samantha yashoda movie review

Thanks For Rating

Reminder successfully set, select a city.

• Nashik Times
• Aurangabad Times
• Badlapur Times

You can change your city from here. We serve personalized stories based on the selected city

• Edit Profile
• Briefs Movies TV Web Series Lifestyle Trending Visual Stories Music Events Videos Theatre Photos Gaming

Fake currency notes with Anupam Kher's picture instead of Mahatma Gandhi worth Rs 1.60 crore siezed in Gujarat

Ananya Panday melts the internet as she drops adorable PIC with Shah Rukh Khan, calls him 'best friend'; Suhana Khan reacts!

'Devara: Part 1' box office collection day 3: The Hindi version of the Jr NTR, Janhvi Kapoor starrer sees a jump on Sunday; clocks in Rs 40 crore in all languages

Red Alert! Shweta Tiwari's stunning looks in red

Breaking Boundaries: Actresses Redefining Action Roles

Before Triptii Dimri, Shraddha Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, were considered for 'Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video' with Rajkummar Rao

• Movie Reviews

Movie Listings

Binny And Family

Nasha Jurm aur Gangste...

Kahan Shuru Kahan Khat...

Metro In Dino

The Buckingham Murders...

Thalapathy Is The G.O....

​Mahesh Babu slays in black

Marathi Actresses Who Stunned In Red Outfits

Punjabi suits inspired by Punjabi actresses

​In pics: Attractive look of actress Sneha​

Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan's most charming moments together

'Kale Lagan Che' actress Puja Joshi's mesmerizing pics

Dushara Vijayan Effortlessly Embraces Aesthetic Saree Looks

Mrunal Thakur spills elegance in traditional attire

Nayanthara to Keerthy Suresh, best photos of the week

​In Pics: Anaswara Rajan dazzles in glamorous outfits​

Love, Sitara

Jo Tera Hai Woh Mera Ha...

Kahan Shuru Kahan Khata...

The Buckingham Murders

Thalapathy Is The G.O.A...

Will & Harper

Kill 'Em All 2

His Three Daughters

Never Let Go

Dancing Village: The Cu...

Apollo 13: Survival

Transformers One

Meiyazhagan

Sattam En Kayyil

Thozhar Cheguevera

Lubber Pandhu

Kadaisi Ulaga Por

Kozhipannai Chelladurai

Onam means kasavu, sadh...

Kishkindha Kaandam

Ajayante Randam Moshana...

Bharathanatyam

Palum Pazhavum

Adios Amigo

Level Cross

Agathokakological

Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi

Roopanthara

Family Drama

Back Bencherz

Manikbabur Megh: The Cl...

Rajnandini Paul and Ama...

Chaalchitra Ekhon

Nayan Rahasya

Ardaas Sarbat De Bhale ...

Teriya Meriya Hera Pher...

Kudi Haryane Val Di

Shinda Shinda No Papa

Sarabha: Cry For Freedo...

Zindagi Zindabaad

Maujaan Hi Maujaan

Chidiyan Da Chamba

White Punjab

Dharmaveer 2

Navra Maza Navsacha 2

Gharat Ganpati

Ek Don Teen Chaar

Danka Hari Namacha

Aamhi Jarange

Vishay Hard

Devra Pe Manva Dole

Dil Ta Pagal Hola

Ittaa Kittaa

Jaishree Krishh

Bushirt T-shirt

Shubh Yatra

Your Rating

Write a review (optional).

• Movie Reviews /

Would you like to review this movie?

Cast & Crew

Yashoda Movie Review : Samantha 'delivers' a stellar performance

• Times Of India

Yashoda - Official Telugu Trailer

Yashoda - Official Tamil Trailer

Yashoda - Official Hindi Trailer

Yashoda - Official Kannada Trailer

Yashoda - Official Malayalam Trailer

Yashoda - Official Tamil Teaser

Yashoda - Official Telugu Teaser

Yashoda - Official Malayalam Teaser

Yashoda - Official Kannada Teaser

Yashoda - Official Hindi Teaser

Users' Reviews

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

leiremba Thokchom 54 days ago

Good film 

beniwalits 55 days ago

Superb movie ����

Hirak Buch 203 days ago

SAMANTHA is the most versatile actress I have ever seen.

Anita Kumari 285 days ago

THIS MOVIE "YASHODA" IS FANTASTIC.ITS TOUCH MY HEART BECAUSE IT SHOW CARE OF HER SISTER.FOR SAVE HER SISTER SHE TAKE RISK OF HER LIFE AND TO LOSS HER BUEATY .

poojarbirudula 553 days ago

It’s all about struggles of the economically backward women n how they are exploited by criminals…. Best part this movie also includes sexual abuse at work place …. Which mostly ignored all the movies….. it’s all abt women empowerment Jai hindi best movie I can rate it 1000 start

Visual Stories

How to make protein-rich Lahori Paneer Korma

Entertainment

​Vaani Kapoor exudes elegance in stunning sarees​

​10 reasons kids love their dads more than moms​

​How to make Curry Leaves Dosa at home

10 green vegetables that have highest protein content

Popular Movie Reviews

Devara: Part - 1

Prabuthwa Junior Kalashala

Mathu Vadalara 2

Prasanna Vadanam

Mr.Bachchan

35-Chinna Katha Kaadu

Siddharth Roy

• Entertainment
• Life & Style

To enjoy additional benefits

CONNECT WITH US

‘Yashoda’ movie review: A spirited Samantha powers a thriller drama

Telugu film ‘yashoda’ springs a few surprises and benefits hugely from samantha ruth prabhu’s performance that makes up for some missteps .

November 11, 2022 02:51 pm | Updated 03:26 pm IST

Samantha Ruth Prabhu takes on a surrogacy scandal in ‘Yashoda’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

When Yashoda (Samantha Ruth Prabhu) asks if a courageous person necessarily denotes a man, the cinema hall erupts in cheers. It is one of the moments that blurs the distinction between Samantha the actor and the star and directors Hari and Harish use it to good effect. Samantha comes up with a fine performance and keeps us invested in a story that blends emotional drama with slick action. Surrogacy is one aspect of this science fiction thriller, built on true incidents. The payoffs could have been better, but this is an interesting film that tries to do something new.

At a hospital in the vicinity of a lower middle class settlement, we first see a teary-eyed Yashoda gazing at a poster of an infant. She has opted to be a surrogate mother to tide over a financial necessity and agrees to be transferred to a surrogacy facility, as per the agreement, for the rest of her journey. The warm hues of the basti make way for cooler tones of the plush hospital she finds herself in. 

Cast: Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Unni Mukundan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar

Direction: hari and harish, music: mani sharma.

Parallely, Yashoda’s journey is juxtaposed by mysterious deaths of a Hollywood actress and an aspiring Miss India contestant, which puts the cops in a spot.

A large part of the drama unfolds in the luxury hospital facility managed by Madhu (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar). Art director Ashok builds a make-believe world that is aesthetic yet eerie. Yashoda adapts to the place with bewilderment, playfulness and stubbornness, gradually befriending other women who inhabit the place. She also forms a bond with the only doctor in the facility, Gautam (Unni Mukundan). Then, when something sinister happens, Yashoda decides to get to the bottom of the puzzle.

The directors sprinkle the narrative with plenty of clues, seemingly casual at first, but which eventually construct the big picture necessary for the thriller. For instance, Yashoda’s routine of sticking her bindi on a mirror — a habit with many women — has been used smartly in this story. 

Other women in the hospital, played by Divya Sripada and Kalpika Ganesh among others, are bound by the common fact that they opt to be surrogate mothers for financial necessity. Yet, they are distinct characters; one is calm and patient while another has a tomboy-ish attitude. Divya and Kalpika are impressive in their brief parts.

The story goes full throttle when Yashoda shifts into an investigating mode. The transition to the action thriller is smooth. In one of the first fights that Yashoda is engaged in, it is her survival instinct that kicks in; she takes on her opponent with anything she finds in a room. Her fights are with men and women and she also has to outrun an animal. Though it is not tough to guess what Yashoda might find about her missing friends, when it actually unfolds, it is disturbing and does not make for an easy watch.

The story tries to address whether surrogate mothers can have an emotional attachment with the child that is growing within them. However, surrogacy is only a part of the scam this story deals with. Much of the science fiction revealed in the second half comes across as bizarre, though dramatised from true incidents, partly because of the unidimensional and stereotyped characterisations surrounding the idea of beauty and women. The stark distinction between black and white characters, with no room for grey, makes it a lopsided drama.

In the parallel universe, the police (Murali Sharma, Sampath Raj and Shatru play key characters and do not disappoint) find hurdles at every turn. One of the double-faced characters is not hard to guess, but other reveals hold interest.

A key factor that makes a thriller work is that the clues that are hiding in plain sight need to make sense when you look back; Yashoda gets some of it right. There are loose ends as well.

The film rests on the shoulders of Samantha who plays Yashoda with both tenderness and tenacity; the action sequences are right up her alley and she is convincing. Varalaxmi plays her part with a casual ease but her characterisation could have been a lot more intriguing. Unni Mukundan is convincing in the significant character that takes the story forward. Sukumar’s cinematography and Mani Sharma’s score add to the mood of the thriller.

Had Yashoda avoided a few unidimensional characterisations and tied up the loose ends better, it would have been a riveting thriller. But despite the missteps, it manages to be engaging.

