"Step into the mystical world of Shambhala, where the boundaries between science and spirituality collide. Set in the 1980s, this is a story of discovery, destiny, and the unknown," wrote actor Aadi Saikumar, sharing the trailer of his upcoming movie, Shambhala.
The male lead is a geo-scientist who predictably denies supernatural phenomena because they can't be proven. His interrogation of the serial murders in a damned village led him to chase mysterious clues. Cliched elements include a seer who mouths platitudes about religion knowing much more than science. It's only a matter of time before we discover that Aadi Saikumar's character was always the chosen one. The references to transcendental events dating millennia sound shallow and unoriginal.
Visually, the film seems to be stuck in a time warp.
Scheduled to hit the cinemas on December 25, Shambhala will face intense competition from other releases like Vishwak Sen's Funky and Roshan Meka's Champion.
