sequences. In several scenes, sound design takes precedence over traditional music, making the experience more immersive and unsettling.

VFX & CGI

VFX plays a crucial role in Trikaal. The mystical cosmic egg, demonic powers, ancient worlds, and spiritual battle sequences are designed impressively. The CGI never feels excessive and blends naturally into the storytelling.

The interval block especially stands out with its visually stunning VFX work. The combination of practical lighting and CGI integration gives many scenes a realistic fantasy feel.

Production Values

Producer Radhika Srinivas has mounted the film with rich production values. Every frame reflects quality in terms of costumes, set design, VFX, color grading, and technical presentation. Supporting a visually ambitious concept like this shows the producer’s confidence in experimental storytelling.

Final Verdict

Trikaala is not a routine horror film. It is a blend of mythology, psychological horror, dark fantasy, and visual thriller elements. Its storytelling, visuals, background score, and technical execution combine to create a unique cinematic experience.

With mythological mysteries, karma philosophy, spiritual concepts, and Hollywood-style dark visuals, Trikaal offers something fresh for audiences looking beyond conventional commercial cinema. Fans of mystical thrillers and atmospheric dark fantasy films are likely to enjoy this immersive experience.

THE SOUTH INDIA TIMES REVIEW & RATING: 3.5/5