‘Subham’ movie review: Samantha’s maiden production is a hilarious genre bender

The ensemble cast of ‘Subham’
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

It is always a joy when a modest film swings big and lands comfortably, and Subham, a Telugu horror comedy, does just that. Marking actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s debut as a producer, the film is directed by Cinema Bandi’s Praveen Kandregula and written by Vasanth Maringanti. On the surface, it is a spooky comedy, but at heart, it is a sharp commentary on gender sensitivity — made all the more effective by smart writing and charming performances.

Set in the early 2000s, in the pre-internet days of coastal Bheemili, undivided Andhra Pradesh, the story begins with a sweetly awkward pelli choopulu (an arranged marriage meet-cute) between Srinu (Harshith Reddy), a cable TV operator, and Sri Valli (Shriya Kontham), a bank employee. The backdrop — where cable still reigns while satellite TV starts inching in — adds nostalgia without overwhelming the narrative.

The title Subham, a nod to the ‘happy ending’ title cards of old Telugu films, invites viewers to reflect on what a truly happy family looks like. Here, the answer is refreshingly modern: gender equity. Even when the script takes contemporary creative liberties, it does not feel out of place — thanks to its lightness of touch, plenty of laughs, and clever scares over a tight 125-minute runtime.

The subtle gender commentary in Subham begins to surface early on — elders casually question Sri Valli’s suitability as a bride simply because she works and does not quite fit the docile mould. Meanwhile, Srinu’s friends school him in ‘alpha male’ behaviour, believing it is the secret to keeping their wives impressed. These moments unfold with humour, highlighting the men’s cluelessness more than any toxic intent.

Then, the twist: the women of the town start getting possessed while watching a melodramatic TV soap. Cue chaos. What begins as satire turns into hilariously eerie mayhem, with jumpscares and slapstick humour as men scramble to understand what’s going on.

Director Praveen Kandregula and writer Vasanth Maringanti anchor the film in small-town quirks — familiar chatter, cable TV nostalgia, and idiosyncratic characters. Vivek Sagar’s music moves effortlessly from romance to horror, and Mridul Sen’s cinematography captures the tonal shift with a deft hand.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu in ‘Subham’
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The soap opera within the film, Janma Janmala Bandham, becomes a clever narrative device. Unlike recent films that use fictional soaps as running gags (Mathu Vadalara and its sequel comes to mind), Subham lets it reflect the gender dynamics between three couples, adding weight to the madness.

There are some lulls in the first half, but the pace picks up soon enough. Samantha’s deadpan cameo, playing against her usual image, is brief but effective. Her silence says more than a monologue.

Just when you think it might head towards a predictable resolution, Praveen and Vasanth throw in a surprise twist. If you have seen Cinema Bandi, you will enjoy the crossover even more, but it still works if you have not. This is the director’s playful answer to cinematic universes, reminding us that indie films can have shared worlds too.

Harshith Reddy (who stood out in Mail and Kalki 2898 AD) brings warmth to Srinu, and Shriya Kontham holds her own as a quietly assertive Sri Valli. The rest of the cast — Gavireddy Srinivas, Charan Peri, Shravani Lakshmi, Shalini Kondepudi, and Vamshidhar Goud — add to the fun without overplaying their parts.

There is also delightful detail, like a character proudly claiming he watches “Rings of the Lord”. One loose thread, though, is why the women get possessed in the first place. The film avoids giving a reason, and maybe that is for the best — some things are funnier when left unexplained.

Subham is a horror-comedy with a sharp message for all the ‘alpha males’ out there. And it lands the punch with plenty of laughs.