If you are someone looking for a typically unsettlingly experience where chairs get thrown away randomly, windows shatter, and lights flicker, then Prime Video’s “Adhura” might be the right choice for you.
Set in 2022 in an elite boarding school called Nilgiri Valley in the hills of Ooty, the story revolves around Vedant, a vulnerable young student played by Shrenik Arora. After the death of their Dean three months prior, mysterious events keep occurring around Vedant, leading to him being labeled as “Psycho.” Eventually, it is revealed that Vedant is possessed by a spirit. To help him, there is a school counselor named Supriya, played by Rasika Dugal. Meanwhile, a reunion is planned for the special batch of 2007 on their 15th graduation anniversary.
Adhiraj Jaisingh, an American college professor played by Ishwak Singh, returns to meet his best friend Ninad, played by Poojan Chhabra, with unanswered questions from their past. Adhiraj’s ex, Malvika Arora(played by Zoa Morani), now married to Dev Jamwal, the son of the school’s trustee and a student of the same batch, also attends the reunion. Along with their other batchmates, including Suyash Verma, a charming TV star, each character has their own reasons for returning. Chaos ensues as paranormal activities occur, people get killed, and secrets get uncovered.
Actors Ishwak Singh and Rasika Dugal manage to make this otherwise boring series bearable with their performances. However, the shabby screenplay makes these talented actors appear dull.
Writers and directors Gaurav Chala and Ananya Banerjee make decent directorial decisions but fail to create a truly horrifying and thrilling experience. The seven-episode series ends up feeling more like a murder-mystery than a supernatural thriller. The sub-plots include stories of best friends, love triangles, revenge, and homophobic bullying. Despite having many elements to explore, these subplots are only touched upon briefly in flashback scenes, failing to deliver their intended impact.
This being Amazon Prime’s first attempt at Indian horror, the result is an unintentionally silly experience. The makers rely on obvious signs such as a deer randomly appearing in front of a car, flickering lights, shaking windows, and objects falling apart to indicate that something is wrong. But it all falls miserably short of the high standards set by other series on the platform, such as “Mirzapur” (2018) and “Paatal Lok” (2020).
The most important concept in this schlocky horror series is the terrifying experiences within the boarding school. However, nothing lands effectively due to the flat screenplay. The characters’ backstories are unevenly revealed, and talented actor Jamini Pathak, who plays Hindi professor Chandra Prakash, is wasted in a role where he simply roams around the campus wearing a sweater, muffler, and large-round spectacles.
There are significant similarities with the Disney Plus Hotstar mystery-thriller “School Of Lies,” featuring a remote Gothic campus in a hill station (an elite boarding school), a counselor uncovering a mystery and looking after a student, themes of friendship, bullying, romance, murder, discovery of homosexual relationships, a loyal caretaker on the campus, a dean answering to board members, an only female student who is also a faculty’s daughter dating her batchmate, and school politics. The difference lies in the fact that “School Of Lies” had a dense and well-planned plot, unlike “Adhura” (meaning incomplete), which accurately represents its name.
Overall, the beautiful foggy landscapes of the hills work well, becoming the best locations for thrillers. “Adhura” replicates its name well, presenting an incomplete story about friendship and justice.
