Valari (film)

Valari is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language horror thriller film written and directed by M Mrithika Santhoshini (in her directorial debut).^[1] The film features Ritika Singh and Sriram in important roles.^[2]

Valari
Release poster
Directed by	M Mrithika Santhoshini
Written by	M Mrithika Santhoshini
Produced by	K Sathya Saibaba
Starring	Ritika Singh Sriram
Cinematography	Sujatha Siddharth
Edited by	Tammiraju
Music by	TS Vishnu
Distributed by	ETV Win
Release date	6 March 2024 (2024-03-06)
Running time	123 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu

The film was released on 6 March 2024 on ETV Win.^[3]

Plot

A possessed 13-year-old girl murders her parents and brother in a horrific incident. Years later, Divya Dharshini (Ritika Singh), a devoted homemaker, lives a happy life with her husband, Navy Captain Naveen Naidu (Sreeram), and their young son (Pharrnitha Rudra Raju). Divya begins to experience a recurring nightmare—vivid visions of the murders—which leave her deeply unsettled.

When Naveen is transferred from Chennai to the coastal port town of Krishnapatnam, the family initially stays in government quarters. From the moment Divya arrives, she feels a strange pull toward an old, abandoned colonial-era bungalow on the outskirts of town. One day, while dropping her son at school, she notices the bungalow and takes photographs of it. During this visit, her son finds a hairpin and brings it home. Soon afterward, inexplicable events begin to occur: the blender turns on by itself, and the wallpaper and WhatsApp status on Divya’s phone repeatedly change to photos of the abandoned house.

Determined to uncover the truth, Divya visits the registrar’s office to learn more about the bungalow’s history and ownership. While collecting the necessary documents, she is involved in an accident and develops amnesia. As time passes, the boundary between her dreams and reality begins to blur. Items from her nightmares—such as an old doll, a cracked mirror, and a crimson scarf—appear in real life.

Her investigation, reluctantly supported by her skeptical husband, leads her to uncover a dark family secret spanning generations, involving betrayal, revenge, and a vengeful spirit trapped in a cycle of violence. Divya ultimately realizes that the 13-year-old girl from her visions is connected to her own past, and the murders may have a chilling link to her family.

Cast

• Ritika Singh as Divya Dharshini
• Sriram as Naveen Naidu
• Uttej as Ramachandra
• Subbaraju as Rudra, a psychiatrist
• Princess Sahasra
• Pharrnitha Rudra Raju as Naveen and Divya's son
• Keshav Deepak
• Siddharth Gollapudi as Naval Officer

Release and reception

Valari was released on 6 March 2024 on ETV Win.^[4]

BH Harsh of Cinema Express rated the film 3 out of 5 and quoted that the film is "an uneven yet compelling reimagining of the horror genre".^[5] Avad Mohammad of OTTPlay rated it 2.5 out of 5 and gave a mixed review citing it as "a routine thriller that does not showcase anything novel", while appreciating the lead cast performances.^[6]