Director Krishna Brahma of Maharshi is back with a new horror film, Yagna. Though he has shortened his name to Krishna, the second Kannada film he has directed is under two hours long! Krishna has once again shown his incompetence as a director and the film oscillates between bad and worse.
One thing is clear: the film's producer had not seen Maharshi before he signed the director. While Maharshi was a crude action film, Yagna is horrible in its presentation. Krishna has exhibited his lack of ability in storytelling by picking up many threads from Charmee's thriller Manthra. Krishna has just made some cosmetic changes to present his own version of Manthra.
To make the project economically viable, Krishna and producer Shankare Gowda have included many Telugu artists so that he can dub the Kannada film into Telugu.
The story starts with a carefree Anji working for a city based don. He is sent to a haunted house nearby as the don wants to usurp the property. Yagna, who is studying in a music school, goes to the house along with her friends. Many curious things happen including the murder of one of the inmates. Yagna reveals that she is the owner of the property and also professes her love for Anji.
Meanwhile, Anji tries to solve the tricky events happening in the house. He also does his own investigations to solve the murder. Finally Anji who is actually a police officer reveals the secrets to his superior officers.
Sree Murali once again proves that he is a good actor who unfortunately chooses the wrong films. He is good in the climax as well as in the fight sequences. Debutant Priyanka indulges in lot of skin show in the dance sequences. Om Prakash Rao's comedy gets to your nerves.
Camera work of Niranjan Babu is passable while Sree Murali's music is very ordinary. All in all, a horror film you won't miss seeing.
Rediff Rating: 
