Our Rating: 7/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
| Movie | Secret of Kalinga |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 18 June 2026 |
| Genre | Horror Comedy Mystery |
| Director | Saneesh Unnikrishnan |
| Cast | Dhyan Sreenivasan, Althaf Salim, Riyaz Khan, Malavika Menon |
| Language | Malayalam |
Secret of Kalinga hit theatres today with a story that stands out from regular Malayalam releases. Directed by Saneesh Unnikrishnan, the film stars Dhyan Sreenivasan and mixes horror, comedy and mystery in a college setting tied to ancient history.
The idea of blending modern campus life with old folklore has caught attention right from the teaser stage. Early audience reactions on platforms like X, Instagram and BookMyShow show curiosity mixed with moderate approval. Many viewers like the fresh concept of a college built on historic Kalinga land and the way supernatural elements enter everyday student life.
Dhyan Sreenivasan’s energetic and relatable performance gets frequent praise, along with decent chemistry from the supporting cast including Althaf Salim and Malavika Menon. The atmospheric setup and visual mood have been called engaging by some who watched the first shows.
At the same time, reactions are not fully glowing. A section of viewers feels the horror and comedy do not always blend smoothly. Some say the scary moments lack consistent intensity while the humour occasionally feels separate from the tension.
Overall sentiment right now is cautiously positive — people appreciate the attempt at something different, but opinions are still forming as more audiences share their full experience. The film will likely appeal to fans of light horror-comedies and those interested in stories that draw from Indian folklore without taking themselves too seriously.
Its main strength is the novel premise and committed lead performance. On the weaker side, the uneven tone and pacing may not satisfy everyone, especially purists who want stronger scares or tighter comedy.
It can work as a theatre watch if you want a fun, one-time group outing with some spooky moments. Those who prefer polished execution might feel more comfortable waiting for it on streaming.
Final Verdict: Secret of Kalinga brings an interesting hook and likeable performances but falls short of fully delivering on its genre mix. It is a decent one-time theatrical watch for audiences open to new experiments in Malayalam cinema and looking for light entertainment this weekend. Early social media feedback suggests it has enough curiosity value to find its audience among casual viewers.
Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available audience reactions and discussions on X at the time of writing. Individual opinions may vary.