Related Topics

Telangana / Telugu cinema

Top News Today

• Access 10 free stories every month
• Save stories to read later
• Access to comment on every story
• Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
• Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products

Terms & conditions   |   Institutional Subscriber

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

• Assembly Elections 2024
• ₹ 10 Lakh,1" data-value="Loan ₹ 10 Lakh">Loan ₹ 10 Lakh

• Entertainment
• Latest News
• Games & Puzzles
• Web Stories
• Mumbai News
• Bengaluru News
• Daily Digest

Yashoda movie review: Samantha Ruth Prabhu shines in familiar but engaging thriller

Yashoda movie review: samantha ruth prabhu delivers a knockout performance in the telugu thriller, playing a role that’s hard to guess for the most part. the film released on november 11..

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has been very picky when it comes to her female-centric projects. Her choices so far have paid off handsomely with films like U-Turn and Oh! Baby working big time with the audiences. Her latest outing Yashoda, too, falls in the same category, as it offers something new to the viewers and it succeeds to a large extent, despite taking a very familiar route when it comes to some twists. In a refreshing departure from what we’ve seen of her in the recent past, Samantha delivers a knockout performance in Yashoda, playing a role that’s hard to guess for the most part. It’s an earnest performance and she makes even some dull predictable moments watchable with her presence. Also read: Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Telugu film Yashoda earns ₹ 55 crore already, does highest pre-release business of actor's career

Samantha plays Yashoda, and her world revolves around her younger sister. When she desperately needs money for her sister’s operation, she signs up to become a surrogate mother. She’s soon transferred to the high-tech facility called Eva; a company that’s helping people fulfil their dreams of becoming parents through surrogacy. It’s a major change for Yashoda, who slowly starts to make friends inside with some fellow surrogate mothers. Everything is fine at first but things slowly start to spiral out of control, and Yashoda suspects that something suspicious about the place. The local police is also investigating a high profile case of a road accident involving a businessman and a top model. As Yashoda tries to uncover the secrets of Eva, a strange connection is established with the case the police are working on. The rest of the story is about what’s Eva actually doing in the name of surrogacy?

Yashoda takes time to actually take off and get the audience invested. It has some very interesting stretches as it openly talks about making surrogacy mainstream and the attempt deserves to be praised. At the same time, it also talks about how we as humans are abusing medical advancement for our own greed. Somewhere, Yashoda tries to walk a tightrope in trying to establish the fact that surrogacy can both be a boon as well as bane. The film’s central premise is very interesting and it’s rarely explored before. This is exactly what makes Yashoda standout, and probably made even Samantha sign the project. The grouse comes in the form of the plot twist which has been tried many times before. It’s not about the familiarity of the plot twist but it’s so generic that it lacks excitement.

Nevertheless, it’s Samantha’s show all the way. The way she handles her character and the eventual transformation is proof of her ability to go the extra mile to make her performance look authentic. Both Unni Mukundan and Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar get very interesting parts and it’s quite bold of both of them to play such characters without much fuss. The production design deserves a special mention since most of the story unfolds inside a large facility and the setwork is commendable.

• Samantha Ruth Prabhu
• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Weather Today
• HT Newsletters
• Subscription
• Print Ad Rates
• Code of Ethics

• India vs Sri Lanka
• Live Cricket Score
• Cricket Teams
• Cricket Players
• ICC Rankings
• Cricket Schedule
• Shreyas Iyer
• Harshit Rana
• Kusal Mendis
• Ravi Bishnoi
• Rinku Singh
• Riyan Parag
• Washington Sundar
• Avishka Fernando
• Charith Asalanka
• Dasun Shanaka
• Khaleel Ahmed
• Pathum Nissanka
• Other Cities
• Income Tax Calculator
• Petrol Prices
• UGC NET Answer Key 2024 Live
• Diesel Prices
• Silver Rate
• Relationships
• Art and Culture
• Telugu Cinema
• Tamil Cinema
• Board Exams
• Exam Results
• Admission News
• Employment News
• Competitive Exams
• BBA Colleges
• Engineering Colleges
• Medical Colleges
• BCA Colleges
• Medical Exams
• Engineering Exams
• Love Horoscope
• Annual Horoscope
• Festival Calendar
• Compatibility Calculator
• Career Horoscope
• Manifestation
• The Economist Articles
• Lok Sabha States
• Lok Sabha Parties
• Lok Sabha Candidates
• Explainer Video
• On The Record
• Vikram Chandra Daily Wrap
• Entertainment Photos
• Lifestyle Photos
• News Photos
• Olympics 2024
• Olympics Medal Tally
• Other Sports
• EPL 2023-24
• ISL 2023-24
• Asian Games 2023
• Public Health
• Economic Policy
• International Affairs
• Climate Change
• Gender Equality
• future tech
• HT Friday Finance
• Explore Hindustan Times
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Subscription - Terms of Use

• Power List 2024
• Cannes 2024
• In-Depth Stories
• Web Stories
• Oscars 2024
• FC Wrap 2023
• Film Festivals
• FC Adda 2023
• Companion Zone
• Best Indian Films Forever List
• FC Front Row
• FC Disruptors
• Mental Health & Wellness

Yashoda, on Amazon Prime Video, For The Most Part, Is A Slick Thriller Helmed By Samantha In A Winning Performance

Directors: Haresh Narayan, K Hari Shankar

Writers: Pulagam Chinnarayana (dialogue writer), Haresh Narayan (story and screenplay), K Hari Shankar (story and screenplay)

Cast: Samantha Ruth Prabhu , Unni Mukundan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar

Yashoda is a Samantha Ruth Prabhu star-vehicle, but for a lot of its runtime, it doesn’t feel like one. The stardom here seems unobtrusive, and the star-vehicle, contrary to standard practice, seems hesitant to step on others to elevate the central figure. The performance itself is remarkable for how it avoids the louder notes we’re used to in films like this, and yet, by the end, my theater broke into whistles. The line that brought the whistles though, is delivered so quietly and without exaggeration by the star, that you wish more star vehicles helmed by male leads had the same grace. 

A spoiler-free introduction is probably appropriate—the film is a medical thriller in which the protagonist, the eponymous Yashoda (Samantha Ruth Prabhu) signs up to become a surrogate mother with a mysterious agency called “Eva Institute” managed by Madhu (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar). On the surface, everything seems posh and comfortable, yet there is a sense that something ominous is afoot. Until the film reveals its hand, the ratcheting up of the tension works wonderfully, and you catch yourself looking for clues hidden in the frame. 

One of the great merits of  Samantha’s performance in this stretch is that she succeeds in investing the audience in the film through her performance without overplaying the character’s innocence to the point of annoyance, or eventually, her intelligence to the point of incredulity. When she flirts with a doctor (Unni Mukundan) in the institute, you’re fooled into thinking that there is chemistry there, but when you see that the doctor is stoic and unmoved, you realize that she'd conjured the chemistry all by herself. The performance also invests you in the film’s action—its fights which are frenetic, gritty, and well done. It is perhaps notable that this time, Samantha’s voice isn’t dubbed in Telugu by Chinmayi Sripada—this means that though there is a slight accent to her Telugu, there is a register of expression that feels more organic, a vulnerability that is woven into the performance through her voice.

Eva Institute is also something of a rarity in commercial Telugu films—a sci-fi-inspired behemoth brought alive by the intelligent production design and art direction. The institute is a prison dressed up to look like a seven-star deluxe luxury resort, and the writing is smart enough to have the group dynamics of the women admitted to it resemble that of prison inmates. When Yashoda is inducted into one of these groups, she has to sneak around to fetch cigarettes for the gang leader as a right of initiation. There is also a scene in which the women, many of them victims of patriarchy,  speak about where they come from, and how their experiences led them there. 

A parallel subplot involving Murali Sharma and Sampath Raj as officers investigating crimes that ultimately converges with Yashoda’s story is effective in the way good procedurals are, until the film reveals its cards. This is when the film reveals itself to be pulpier than it originally led you to believe. Though the denouement does satisfy all the plot questions raised initially, there is some hamming, scenery chewing, and one-dimensional villainy on display. The influence of Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017) is apparent, but that film managed to be pulpy, yet political, without devolving into silliness. It doesn’t help that when the film is caught in exposition, Samantha isn’t on screen. Rao Ramesh is, though, and his turn as a conniving politician in this stretch saves the film from taking itself too seriously.  

While the film is inspired by real crimes, in its final act, the film comes close to advocating a specious form of traditionalism: a baby is delivered naturally without medical intervention and there is some championing of “our old ways”. To its credit, this happens because there are no medical facilities nearby, but after we’ve been conditioned throughout its runtime to suspect hospitals, medical workers, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies, one can’t help but be a little skeptical of the prescriptive intentions of the plot. Maybe we should be thankful that these intentions remain implicit. We should definitely be thankful for Samantha’s stardom. 

Related Stories

• THE WEEK TV
• ENTERTAINMENT
• WEB STORIES
• JOBS AND CAREER
• Home Home -->
• Review Review -->
• Movies Movies -->

'Yashoda' review: Samantha shatters stereotypes to shine in this thriller

'Yashoda' is an ode to motherhood

Yashoda is an important milestone in Samantha’s journey to become south India’s female superstar.

Simply put, Samantha rises above the regular commercial trappings of an actress to deliver a clincher. When you leave the theatre you cannot recollect any scenes of the actress grooving to catchy songs or watching mushy scenes of her with a male actor. The hero of the movie is Samantha—the mother.

The plot starts with Samantha embracing motherhood, fighting off villains while pregnant and mouthing dialogues that intend to question why can't women be as brave as men. In one particular scene, Yashoda assures fellow pregnant women that she is like the Hindu epic character Yashoda (foster mother to Lord Krishna) and like her, will protect their unborn children. The glorified and emotional scenes elevate the screen persona of Samantha while striking a chord with the audience.

