‘THE Y’ REVIEW | 6 January, 2023

Rocket Films’ The Y (UA) is a horror thriller. Strange things start happening when Yuvan (Yuvan Hariharan) and his wife, Deeksha (Leonilla D’Souza), move into the new bungalow bequeathed to them. In spite of Yuvan’s friend, Abhi (Abhinava Kiran), warning him of a ghost’s presence in the bungalow, Yuvan is unwilling to believe him or even take him seriously. However, when a psychiatrist (Kamal Ghimiray) endorses the theory about a spirit, Yuvan is forced to take note. What happens thereafter?

Girideva Raaj has written a story which is like any other horror story. His screenplay has some moments which afford thrill but they are few and far between. The revelation of the suspense does not really do justice to the build-up. Girideva Raaj’s dialogues are routine.

Yuvan Hariharan does a fair job as Yuvan. Leonilla D’Souza is okay as Deeksha. Kamal Ghimiray lends ordinary support in the role of the psychiatrist. Abhinava Kiran is earnest as Abhi. Prithal Pawar (as Sonu), Apsara (as Vidhya), Bhuvan Brahmadev (as young Yuvan), Bhairavi (as young Deeksha), Vijay Kondaiah (as Deeksha’s uncle), Ram Rao (as Ramu Kaka), N.L. Narendra Babu (as the orphanage caretaker), Sinchana (as the courier staffer), and Sarojamma (as Susheela) lend decent support.

Girideva Raaj’s direction is so-so. Maru Brothers’ music and Shambhu Kumar’s lyrics are functional. Christopher Jayson’s background music is quite effective. Camerawork (by Karthik Mallur) is nice. Vinod Basavaraj’s editing ought to have been sharper.

On the whole, The Y is too ordinary to make much of an impact at the box-office. Its poor promotion is another drawback as awareness about the film is almost nil. A plus point, however, is that the film has been made on a shoestring budget.

Released on 6-1-’23 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Cinepolis and White Lion Entertainment. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over.