Set against the eerie calm of a village that claims to have a “low crime rate,” the film opens with the introduction of Shiva (Raj B Shetty), a suspended sub-inspector battling alcoholism and personal grief. Reinstated and transferred to this far-flung location, Shiva arrives with his wife, who we later learn exists only in his fractured mind—while the village quietly hints that something is deeply off.
From a child warning him that his house is haunted, to unsettling visuals of fireballs, hawks and dead crows, the film steadily builds an atmosphere of unease. Shiva’s first day at the police station sets the tone for his unconventional nature - he’s calm, withdrawn, casually asking about a bar nearby, and far removed from the chest-thumping cinematic cops we’re used to.
Running parallel is the story of Archana Kottige’s character, a single mother struggling to protect herself and her daughter Belli from predatory stares and whispers in the village. Belli becomes the emotional anchor of the narrative, forming a tender father-daughter bond with Shiva, one that adds warmth to an otherwise grim story. The fear of the mythical Kolli Devva, a ghost said to kill young women and children, looms large, reinforced by B Suresh’s ominous swamiji and the village’s collective paranoia.
The plot takes a darker turn when a young woman, dressed as a bride, is found murdered with her face burnt. As similar murders follow, Shiva’s investigation is complicated by his schizophrenia, which strangely allows him to “connect” with the dead. The film walks a fine line between psychological trauma and supernatural suggestion, repeatedly asking whether the horror is human or something more sinister.
Raj B Shetty’s portrayal of Shiva is the film’s backbone. He plays the character with restraint—never loud, never performative, making Shiva feel painfully real. This is not a stylised mass cop, but a broken man trying to hold himself together while doing his job. Archana Kottige, Gopal Krishna Deshpande and B Suresh deliver solid performances, while Anirudh Bhat stands out as twin brothers Aadi and Aruna, hinting at strong future potential. Swathishta Krishnan, however, leaves little impact, with dubbing that feels off.
Technically, the film is well mounted, with Arjun Janya’s music effectively amplifying the tension. Ravi Saranga’s direction is confident and assured, impressive for a debut. While the narrative occasionally stretches itself thin, the film remains engaging.
Overall, this is a slow-burn psychological thriller anchored by a compelling central performance—definitely a good one-time watch.