Yashoda, for the lure of money, agrees to become a surrogate mother. Through an organised system, she is transported to a facility with the latest and most sophisticated infrastructure. There, she mingles with four other participants and forms a bond with them. The facility called Eva is run by Dr Madhu (Varalaxmi) who has laid down rules and regulations for the surrogate mothers to deliver healthy babies to her clients. The surrogate mothers are expected to follow a regime as per instructions provided to them.

One can't help but notice that filmmakers might have been under the influence of squid games while designing the sets or filming scenes here. There is a parallel track unfolding. A supermodel and her boyfriend—a business heir—are killed in an accident. A police team investigating the deaths concludes that it was a planned murder masked as accidental death. The investigation leads them to a beauty product and its manufacturers who are linked to a beauty manufacturer. Murali Sharma as police commissioner keeps a close watch on the investigation but later ends up as an important link in the entire case. Before the interval, Yashoda grows suspicious about her missing friends who disappear into restricted zones of the facility immediately after developing complications. To investigate, she wades deeper into the dangerous terrain.

Unni Mukundan is one of the doctors at the facility who seems to have his eyes fixated on Yashoda. Only post-interval, the two plots running parallel converge to unveil a dangerous crime that goes beyond surrogacy and Yashoda’s role has a suspense element to it. Samantha performs action sequences with ease and they turn out to be one of the highlights of the movie.

Directors Hari and Harish came out with a gripping movie that keeps the interest of the audience intact. It is Samantha’s show all the way as she outperforms herself and continues to prove a point with women-oriented movies. Motherhood transcends languages and so does Samantha’s charisma in this multilingual film

Movie: Yashoda

Cast: Samantha, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Unni Mukundan, Murali Sharma

Director: Hareesh Narayan, K. Hari Shankar

Rating: 4/5

📣 The Week is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TheWeekmagazine) and stay updated with the latest headlines

Embracing life's twists and turns

'Khud se RoohbaRooh': Shubhra Chaturvedi's art is a stark commentary on global events

‘Thala’ Ajith back on track! Announces racing team, to contest in European championship

'Three allegations of sexual misconduct...': Balachandra Menon reaches Kerala CM with complaint against Malayalam actor

Editor's pick.

India’s anti-defection law: Four decades of failure

Gujarati cinema's search for an identity continues

'KonMari Method is not just about tidying your home but also honing your sensitivity to joy': Marie Kondo

Equity surge

*Articles appearing as INFOCUS/THE WEEK FOCUS are marketing initiatives

• Naukri Crisis
• Uncovering Hate
• Haryana Election
• Manipur Conflict
• Jammu and Kashmir Election
• Climate Change
• Members Only
• Brand Studio
• Entertainment
• The Quint Lab
• Graphic Novels
• Members' Opinion
• South Asians
• Privacy Policy

BECOME A MEMBER

‘Yashoda’ Review: Samantha Shines as an Action Star in Surrogacy-Themed Thriller

Samantha's yashoda is a thriller written and directed by duo, hari and harish. it hit theatres on 11 november..

Named after the mythological character, Yashoda who is the foster-mother of Lord Krishna, the plot revolves around a poor woman ( Samantha ) who chooses to become a surrogate mother.

Why does she do it? To earn money and save her ailing sister, or at least that’s what we are told, at first.

Yashoda delves into the complex world of surrogacy. However, it is just the first block of a huge puzzle. The film also explores the dangerously entangled layers within it—the cosmetic industry and medical crimes.

Just like her real-life persona, where she battles an autoimmune condition called Myositis, Samantha in Yashoda is a real fighter. She is both gentle and fierce.

10 Honest Thoughts I Had After Watching Karthi’s Latest Release ‘Sardar’

She walks into hell unarmed and turns every tiny resource into a weapon to beat her opponents. Whether it's cudgeling, sculling, shooting, or fist-fighting with bare hands, she does them all in an effortless fashion.

Despite being pregnant, Yashoda threw deadly punches in the power-packed action sequences. And that just reminded me that I usually complain about feeling dizzy after a heavy lunch (I know the wrong memories always pop up at the right time!).

A poster and some stills from the film.

(Photo: Twitter)

The film makes the strong point that a courageous fighter doesn’t always need blazing guns and lethal weapons. When life throws lemons at you, confidence and intelligence are what you need, to make lemonade. But most importantly, "courage" doesn't necessarily have to be a man’s trait. Samantha’s mass dialogue reiterated that.

The best part about the film is that it explains feminism at its best. Madhu, a cunning entrepreneur (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar) says that for a man to become a king, he has to win a war; however, for a woman to become a queen, she just has to win over a king. On the other hand, her skewed view is countered by a real feminist, Yashoda, who doesn't wait for saviors.

Yashoda is a blend of action and relationship drama. It touches upon sibling bonds and the emotional attachment between a surrogate mother and the child. It also takes stances on the idea of money, unrealistic beauty standards, and the abuse of power.

Happy Birthday Kamal Haasan: How Lokesh Kanagaraj’s ‘Vikram’ Led to His Rebirth

The writer-director duo, Hari and Harish, have presented an engaging mystery thriller by planting plenty of clues throughout the screenplay. The pre-climax was loaded with terrific twists, too. While the majority of the payoffs were satisfying, some fell flat.

Also, the hastily narrated backstory of Madhu and Gautham in the second half seemed artificially stitched, with some of the sequences being unintentionally funny.

However, the art direction team has brilliantly used minimal and confined spaces to fixate the audience on the screen. The aesthetic yet uncanny setup lets us keep our eyes wide open with equal amounts of wonder and suspicion.

Samantha's Yashoda has brilliant ideas and impressive performances from a stellar cast including Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Unni Mukundan, Sampath, Divya, Kalpika, Murali Sharma and Shatru. It has its heart in the right place. With some cliches shed, Yashoda would have been a masterpiece.

Yashoda is running in cinemas now.

'Love Today' Review: Pradeep Ranganathan Takes You on a Weird Joy Ride With Love

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from entertainment and movie-reviews

Topics:    entertainment      commercial surrogacy      samantha ruth prabhu  .

Loading Comments...

• Firstpost Defence Summit
• Entertainment
• Web Stories
• Health Supplement
• First Sports
• Fast and Factual
• Between The Lines
• Firstpost America

Yashoda movie review: Samantha Ruth Prabhu shines, but she cannot hide the flaws in this thriller

Samantha is brilliant in Yashoda that falters in effectively landing its shocking twists and turns.

Language: Tamil, and Telugu

Cast: Samantha, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Unni Mukundan, Murali Sharma, Sampath

Director: Hari-Harish

Since the morning of the release of Yashoda , I have seen multiple reports that claim that a lot rides on Yashoda for actor Samantha who plays the lead in this film. To be honest, the actor has proved time and again that her performance will stand the test of time, and it is then not fair to encapsulate all of an actor in one project. Yashoda is not a film that would receive rapturous attention from the audience, and neither is it a dud. It is a promising premise aided by great performances of its lead cast.

What it does suffer from is lack of bringing its vision from paper onto screen. Without going too much into the details of the film’s plot, which is a thriller that you must experience as an audience, what I can tell you is that there is all signs of making a great film in Yashoda ’s first half. It sets up the characters, their lives and their ordeals. For instance, why does Samantha as Yashoda interested in being a surrogate? Who is Madhubala (Varalaxmi), and what is the truth about her identity and so on.

So where exactly does it falter? It begins to misstep the moment the film begins to hide behind Yashoda. Instead of packing up the plot, and fleshing out the arc enough to aid the punches that the film hopes to land, the main hope for the film is Yashoda’s antics. How she gets close to other surrogates, how she befriends people in the clinic that she goes to are hyperfocussed. Most of the times, the why becomes an afterthought.

It is also this nuanced look at delivering twists that is missing from the film. For instance, does a twist land the punch, and leave audiences gasping? Or does it leave them mildly interested? They could also be left clueless if the said punches didn’t land. Where you can place Yashoda in this scale is smack in the middle. They are clear about the twist that they want to introduce and it is smart. However, the way they introduce it and way these particular scenes are written do not do much for the plot progression.

It is not so much that you see what is coming because the twists are cliched and borrowed from stereotypes. If anything, some of the most interesting things about the film apart from its premise is its twists. It is unfortunate that they do not have space to breathe and take shape of their own. The punch is required to make a good shocking twist in a thriller effectual is what is missing from the film.

Considering that the film is a thriller, it is important to pay attention to the pace of the film. At times, this also suffers because of humour that is not seamless. The humour in this film, which on second thought feels unintentional, is jarring and ends up leaving us disconnected from the seriousness of the plot. In fact, the dependency on Yashoda’s act throughout the film goes overboard, has the same effect. Because it was so obviously out of place, it threw me as a viewer out of the story momentarily.

This in turn affected how engrossing the film could have been. Such disturbances occur not partially, but often throughout the story. The onus is then on the viewers to stay with the characters. I am then forced to pay attention as opposed to me being instinctively engrossed in the film. This is, in fact, my biggest complaint abut Yashoda . The fact that the thriller gave me the time and space to let my wander. Throughout it all, my attention did stay on one thing, or I must say, one person and that is Samantha.

She lights up the screen in ways few actors are capable of today, and she does so with so much enthusiasm and affection for the camera that one cannot help but be attracted towards her character on screen.

To conclude, Yashoda as a film is a great example of how a film could be interesting, entertaining, and yet flawed to the point of contention.

Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

Yashoda is playing in cinemas

Priyanka Sundar is a film journalist who covers films and series of different languages with a special focus on identity and gender politics.

Read all the  Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News ,  India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook ,  Twitter  and  Instagram .

