What distinguishes music from noise is often a thin line. The same applies to service and business in healthcare, where both rely on an uninterrupted flow—whether it’s soundwaves or heartbeats. Similarly, horror as a genre treads a delicate balance between fear and fascination. Sabdham, the latest collaboration between director Arivazhagan and actor Aadhi Pinisetty, attempts to blend these elements into a compelling narrative. However, despite its ambitious premise, the film struggles to maintain its footing and ultimately falls flat.

Aadhi Pinisetty as the Paranormal Investigator:
In Sabdham, Aadhi Pinisetty plays Ruben, a paranormal investigator assigned to unravel a string of unexplained suicides at a prestigious college. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself entangled in a case that goes far beyond the realm of the ordinary. Aiding him in his mission are Avantika (Lakshmi Menon), an internal lecturer with a troubled past, and Deepak (Vivek Prasanna), a fellow investigator providing remote assistance.

Their investigation soon takes a dark turn, revealing a decades-old secret where music is both the cause and the cure of an ancient evil. Ruben’s personal connection to music and trauma further fuels his determination to solve the mystery. As he pieces together the puzzle, he must confront not only supernatural forces but also his own deeply buried fears.

Parallels with Eeram: Aadhi & Arivazhagan Reunite
For fans of Tamil horror cinema, the reunion of Aadhi and Arivazhagan naturally draws comparisons to their previous collaboration, Eeram (2009). In Eeram, Aadhi played a cop investigating a supernatural crime, much like his role in Sabdham, where he plays an investigator yet again. Both films follow a procedural narrative structure, relying on the protagonist’s deductive skills to drive the story forward.

However, where Eeram succeeded in creating an atmospheric horror-thriller, Sabdham struggles with its execution. The emotional stakes in Eeram were heightened by the protagonist’s personal connection to the case, whereas in Sabdham, Ruben’s traumatic past involving music feels more like a convenient plot device than an organic part of the story.

A Horror Film That Struggles Between Two Worlds:
At its core, Sabdham aspires to be more than just a horror film. It attempts to educate the audience about the power of sound, its impact on human psychology, and its connection to supernatural forces. While this unique concept could have added depth to the narrative, the film gets bogged down in exposition-heavy dialogues.

Rather than immersing the audience in fear and suspense, Sabdham often pauses to explain concepts related to sound therapy, the science of frequencies, and the metaphysical properties of music. This results in a disjointed viewing experience, where the horror elements lose their grip due to frequent informational detours.

Music and Horror: A Missed Opportunity
With Thaman composing the music, expectations were high for Sabdham to deliver an auditory experience that complements its theme. However, while the background score does add tension to certain sequences, it fails to elevate the film into a truly terrifying experience.

Considering that the core theme of the film revolves around sound, there was immense potential to use silence, unique sound frequencies, and unsettling audio cues to create an immersive horror atmosphere. Unfortunately, the film misses this opportunity, relying instead on standard jump scares and predictable horror tropes.

Performances and Character Development:
Aadhi Pinisetty, known for his intense performances, does his best to anchor the film. His portrayal of Ruben is earnest, but the script doesn’t give him enough material to make his character truly stand out.
Lakshmi Menon, as Avantika, plays her part well but doesn’t have much agency in the story beyond being a supporting figure in Ruben’s journey.
Vivek Prasanna, as the fellow investigator Deepak, adds some much-needed light moments to an otherwise serious narrative.
Direction and Screenplay: A Tightrope Walk
Director Arivazhagan is no stranger to crafting engaging thrillers, but in Sabdham, his storytelling feels divided between two extremes. On one side, the film aims to be a psychological horror-thriller, and on the other, it tries to be an informative exploration of sound-based supernatural theories.

This conflicted narrative approach prevents the film from fully embracing either genre, leaving both the horror and the mystery elements underdeveloped. Instead of maintaining a sense of dread throughout, the film constantly shifts gears, leading to an inconsistent tone and pacing.

Final Verdict: Sabdham Fails to Strike the Right Chord:
While Sabdham brings an interesting concept to Tamil horror cinema, it fails to translate that idea into an engaging and terrifying experience. The film’s heavy reliance on exposition, lack of emotional depth, and uneven screenplay prevent it from making a lasting impact.

For those looking for a truly immersive horror experience, Eeram remains a better choice. Sabdham, despite its ambition, struggles to find its rhythm and ultimately falls flat.

Rating: 2.5/5

Author: Ronak Rehal