3 out of 5 Stars | Certificate: U/A | Runtime: 2h 18min | Released: February 28, 2026
Directed by Arun Kalyan | Starring Rahul Vijay, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ajay, Tanikella Bharani, Harsha Vardhan | Music: Sricharan Pakala | Cinematography: Sujith Saran
There is a fine line between a gripping psychological thriller and one that becomes so tangled in its own ambition that it begins to lose clarity. Masthishka Maranam sits right on that line. For a large part of its runtime, it pulls you into a dark, unsettling world filled with paranoia, memory distortion, and emotional trauma. You lean in. You try to piece things together. You admire the effort.
And yet, somewhere along the way, the film begins to over-explain, over-stretch, and slightly overestimate how much the audience is willing to keep up with its layered narrative.
This is a film that almost becomes great—but settles for being consistently intriguing.
What Is Masthishka Maranam About?
At its core, Masthishka Maranam is a story about the fragility of the human mind.
Arjun (Rahul Vijay) is a neuroscientist working on experimental memory mapping, a field that attempts to decode, store, and even manipulate human memories. His life takes a disturbing turn when his wife (Aishwarya Lekshmi) dies under mysterious circumstances—an incident that he himself cannot fully remember.
What follows is a narrative that blurs the line between reality and illusion. As Arjun digs deeper into his own fractured memory, he begins to suspect that he might not just be a victim of circumstance, but possibly the architect of something far more sinister.
The film moves between timelines, perspectives, and mental states, building a puzzle that constantly shifts under your feet. The premise is undeniably compelling. The execution, however, is a mixed bag.
Rahul Vijay Anchors the Chaos
Rahul Vijay delivers what is easily the most committed performance of his career so far. Playing a man who is both vulnerable and potentially dangerous is not easy, and he manages to balance those extremes with impressive control.
His portrayal of confusion, guilt, and slow psychological unraveling feels authentic. There are moments—particularly in the second act—where his performance elevates scenes that might otherwise feel overly written. His eyes do a lot of the work here, conveying fear and suspicion even when the dialogue becomes heavy.
If the film works as much as it does, it is largely because Rahul Vijay keeps it grounded emotionally.
Aishwarya Lekshmi Brings Emotional Weight
Aishwarya Lekshmi, despite limited screen time compared to the male lead, leaves a strong impact. Her character exists both as a real presence and as a psychological echo throughout the narrative, and she handles that duality with subtlety.
She brings a certain warmth and emotional credibility to the story, which is essential in a film that deals heavily with abstract concepts. Without her performance, the emotional stakes would have felt significantly weaker.
The chemistry between the leads, though not explored extensively, is convincing enough to make the central conflict matter.
A Strong First Half, A Complicated Second Half
The first half of Masthishka Maranam is where the film is at its best.
It sets up the mystery with confidence, introduces its central concept without overwhelming the viewer, and maintains a steady pace that keeps you engaged. The tension is organic. The questions feel intriguing rather than confusing.
Then comes the second half.
The film begins to layer twist upon twist, sometimes without giving enough breathing room for each revelation to land. Instead of deepening the mystery, it occasionally muddies it. Certain explanations feel unnecessarily complex, and a few emotional beats get lost in the process of trying to be clever.
By the time the climax arrives, you understand what the film is trying to say—but you also feel like it could have said it more effectively with tighter writing.
Direction Shows Promise, Needs Restraint
Director Arun Kalyan clearly has a strong visual and conceptual sensibility. There are stretches in the film that are genuinely impressive, particularly in how he visualizes memory breakdown and psychological instability.
However, the film suffers from a lack of restraint.
The need to constantly surprise the audience results in a screenplay that feels overcrowded. Instead of trusting the core idea, the narrative keeps adding layers that do not always enhance the experience.
That said, this is far from a weak debut (or early-career work). It shows ambition, confidence, and a willingness to experiment—qualities that are always welcome in mainstream Telugu cinema.
Technical Strengths Elevate the Experience
Sujith Sarang’s cinematography is one of the film’s biggest assets. The use of lighting, shadows, and tight framing adds to the sense of unease. The visual tone perfectly complements the psychological themes.
Sricharan Pakala’s background score does heavy lifting here. It enhances tension effectively, particularly in the investigative and introspective sequences. However, like the screenplay, it occasionally leans into excess, becoming a bit too loud in moments that needed silence.
The editing, on the other hand, could have been sharper. A film like this demands precision, and a tighter cut might have made the second half far more impactful.
What the Film Gets Right
Masthishka Maranam deserves credit for attempting something different. Psychological thrillers in Telugu cinema often play it safe, but this film takes risks. It dives into complex territory and tries to challenge its audience.
There are sequences that genuinely work—scenes where tension, performance, and technical craft come together beautifully. The core idea is strong. The performances are sincere. The intent is clear.
It is not a lazy film. It is an overambitious one.
Final Verdict
Masthishka Maranam is a film that starts off like a tightly wound psychological thriller and gradually turns into a more complicated, slightly uneven experience. It is engaging enough to keep you watching and interesting enough to make you think—but not disciplined enough to leave a lasting impact.
It is worth a watch for its performances, its premise, and its attempt to do something different. Just be prepared for a narrative that occasionally loses itself in its own complexity.
Quick Verdict
Strengths: Strong central performance by Rahul Vijay, intriguing psychological premise, effective first half, impressive cinematography, and a tense background score.
Weaknesses: Overcomplicated second half, excessive twists, uneven pacing, slightly loud background score, and a climax that could have been sharper.
Who Should Watch It: Fans of psychological thrillers, viewers who enjoy non-linear storytelling, and audiences looking for something different from routine commercial cinema.
Who Might Skip It: Viewers who prefer simple, straightforward narratives and those who get frustrated with overly complex storytelling.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
OTT: Expected to stream on a major platform within 4–6 weeks after its theatrical run (official confirmation awaited).
Masthishka Maranam is currently running in theaters. Certificate: U/A. Runtime: approximately 2 hours 18 minutes.