Find us on YouTube

Related Stories

Yodha: How Karan Johar and Sidharth Malhotra created history by unveiling the trailer mid-air at 37,000 feet

Here's looking at how Anant Ambani lost 108 kilos in mere 18 months ahead of his wedding with Radhika Merchant

Actress-politician Jaya Prada declared ‘absconding’ by court, arrest warrant issued for this reason

'Pankaj Udhas Was A Little Reluctant To Sing Chitthi Aayi Hai In Naam': Mahesh Bhatt

'Yashoda' review: Samantha shines in a realistic action thriller

Follow Us :

Telugu (Theatres)

Director: Hareesh Narayan, K Hari Shankar

Cast: Samantha, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Unni Mukundan

Rating: 3/5

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s ‘Yashoda’, in which she plays the titular role, attempts to redefine the thriller genre for women. Introduced as an ordinary working-class woman, Yashoda commits herself to becoming a surrogate mother in exchange for money which she can use for her sister’s treatment.

The story lingers in suspense and reveals snippets only through Yashoda reminiscing the happy moments with her sister. Without stalling, the story soon sets to narrate that something is wrong with the organisation where Yashoda is taken in for her stay through the pregnancy and till the birth of the child.

Also Read | 'Raana' movie review: A white collar drama with nothing to commend

The movie is supported by a parallel narration where there are a few high-profile deaths that happen which bring in a team of police officers to investigate the causes. Sampath Raj, Murli and Shatru have held on to their roles convincingly. The parallel narrations run in a predictable manner, where the audience is bound to assume a connection between Yashoda and the investigating team. The story revolves around surrogacy and the mothers’ emotions, and what comes as a twist is that the overall theme does not address commercial surrogacy, instead it targets the beauty industry and the evils that play in keeping the industry alive and running.

Varalakshmi Sarath Kumar who plays as Madhu owns the surrogacy organisation along with Unni Mukundan who plays as Dr. Gautham. Varalakshmi Sarath Kumar has presented her role with ease but the narrative element and the screen time given to her fail to use good talent to the maximum. In Yashoda’s narrative, we see a quest of a woman who has entered the web of surrogacy and is searching for something. Samantha’s performance is creditable, and she plays the role of an action queen in a subtle and realistic manner. The action sequences are not exaggerated, and Samantha convincingly makes Yashoda’s fights, literal and metaphorical, as any woman or a mother would do in order to save her child.

The story’s dependency on making the surrogacy centre as a hi-tech space that has access to everything and still losing track of Yashoda’s movements clashes with the logic. While the movie wants the concept of ‘Embryo Vitrified Artistry’ to reach a larger audience, the narration does not really support the effect. Overall, the script could have been linear and tighter, and also emotionally deep.

Follow us on :

• తెలుగు

Yashoda Review: Samantha’s Show

Movie: Yashoda Rating: 2.5/5 Banner: Sridevi Movies Cast: Samantha, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Unni Mukundan, Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma, Sampath Raj, Shatru, Madhurima, Kalpika Ganesh, Divya Sripada, Priyanka Sharma and others Music: Mani Sharma Cinematography: M Sukumar Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh Art: Ashok Fights: Venkat, Yannick Ben Producer: Sivalenka Krishna Prasad Written and Directed by: Hari - Harish Release Date: Nov 11, 2022 

Samantha's item song in "Pushpa" went viral last year. A year later, she released the thriller "Yashoda," in which she played the lead. "Yashoda" has sparked interest due to her current health situation as well as the stunning trailer.

Let us examine its highlights and low points.

Story: Yashoda (Samantha) agrees to be a surrogate mother because she desperately needs money. She signs a contract with a corporate hospital and is taken to a hidden location where many surrogate mothers are observed prior to their deliveries.

Yashoda is treated at this centre by a handsome doctor named Gowtham (Unni) and is overseen by beauty pageant contestant Madhu (Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar).  Yashoda soon realises that something sinister is going on. She tries to discover the secrets.

A group of police officers, on the other hand, is investigating the murder of a model. What is the connection between these two threads? Is Yashoda about to reveal a secret?

Artistes’ Performances: Samantha bears the weight of the story on her shoulders. She is convincing in both facets of her character. Samantha has also convincingly performed action stunts. She has made every effort to enthral as the story revolves around her.

Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar is an excellent choice for the role of a "beautiful devil." Unni Mukundan is ideal as a doctor with a hidden agenda.

Murali Sharma, Rao Ramesh, Kalpika, Divya Sripada, Sampath Raj, and Shatru all have done their roles justifiably.

Technical Excellence: The plot revolves primarily around a surrogacy centre. The sets that have been created are lavish. The cinematography is satisfactory. The editing should have been more precise. Action stunts are entertaining.

Music is fuctional. Dialogues are effective.

Highlights: Pre-interval scenes Samantha’s performance Twist in the tale

Drawback: The surrogacy center scenes The uneven second half Climax portion

Analysis Hari and Harish, the Tamil directors, have written a story with a different plot point. Many films have dealt with the theme of medical mafias and evil doctors. Surrogacy-themed films have also emerged. "Yashoda" combines all of these elements and tells a very different story within the framework. 

“Yashoda” begins differently because it combines two unrelated stories - a murder investigation and a surrogacy centre scam. However, the directors gradually build up drama and intrigue before the intermission. The pre-interval scenes are the thriller's main draw. They are not only well-written, but also thrillingly shot. 

But momentum begins to wane after that point. It also becomes predictable after a certain point. The story's twist, while impressive, is also formulaic. Such a twist was seen in an iconic blockbuster 15 years ago, and it has since appeared in numerous films.

And flashback story involves Unni Mukundan and Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar. This story does not completely convince us. It appears to be superficial. Unni Mukundan's and Varalxaxmi's character arcs are underdeveloped.

While the plot and overall concept are intriguing, key scenes are executed half-heartedly. The Murali Sharma/Sampath Raj incident is far too predictable.

"Yashoda" works in parts. Samantha's performance and presence, as well as the film's basic concept and certain episodes, are its strong points. Despite some predictability, it makes an okay watch.

Bottom line: Works in Parts

• Satyam Sundaram Review: A Journey Through Memories
• 'Devara' Review: Visually Grand, Emotionally Bland
• Mathu Vadalara 2 Review: Fun Start, Slow Finish

Tags: Yashoda Yashoda Review Yashoda Movie Review Yashoda Rating Yashoda Movie Rating Yashoda Telugu Movie Review

ADVERTISEMENT

Yashoda Movie Review: The ideas are there, but the execution isn’t

Rating: ( 2.5 / 5).

I feel compelled to be kinder towards films that feature women protagonists. We don’t get enough of them, and it’s empowering and cathartic to see women kick a**. Samantha is at the centre of Yashoda and plays a character straight out of the hero playbook. There are fight sequences, there’s a rousing reveal, there’s sister sentiment, there’s a leader angle… And yet, it’s not a protagonist a man could have played. For one, pregnancy is at the thick of things, and it adds flavour that the protagonist, Yashoda , is going through it herself, as she uncovers a horrific conspiracy that exploits women victims. At the end, in fact, there’s something about these women joining to fight back—but it's just cursory symbolism, with no one except Samantha’s Yashoda ever doing much to help themselves. However, it’s still fascinating to behold the joys of ‘testosterone cinema’ playing out with a heroine, instead of a hero—and it helps that Samantha sells the action choreography really well. There’s genuine urgency about her movement, there’s a method to her fighting, and when adversaries collapse around her, you buy that they have been outfought. The action blocks are perhaps the brightest point of Yashoda .

Director: Hari-Harish

Cast: Samantha, Unni Mukundan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma

It's a film with many curious ideas. There’s the exploration of surrogacy and a half-hearted attempt to capture the lives of consenting women. There’s a medical facility—no, a high-tech prison—complete with regular audio announcements of the schedule of patients—no, “inmates”. The whole design of the place reminded me of Black Mirror . There’s a fascinating idea about the lengths a woman goes to, to preserve her beauty, and some commentary about what ‘real beauty’ is. There’s even some espionage and sleuthing. And yet, it’s impossible to shake off the realisation that Yashoda should have been a far, far superior film, given the weight of these ideas. A big problem is how unconvincingly these ideas are fleshed out. For instance, Yashoda is shown to forge a deep bond with other inmates, but it happens over unconvincing bits-and-pieces of flaky camaraderie. For the longest time, the screenplay feels disjointed with two separate tracks, with the second, especially—about cops played by Murali Sharma and Sampath, investigating a murder—lacking any real purpose and charm, serving only to distract from the events featuring Samantha.

The big horrific reveals in the second half don’t affect as they should, even if the film does get marginally more interesting when the Madhubala (Varalaxmi) flashback plays out. But even here, pay attention to how a beauty pageant is weakly conceived and executed, and how Madhubala’s character gets introduced, as she throws a stray line about us seeking beauty in even deities. The brightest point in this flashback is when Varalaxmi’s Madhubala, Rao Ramesh’s politician (the actor is a hoot, as always), and Unni Mukundan’s nerd-stalker have a three-way conflict—and the bizarre, exaggerated way in which it plays out results in some campy fun.

While the film—on the surface—is about surrogacy and how women are exploited (a rather nuanced topic a simplistic film like this doesn’t have the stomach for), its portrayal of certain types of women is rather revealing, I think. Let’s leave aside the bad choice to have Samantha look as made-up for a role that’s supposed to be grounded, even if not thoroughly impoverished. There’s an early scene between Yashoda and her friends, as each woman reveals their reason for agreeing to be a surrogate mother. While many talk of poverty and suffering, one woman—with short, coloured hair and a rather ‘modern’ demeanour—speaks of wanting to afford an iPhone. I thought, “Fair enough, it’s your body, your rules.” Well, a twist in the film betrays its view about such women—and let’s say it’s not exactly progressive. Pay close attention to the ‘good woman’ in this film, Yashoda’s friend, and you’ll see that she’s all dressed up as a traditional woman, with long-plaited hair, bindi... You get the idea. There’s a queer character in the film, the head of a fashion brand, and the film doesn’t do itself any favours with how it portrays this person either. The villain—Madhubala—is one who gets an abortion and doesn’t become a ‘mother’. All of this made me wonder whether Yashoda is conceived as a film meant to valourise pregnancies, meant to reaffirm the dated idea that it’s motherhood that makes a woman. An end scene of childbirth, another previous scene of a woman sharing a story about her husband’s inability to produce a child… All of this makes you wonder.

