The 2023 movie 'Virupaksha', directed by Karthik Varma Dandu and starring Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha, follows a similar structure but with a different The movie is set in the 1990s, with another storyline unfolding in the 1970s. Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) returns to his mother's village, Rudravanam, and quickly falls in love with Nandini (Samyuktha).

The movie starts off well, quickly establishing Surya as a heroic figure. However, he isn't portrayed as a typical high-powered hero with superhuman abilities; instead, he is a normal young man who rises to the occasion due to the circumstances, which is a positive aspect of the film.

What feels a bit off is how quickly Surya falls for Nandini, leaving little time to build any real chemistry between the characters. Soon after, eerie events begin to unfold in the village. The film avoids typical ghost scares and jump scares, instead building fear through the story and its atmosphere, which is quite effective.

In the second half, the movie begins to lag as much of the plot becomes predictable. For a film like this to stand out, it needs to offer something unique, but unfortunately, Virupaksha does not. However, the cinematography, Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score, Navin Nooli’s editing, and the remarkable sound design help maintain interest and deliver occasional chills.