And of course, when a film and its protagonist are named Yashoda —the foster mother of Krishna—the significance is rather straightforward. And yet, this film, more than once, drums in this idea, even referencing Krishna’s birth at one point. It doesn’t seem to think you’ll get it otherwise. Perhaps if Yashoda had respected us better, we might have ended up with a more nuanced take on the subject of surrogacy and a film that might perhaps have been more deserving of Samantha’s action exploits.

'Yashoda' movie review: The ideas are there, but the execution isn’t

I feel compelled to be kinder towards films that feature women protagonists. We don’t get enough of them, and it’s empowering and cathartic to see women kick a**. Samantha is at the centre of Yashoda and plays a character straight out of the hero playbook. There are fight sequences, there’s a rousing reveal, there’s sister sentiment, there’s a leader angle… And yet, it’s not a protagonist a man could have played.

For one, pregnancy is at the thick of things, and it adds flavour that the protagonist, Yashoda, is going through it herself, as she uncovers a horrific conspiracy that exploits women victims. At the end, in fact, there’s something about these women joining to fight back—but it’s just cursory symbolism, with no one except Samantha’s Yashoda ever doing much to help themselves. However, it’s still fascinating to behold the joys of ‘testosterone cinema’ playing out with a heroine, instead of a hero. The action blocks are perhaps the brightest point of Yashoda.

It’s a film with many curious ideas. There’s the exploration of surrogacy and a half-hearted attempt to capture the lives of consenting women. There’s a medical facility—no, a high-tech prison—complete with regular audio announcements of the schedule of patients—no, “inmates”. There’s a fascinating idea about the lengths a woman goes to, to preserve her beauty, and some commentary about what ‘real beauty’ is. There’s even some espionage. And yet, it’s impossible to shake off the realisation that Yashoda should have been a far, far superior film, given the weight of these ideas. A big problem is how unconvincingly these ideas are fleshed out. For instance, Yashoda is shown to forge a deep bond with other inmates, but it happens over unconvincing bits-and-pieces of flaky camaraderie. For the longest time, the screenplay feels disjointed with two separate tracks, with the second, especially—about cops played by Murali Sharma and Sampath, investigating a murder—lacking any real purpose and charm, serving only to distract from the events featuring Samantha.

The big horrific reveals in the second half don’t affect as they should, even if the film does get marginally more interesting when the Madhubala (Varalaxmi) flashback plays out. But even here, pay attention to how a beauty pageant is weakly conceived and executed, and how Madhubala’s character gets introduced, as she throws a stray line about us seeking beauty in even deities. The brightest point in this flashback is when Varalaxmi’s Madhubala, Rao Ramesh’s politician (the actor is a hoot, as always), and Unni Mukundan’s nerd-stalker have a three-way conflict—and the bizarre, exaggerated way in which it plays out results in some campy fun.

While the film is about surrogacy and how women are exploited, its portrayal of certain types of women is rather revealing. Let’s leave aside the bad choice to have Samantha look as made-up for a role that’s supposed to be grounded, even if not thoroughly impoverished. There’s an early scene between Yashoda and her friends, as each woman reveals their reason for agreeing to be a surrogate mother.

While many talk of poverty and suffering, one woman—with short, coloured hair and a rather ‘modern’ demeanour—speaks of wanting to afford an iPhone. I thought, “Fair enough, it’s your body, your rules.” Well, a twist in the film betrays its view about such women—and let’s say it’s not exactly progressive. Pay close attention to the ‘good woman’ in this film, Yashoda’s friend, and you’ll see that she’s all dressed up as a traditional woman, with long-plaited hair, bindi.

There’s a queer character in the film, the head of a fashion brand, and the film doesn’t do itself any favours with how it portrays this person either. The villain is one who gets an abortion and doesn’t become a ‘mother’. All of this made me wonder whether Yashoda is conceived as a film meant to valourise pregnancies, meant to reaffirm the dated idea that it’s motherhood that makes a woman. An end scene of childbirth, another previous scene of a woman sharing a story about her husband’s inability to produce a child… All of this makes you wonder.

And of course, when a film and its protagonist are named Yashoda—the foster mother of Krishna—the significance is rather straightforward. And yet, this film, more than once, drums in this idea, even referencing Krishna’s birth at one point. It doesn’t seem to think you’ll get it otherwise. Perhaps if Yashoda had respected us better, we might have ended up with a more nuanced take on the subject of surrogacy and a film that might perhaps have been more deserving of Samantha’s action exploits.

Director: Hari-Harish Cast: Samantha, Unni Mukundan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma Rating: 2.5/5

(This review originally appeared on cinemaexpress.com )

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp  

Download the TNIE app to stay with us and follow the latest

Related Stories

• Let me explain
• Yen Endra Kelvi
• SUBSCRIBER ONLY
• Whats Your Ism?
• Pakka Politics
• NEWSLETTERS

Yashoda review: Samantha is great in a thriller suffering from male gaze

Till The Family Man 2 happened, Samantha was largely playing the 'cute' heroine in Telugu and Tamil cinema. Oh! Baby (2019) proved that she could do more, but it was not until the Raj & DK web series that the audience got to see her badass version. She was seamless in the action scenes – fast, agile and convincing. Barring Vijayashanti who did several such films and a few women actors who did an occasional stunt sequence themselves, this was pretty much a male bastion. Something Samantha might just be able to change if she gets the right people to back her, as Yashoda proves. 

That said, Yashoda , written and directed by Hari-Harish, is not without its problems, the biggest of which is the male gaze that is glaringly obvious despite the film having a female hero at its heart. This is a film about a surrogacy clinic that hides a darker purpose, and the title refers to Hindu god Krishna’s foster mother. 

Before we get into the film and how it holds up, some context. It was only in 2022 that commercial surrogacy became illegal in India – a move that several activists and commercial surrogates have objected to though it was ostensibly made to prevent the exploitation of poor women. In a country that glorifies motherhood and expects all women to desire it, the discourse around surrogacy is seldom cognizant of women’s agency in making these decisions. The idea that a woman would want to pay another woman to carry her foetus to term – for whatever reason, ranging from medical to professional – is repugnant to many; also repugnant is the idea that a poor woman may decide to become a surrogate to pay off debt, buy property, or attend to whatever pressing financial need, instead of slogging for several years in other kinds of exploitative situations that pay way less. In the binary of ‘good’ women who want to become mothers biologically and keep their babies, and ‘bad’ women who decide otherwise, there is very little nuance in the debate. Yashoda is no different.

Samantha plays the titular character, a young woman who is desperate to save her sister’s life. She decides to become a surrogate, and is whisked off to Eva, a clinic that gives off Atwoodian vibes. Samantha plays the wide-eyed, babe lost in the woods with ease, but the writing struggles to make the scenes convincing. She meets other pregnant women at Eva and the scenes are similar to those cringe-inducing women’s hostel scenes that we’ve seen for aeons, with a strict warden to boot. There is a conversation where the women share their reasons for becoming surrogates but the bad acting means that you are barely moved. 

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar plays Madhu, the always fashionable chief of the clinic. There’s also Dr Gautham (Unni Mukundan), who develops a soft spot for Yashoda. Intersecting with this plot thread is a car crash that killed a businessman and a model, and another involving the death of a foreign actor named Olivia. Yashoda has several interesting ideas but the clumsy direction and subpar writing don’t allow these to develop. Several scenes are staged like a stage play, with the characters standing in awkward arcs and mouthing their lines. Some like the one with the Anniyan -like buffalo herd are so over-the-top that you really wonder if criminals who are running such a super secret operation would want to make such flashy moves. 

The film falls back on a load of misogyny to define its central premise. The villain is a woman who never wanted pregnancy because it would 'ruin' her beauty – a common accusation of 'selfishness' thrown at women who choose not to become mothers. The challenges that come with pregnancy and childbirth – from health complications to discrimination at work and societal pressures – are seldom represented in cinema, and Yashoda is happy to reiterate the idea that a woman who doesn’t want to become a mother must be an abnormal psychopath. In contrast to this oh-so-wicked woman are the noble ladies brimming with maternal feelings. There is also the awful stereotyping of a person who is coded as queer – isn’t it high time that we did away with such insensitivity on screen? 

The film comes alive in the action scenes with Samantha. The actor is quick on her feet, and her deft moves add some much needed excitement to the screenplay that depends too much on speechifying for its revelations. I was thinking about Vijay’s “Suspense odaye saavu” line from Thuppaki where he takes a jibe at the cinematic convention of explaining all that happened to fill the knowledge gap of someone you are going to kill. If only the bad people in Yashoda had taken a cue from Thalapathi! The background score, too, is inconsistent, not really elevating the suspense in the visuals.

Yashoda has quite a few loose ends as it draws to a close, leaving the viewer dissatisfied. Ultimately, this is a film on what's mainly a female experience written and directed by men, with the hero and the villain being women. It’s not surprising that this is the result. 

PS: Men desire youth and good looks, too. The film industry, in fact, is full of aged men who are firmly clinging to their youth, with wigs, botox and whatever else. Elaborating on this postscript will be a big spoiler, but I had to make the point.

Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.

Sowmya Rajendran writes on gender, culture and cinema. She has written over 25 books, including a nonfiction book on gender for adolescents. She was awarded the Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Puraskar for her novel Mayil Will Not Be Quiet in 2015.

Related Stories

• Click on the Menu icon of the browser, it opens up a list of options.
• Click on the “Options ”, it opens up the settings page,
• Here click on the “Privacy & Security” options listed on the left hand side of the page.
• Scroll down the page to the “Permission” section .
• Here click on the “Settings” tab of the Notification option.
• A pop up will open with all listed sites, select the option “ALLOW“, for the respective site under the status head to allow the notification.
• Once the changes is done, click on the “Save Changes” option to save the changes.

• Top Listing
• Upcoming Movies

Yashoda Movie Review: Samantha Ruth Prabhu's Thriller Is Engaging!

Cast: Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma, Unni Mukundan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Sampath Raj, Shatru Directors: Haresh Narayan K, Hari Shankar

Introduction: Yashoda is a movie written and directed by Hari and Harish as their Tollywood debut. The movie is the first pan-India film of the actress to be released in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and Malayalam. Samantha dubbed her own words for Tamil and Telugu. Yashoda is based on real-life crimes around surrogacy. An underprivileged woman becomes a surrogate and unearths a crime. How she saves herself and puts an end to the entire situation is to be seen on the big screen. Samantha comes as a surprise package in the film.

Yashoda is the first feature film to be released in theatres post-Samantha's divorce from Naga Chaitanya. She has been away from the media and her fans due to her prolonged autoimmune disorder, which she only made public recently.

Director duo Hari and Harish made all the right attempts in translating the story from paper to celluloid. They took their sweet time to establish the background of Yashoda, the Eva facility and her initial days at the facility as a surrogate. The first half was rather slow but the interval bang was befitiing. The second half was interesting and the directors unwrapped their twists one after the other, in a racy screenplay. It would have been better if they had given some time in the second half for the viewer to connect to the emotional aspect that they showcased.

Yashoda, a woman living in a lower-middle-class neighborhood is shown in need of money for her dear sister's operation. She agrees to be a surrogate to fulfill the requirement. Yashoda then is taken to Eva, a facility for surrogate mothers. On the other side, the movie begins with the death of a Hollywood actress Olivia, due to a spiked drink laced with a mysterious drug. Also, a business tycoon Shiv Reddy and her girlfriend, the probable winner of the Miss India pageant, Arushi die in a car crash which turns out to be a murder. The people behind the crime, the cause, the reason, and their connection to Eva's facility are revealed towards the end with a big twist.

Performances:

As usual, Samantha shed her blood and sweat to bring out the best of herself and the character of Yashoda. She managed to pull off the entire female-centric subject with great ease and delivered a power-packed performance as Yashoda, switching from a docile woman to a fierce ninja.

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar had a role that was designed to implicate an evil woman- all the characteristics of being okay to go to any lengths for money and beauty are shoved into the role, which was a cakewalk for the actress.

Murali Sharma as Commissioner, Rao Ramesh as Central Minister Giridhar, Unni Mukundan as a Gynaecologist Gowtam, and Sampath Raj as mental fitness coach with the police department have been impeccable in their respective roles.

Comedian Josh Ravi appeared on the screen after a long time and was barely there in two scenes, which were still impactful.

Artists Madhurima, Divya Sripada, Kalpika Ganesh, and Priyanka Sharma, who are inmates at the Eva facility have been used appropriately for character build-up in the film.

Technical Aspects:

The cinematography by M Sukumar is quite adequate and the visuals looked fresh, due to the Art Director's visionary sets of Eva facility. Mani Sharma's background score is the heart of the film without which the movie wouldn't have made an impact. However, the length and duration could have been crisped to ensure the movie proceeds at a uniform pace throughout.

Stunt choreographer Yannick Ben, from Hollywood, was flown in to compose fights for Samantha in the film which flowed quite like a breeze and didn't seem over the top. Samantha, who did her stunts in the film appealed to the audience with her work.

What's Yay: Samantha's performance Film's sets Background score Varalaxmi's role Direction Concept

What's Nay: Lengthy first half Lack of emotional connection in the second half Graphics could have been better, especially during the climax

Verdict: Samantha's Yashoda is a well-made thriller with adequate elements of thrill, twists, and turns, put together by solid writing and top-notch performances. However, the movie ends on a regular staple formula of good Vs bad and the bad being captured/punished eventually, in a conventional way.

• Don't Block
• Block for 8 hours
• Block for 12 hours
• Block for 24 hours
• Dont send alerts during 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am to 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am

• Cast & crew

User reviews

• Dec 29, 2022
• maheshkrishna-52810
• Dec 12, 2022
• samabc-31952
• Dec 14, 2022
• best-review
• Nov 10, 2022
• yogeshevolution
• Dec 18, 2022
• hitzrulzranveer
• Dec 8, 2022
• Dec 21, 2022
• sunilbhatsrs
• Dec 9, 2022
• cs_rahul_prasad
• Mar 11, 2023
• hema_bornwild
• Dec 10, 2022
• laughaholic
• Dec 17, 2022
• h-71639-32724
• Nov 12, 2022
• SAMTHEBESTEST
• Nov 18, 2022
• mgayatrimusti
• Dec 25, 2022
• joydeep-04761
• mastergirish
• shaikhsumera
• Oct 9, 2023
• crravikiran
• saswatakarsk
• mecolas_silwal
• mohitdude-80265
• Dec 7, 2022
• IPyaarCinema
• Apr 14, 2023

More from this title

More to explore, most anticipated indian movies and shows, recently viewed.

• Andhra Pradesh
• Behind the News
• Dakshin Dialogues
• In The News
• Opinion & Analysis

• Health & Wellness
• Community & Culture

• Home » Movies

Yashoda review: A gritty, engaging tale of surrogacy with high-octane stunts by Samantha

A fast-paced screenplay, a tight script, hard-hitting dialogues, some amazing artwork, and an enchanting BGM make it a must-watch.

Published:Nov 11, 2022

Samantha's latest release 'Yashoda' is an engaging watch. (SrideviMovieOff/Twitter)

Samantha delivers her career's best performance!

Yashoda (Telugu)

• Cast: Samantha, Unni Mukundan and Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar
• Director: Hari Shankar & Harish Narayana
• Producer: Sivalenka Krishna Prasad
• Music: Mani Sarma
• Runtime: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi, and Revathy
• Director: Maneesh Sharma
• Producer: Aditya Chopra
• Music: Pritam Chakraborty
• Runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s much-awaited movie Yashoda is finally in theatres this Friday, 11 November. It managed to garner and create good hype in the Indian film circles.

And the film has lived up to the expectations it created!

Directed by Hari and Harish Narayan, Yashoda is produced by Sivalenka Krishna Prasad. It casts Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Unni Mukundan in key roles.

The flick opens with an accident where one of the country’s leading models, Aarushi, dies. The cops stay busy investigating the reason behind the accident. Soon, they conclude that it was a premeditated murder.

Parallel to this plot runs another story: Yashoda (Samantha) becomes a surrogate and enters a surrogacy facility.

She makes friends with other pregnant women, and soon realises that something sinister is going on at the surrogacy centre.

A story with a difference

Soon, Yashoda and her fellow surrogate mothers start feeling like jailbirds; they cannot step out of the medical facility until their delivery.

Interestingly, nobody has a clue as to what happens after the surrogates enter the operation theatre for delivery. Also, they are not allowed even a glimpse of their babies.

As an inquisitive Yashoda starts digging deeper into the secrets, she realises that there’s more to the surrogacy centre than meets the eye.

However, in the process, she gets caught by Madhu (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar) and Gowtham (Unni Mukundan), the masterminds behind the facility.

Gowtham works as a doctor at the facility, while Madhu takes care of the well-being of the pregnant women.

Yashoda enters the medical facility, but not to be a surrogate mother. What her real motive is and who is helping her from the outside is something worth watching on the big screen.

This time, more than ever, I was hoping and praying for all your support in promoting the film. The affection you have showered on me & Yashoda in the run up to the release is humbling. Forever grateful to all of you. You are my family❤️ Truly hope you enjoy the film. Thank you🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/O8rbC4cYU4 — Samantha (@Samanthaprabhu2) November 11, 2022

Samantha is the lifeline

Coming to the performances, Samantha is the true hero of the film. Once again, she proves to be one of the most bankable actors among the current lot.

In the web series The Family Man , Samantha turned heads with her kickass action sequences and stunts. But in Yashoda , she takes it to the next level. The high-octane stunts pump up the adrenaline rush.

Also, she tugs at our heartstrings with her nuances and emotions, proving yet again why she is the most sought-after actor in the industry. This is certainly her career’s best performance.

Varalaxmi Sarathmkumar is seen as someone obsessed with beauty. She appears so calm that we don’t see a storm coming.

Unni Mukundan plays a good boy in the beginning, but reveals his true colours as Gowtham as the momentum picks up.

Other artists like Kalpika and Divya Sripada are great, too.

. @Samanthaprabhu2 ‘s new-age Action thriller #Yashoda gets Thumping Response in Theatres💥 Book Your Tickets 🎟️ https://t.co/qDWQI9JPvE https://t.co/bdsqzgwCYi #YashodaInCinemas @varusarath5 @Iamunnimukundan @harishankaroffi @hareeshnarayan @krishnasivalenk @SrideviMovieOff pic.twitter.com/ppfi287lnu — Sridevi Movies (@SrideviMovieOff) November 11, 2022

Kudos to Hari-Harish duo

The credit for Yashoda goes to none other than Samantha and the director duo Hari-Harish.

The directors truly deserve applause for making a film with such a fast-paced screenplay and tight script. It is hard for anyone to pick up faults in the story.

Though the movie has been made based on facts, added elements like the emotional drama make it an engaging and entertaining watch.

Pulagam Chinnarayana and Bhagyalakshmi Challa did a great job with the dialogues.

Art director Ashok needs a special mention for building a surrogate facility that looks nothing less than a luxurious, corporate hospital.

Producer Krishna Prasad splurged on the film to make sure it turned out to be the best.

The background music by Mani Sharma elevates every scene. Action scenes by Yanick Ben and Venkat give us an adrenaline rush.

Blockbuster #Yashoda 🔥 Our team at #Sudarshan35 with the super hit director duo 🥳 @harishankaroffi and @hareeshnarayan garu @Samanthaprabhu2 #YashodaTheMovie pic.twitter.com/GeEYpmRCPk — Yashoda From Nov11 (@SamanthaPrabuFC) November 11, 2022

An edge-of-the-seat experience

Yashoda brings you to the edge of your seat. The first half hour of the film is all about parallel plots. Soon, an interesting and unpredictable story arises, with unexpected twists and turns.

Slowly, the other side of the surrogacy world is revealed: the medical mafia and what surrogacy can do to a woman who is in a financial crisis.

The movie also sheds light on the ways the rich exploit the poor.

On the whole, Yashoda is a gritty and engaging tale of surrogacy that one shouldn’t miss.

Tags:  

• Entertainment
• film review
• Telugu film industry

Recommended For You

‘Andhagan’: Thiagarajan delivers a nearly delicious thriller, but falls short of the original

Aug 13, 2024

How Ajay Devgn and Tabu elegantly address the age-gap issue with ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’

Aug 01, 2024

SN Swamy’s motivational drama is forgettable; no ‘secret’, this

Jul 31, 2024

Indian 2 vs Raayan: Is minimal or no promotion the future of film marketing?

Jul 24, 2024

Happy birthday, Suriya: The man behind the star

Jul 23, 2024

• Movie Schedules

-->

Most Viewed Articles

• Review: Karthi’s Sathyam Sundaram – Simple story, strong emotions
• Bigg Boss 8 Telugu: Shocking elimination to happen today
• Humongous: Devara joins the elite $5 million club
• Big update: Star hero joins Dhoom 4 Reloaded
• Devara’s 2-day AP, Ceded share; NTR mania rules the box office
• Arshad Warsi comments on Prabhas again
• Jr NTR’s Devara records impressive growth in North on day 2
• Devara storms the global box office – Rs. 243 crore in two days!

Recent Posts

• Latest Photos : Ayesha Khan
• New Photos : Tridha Choudhury
• ప్రభాస్‌ పంపే భోజనం పై హీరోయిన్ క్రేజీ కామెంట్స్
• Acid test for Jr NTR’s Devara
• Latest Photos : Shraddha Srinath
• దుల్కర్ తో బాలయ్య ‘అన్‌ స్టాపబుల్’

Release Date : November 11, 2022

123telugu.com Rating : 3/5

Starring: Samantha, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Unni Mukundan, Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma, Sampath Raj, Shatru, Madhurima, Kalpika Ganesh, Divya Sripada, Priyanka Sharma and others

Director: Hari – Harish

Producer: Sivalenka Krishna Prasad

Music Director : Mani Sharma

Cinematography : M. Sukumar

Editor : Marthand. K. Venkatesh

Related Links : Trailer

Yashoda is a film that Samantha had pinned a lot of hopes on. Due to her ill health she could not promote it as well. The film directed by Hari and Harish has finally hit the screens today. Let’s see how it is.

Yashoda(Samantha) is a poor girl who agrees to become a surrogate mother. She is taken to Eva, a surrogacy center owned by Madhu(Varalakshmi Sarath Kumar). Things start well for Yashoda but one small incident creates a doubt in her mind. She then takes it upon herself to find out the truth behind the surrogacy mafia. How she unravels it is the main story.

Plus Points:

The basic backdrop of surrogacy is new for Telugu cinema and has been set up nicely in the narrative. This gives Yashoda a completely new edge. The director duo set up the whole surrogacy concept well and created an intriguing factor right from the beginning.

Varalakshmi Sarath Kumar is getting better with each film and gets a meaty part once again. She as the head of the surrogacy center is amazing. Her flashback in the second half with Rao Ramesh is very good. Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan is also neat in his role.

The second half is where the actual action begins as the twists executed are very good. The action part and suspense elements have been unravelled quite well in the second half. Kalpika Ganesh is good in her role along with Murali Sharma and Sampath who play cops.

Last but not the least, Samantha gives her life and soul to the film and is stunning as Yashoda. Be it the way she managed the pregnant setup or did the action part, Samantha is in top form. Yashoda is completely based on her character and Sam holds fort superbly. Not to miss her action movies and endearing emotion when she comes to know the actual surrogacy scam give the film a good depth.

Minus Points:

One of the biggest minus points of the film are the logical issues. The film is set in a surrogacy center which is shown as hitech and filled with cameras. But Sam escapes them easily. Such scenes are plenty and look a bit over the top.

The film starts on an interesting note until Samantha reaches the surrogacy center. From there, the film falls flat as scenes related to ragging and details of the center drag for no reason. A more linear screenplay and crisp narrative would have made matters better.

The film could have been more emotionally strong as the actual cause of Varalakshmi turning into a certain manner is not showcased well. More depth and pain in her role would have made the purpose of the villain more intense. In a way, the bonding between key characters is weak.

Technical Aspects:

Music by Mani Sharma is good and the BGM creates a solid impact in the proceedings. The camera work is very good but the art department needs a special mention as the surrogacy center looks cool. The lyrics and dialogues by Pulagam Chinninarayana and Bhagyalakshmi are also very good. Production values are amazing.

Coming to the director duo Hari and Harish, they have done a good job with the film. They, casting Samantha, for such a role is half battle won. They have taken a new backdrop which many do not know and created a good story around it.

Hari and Harish manage to enhance the film with neat twists and thrills in the second half. There are a few logical issues in their narrative but the twists cover them up nicely. As they waste too much time in the first half, they don’t have much time to create more impact in the flashback which was a key. But still, they narrate the film in such a way that the normal audience would not observe these errors and enjoy the film.

On the whole, Yashoda is Samantha’s one woman show. Right from the first frame, she carries the film on her shoulders and gives a solid performance. A few logical errors and slow start are basic drawbacks. If you ignore these aspects, Yashoda has an interesting backdrop and makes for a decent watch this weekend.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

No related posts.

-->

Ad : Teluguruchi - Learn.. Cook.. Enjoy the Tasty food

Yashoda REVIEW: Samantha Ruth Prabhu starrer is a one-woman show with new concept and engaging twists

Gretel Sequeira

• November 11, 2022
• Comments off

Samantha Ruth Prabhu starrer Yashoda movie REVIEW

• Bubble Reviews
• Yashoda REVIEW: Samantha Ruth ...

Film: Yashoda

Directed by: Hari-Harish

Star Cast: Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Unni Mukundan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, and Murali Sharma

Bollywood Bubble ratings:  3/5 stars

Yashoda Movie Review 

Going to Indian mythology, we all are well aware of how Yashoda cared for Lord Krishna dearly, despite being a foster mother. And, tales about her only speak of how she was all about her love, affection, and caring like a mother to Lord Krishna. Coming to reel life, the Samantha Ruth Prabhu starrer Yashoda stays true to its name and is a one-woman show. While Samantha impresses with her stellar performance, she struggles, fights, and faces challenges while being pregnant and protecting her child. However, even with a new concept, plot twists, and turns, Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Yashoda was an engaging watch but came with its flaws.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Samantha (@samantharuthprabhuoffl)

The movie opens with Samantha as Yashoda seated with a doctor, all set to be a surrogate mother. It is thorough in the beginning how surrogacy was the sole option to Yashoda (Samantha) when it came to protecting a loved one. Despite her pregnancy complications, Yashoda is hell-bent on being a surrogate in exchange for money, to support her sister’s treatment.

Eventually, Yashoda agrees to be a surrogate and is moved to a healthcare facility for surrogate mothers. As she begins to understand the facility and its workings, Yashoda learns about illegal activities at the facility. In a quest to bring the perpetrators to justice, pregnant Yashoda takes us through how she discovers the shocking truths about the facility and its functioning.

While the Hari-Harish directorial is filled with twists and turns, the first half of the movie is gripping. However, after the interval, one tends to lose the sense of the movie, trying to find the logic behind how a pregnant woman can jump off a table and perform high-octane stunts. Well, even if one goes with the fact that “ Maa, Maa hoti hai (A mother is a mother) “, I could not find any sense in it. It’s not practical and sane for a pregnant woman to perform high-octane stunts as it would clearly affect her baby.

Anyways, moving forward! Even though the director brings in an entirely intriguing screenplay with a new concept, it fails to reach its mark. The second half gets rather interesting towards the end, but again, the narrative falls short of the bang-on climax we’d all expect with a plot like that of Yashoda.

Yashoda revolves around a young woman of the same name, played by Samantha, who decides to become a surrogate in exchange for money. She is moved to a surrogacy facility named Eva, owned by Madhu (Varalakshmi Sarath Kumar). While everything goes well for Yashoda, an incident at the center harnesses doubt in her mind. This doubt further leads to Yashoda trying to unravel the truth behind the surrogacy mafia.

Star Performances

Samantha Ruth Prabhu plays the titular role in this movie. The actress leaves you mesmerized with her action sequences and her faultless performance. She emerges as a star in the film. And, Samantha gets as good as one can be as she performs some high-octane action stunts.

Unni Mukundan, playing the role of the scientist at the surrogacy facility shines throughout. The actor manages to prove his acting prowess with his stunning performance.

Varalakshmi Sarath Kumar, who plays Madhu is impressive to watch. She does a decent job with her character.

Direction/Screenplay

Hari-Harish fairs well with the execution of the screenplay. However, the plot has a few loose ends that go unnoticed. And, with these loose ends, one might clearly be left unimpressed. I was! While the director brings forward a new concept, at some points, the movie fails in terms of logic. For example, Samantha easily escaping through cameras, or be it the portrayal of a pregnant woman performing action stunts, or Madhu’s backstory; it all literally does not make sense.

Overall, the director does a fair job with Yashoda. While the performances by Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Unni Mukundan shine throughout the movie, the interesting twists and turns will keep you hooked on to your seat. Despite the flaws, Yashoda is a decent watch. And, I recommend watching it in theatres for that ‘edge-of-the-seat’ thriller experience.

Watch Yashoda trailer, after the review:

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by SRIDEVI MOVIES (@sridevimovies)

Also Read : Yashoda Twitter Review: Netizens hail Samantha Ruth Prabhu starrer, heap praise on actress’ action-packed performance

Recent Posts

Recent post.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu can’t stop laughing at Shah Rukh Khan and Vicky Kaushal’s…

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s chic fashion demands attention; slays in an Egyptian ensemble worth…

Priyanka Chopra and Samantha look effortlessly chic as they attend an event with…

Alia Bhatt beats Samantha, Deepika Padukone & Rashmika Mandanna to be crowned the…

• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions

© 2023. All rights are reserved

• TN Navbharat
• ET Now Swadesh
• Times Drive
• Health and Me

entertainment

Yashoda movie Twitter review: Netizens call Samantha Ruth Prabhu's action-thriller 'engaging and brilliant'

Updated Nov 11, 2022, 11:07 IST

OpenAI Goes From Non-Profit To For-Profit: What Is It And What Will Change?

Gold Rate Today: Check Yellow Metal & Silver Prices in Major Indian Cities

Taylor Swift Missing Again From Chiefs' Win, Travis Kelce's Ex-GF Kayla Nicole Steals the Limelight

Janhvi Kapoor Dazzles On The Red Carpet In A Luminous Couture Dress And Diamond Jewellery

Chandrashekhar Azad's Party Candidate, Who Contested UP Polls In 2022 Found To Be Involved In Car Theft Gang

Former Aide Stomps On Bonnet, Damages Windshield Of Engineer Rashid's Vehicle During Poll Campaign In J&K - VIDEO

[WATCH]: Iftikhar Ahmed Angry At Journalists For Ruining Atmosphere In Pakistan Cricket

The King with a Camera: Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II, Jaipur’s Ultimate Royal Photographer

An avid movie buff and a foodie, who likes to spend time with her family and close ones. Other things that give me the thrill are - painting, gardenin... View More

Watch: First Single Marannadu Pulle From Joju George's Directorial Debut Pani Released

ATEEZ's Seonghwa Serves Up Best Gender-Neutral Look At 2024 Paris Fashion Week. See PICS

Ritu Varma To Play Maharani Rukmini Devi In Sree Vishnu’s Film Swag

Ram Charan Says He Is Very Honoured To Join Madame Tussauds Family

Anirudh Ravichander Thanks Fans For Devara Box Office Blockbuster; Says Working With NTR Was A 'Mad' Experience

Gulte Telugu news

Yashoda Movie Review

Article by Suman M Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 11:14 am, 11 November 2022

2 Hr 15 Mins   |   Thriller   |   11-11-2022

Cast - Samantha, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Unni Mukundan, Rao Ramesh and others

Director - Hareesh, Hari

Producer - Sivalenka Krishna Prasad

Banner - Sridevi Movies

Music - Mani Sharma

Samantha has so evolved as a performer, where her name has become a selling point along with the other aspects of a film. Samantha is coming with a film Yashoda, where she plays the lead role. The trailer was intriguing and hinted at conspiracy around the concept of surrogacy. The movie was released today in theaters. Check out the review.

What Is It About?

Yashoda (Samantha) a food delivery girl agrees to become a surrogate mother for a large sum of money. She will be sent to a highly sophisticated surrogate facility owned by Madhubala (Varalakshmi Sarathkumar). Yashoda learns that something is not right at the facility and she gets shocked seeing gruesome incidents happening there. On the other side, there is an active murder investigation of a business tycoon that leads to a stunning end. How is it linked to Yashoda’s story and what she does thereafter form the rest of the story.

Performances

Samantha gave an apt performance in the role of Yashoda. This role is a cakewalk for her, yet the effort she put into crossing the ‘t’s and dotting the ‘I’s could be seen in this dual-shaded role. This time she had to do the action part also and she has done it effortlessly. 

Varalakshmi Sarathkumar appears as a dangerous woman in a cold blood. Most of her roles were aggressive and yelling types, but In Yashoda she had to be subtle yet ruthless. She did quite well. Unni Mukundan supported her well. Sampath Raj, Murli Sharma, and others were alright in their respective roles. Kalpika, Divya Sripada, and others will be seen in brief roles. 

Technicalities

The storyline of Yashoda is interesting. For the concept, the movie hardly needed outdoor shots. Most of the sets looked fine while some shots in the facility appear to be heavily inspired by Hollywood sci-fi thrillers. The concept of confining the inmates with illusion walls is an unusual setup. The screenplay is good. Background music by Manisharma is alright. 

Samantha Fresh Plot

Thumbs Down

Slow First Half Predictable episodes Routine Climax

Analysis  

There were many movies based on the concept of surrogacy earlier. This plot of Yashoda is a plot developed from real investigative research that is untouched in films so far. A woman in need of money agrees to be a surrogate mother for an unknown billionaire and reaches a state-of-the-art facility for the same. Smelling a conspiracy, she digs deeper to unturn the dark truths only to find a giant mafia. 

The first half of Yashoda is slow with the setup in the surrogacy facility, with friends and character establishment. But it gets interesting as the narrative gets into the plot a little deeper toward the interval block. The pre-interval to interval sequences are rightly done promising an intriguing second half. The plot could be sensed on whole, but the details remain blurred until the revelations slowly turn up

The second half is more gripping and intriguing with each twist and turn. From Madhu’s flashback to the establishment of the murder investigation link, there are some good twists that turned out well. The concept of narrating two parallel stories back and forth without disclosing a link between them and that too until the latter second half is adventurous. If one side derails, there is a chance that by the time the link is established, the narration might have looked bumpy. That balance and suspense link between the two sides is maintained well by the director duo. 

On the downside, a perverted security guard, a highly monitored facility with umpteen blindspots, and a spine-chilling mafia setup with opened exit doors are some routine cinematic liberties that could have been worked differently. The emotional blocks in the pre-climax are too conventional. 

The thrill factor worked mostly while the emotional episodes are cliched. The climax is obvious with some routine action blocks. Overall, Yashoda is a decent thriller with a few stereotyped scenes. 

Bottomline: Decent Thriller With Suspense Elements !

Rating: 2.75/5

Watch Below Gulte Public Talk of Yashoda

Tags Samantha Yashodha

Click Here for Recommended Movies on OTT (List Updates Daily)

• News Box Office News Cricket News Politics News Education News India News
• Box Office Box Office Collection Bollywood Box Office 2020 Box Office 2019 Bollywood Box Office 2019 Kollywood Box Office 2019 Tollywood Box Office 2019 Marathi Box Office 2019 Box Office 2018 Highest Day Wise Collection List Highest Week Wise Collection List Top 10 Indian Movies (India Net) All Bollywood 100 Cr Club Movies
• Movies and Web Series Info Recent Movies Upcoming Movies Recent Movies Collection Upcoming Web Series Recent Web Series
• Youtube Most Viewed Indian Movie Trailers/Teasers Most Liked Indian Movie Trailers/Teasers Most Viewed Indian Song Most Liked Indian Song
• Recent Songs
• Daily All India Gross Data [Only For Subscribed Users]
• All India Gross Live Data [Only For Subscribed Users]
• Box Office: 'Devara: Part 1' First Sunday/Third Day Early Estimates
• Box Office: 'The Greatest of All Time' Becomes The Highest-Grossing Movie In Tamil Nadu
• Box Office: 'Tumbbad' Re-Release 2 Weeks (14 Days) Collection
• Box Office: 'Tumbbad' Re-Release 17 Days Collection
• Box Office: 'Devara: Part 1' Scored All-Time Second Biggest Opening In Telugu States
• List of Most-Followed Instagram Handle in World
• Box Office: 'Devara: Part 1' Second Day/First Saturday Early Estimates
• List of Most-Followed Instagram Handle in India

Yashoda Movie Review - An Engaging Thriller That Surprises Big Time

Rating: 3.5/5, more movie details: yashoda.

Posted On: 14 Nov 2022 01:50:08 pm IST | By Bharani SMS

• Samantha Akkineni
• Movie Review

Related News

Samantha wraps up first shoot of 'Yashoda' on Xmas eve

Samantha Ruth Prabhu Begins Shooting For Her Next, Titled 'Yashoda'

Vijay Deverakonda, Samantha Ruth Prabhu's Film With Director Shiva Nirvana To Be...

Waltair Veerayya Review: Public Reaction To Chiranjeevi And Ravi Teja's Action D...

Mahesh Babu, Jr. NTR, Samantha Akkineni, Among Others Mourn The Demise Of Senior...

Movies Scheduled For Release In The Month Of May Likely To Be Postponed Again

Trending news.

Entertainment

Sports politics sports internet india education.