FILM REVIEW: ANVESHAN [ONE-LINER: Anveshan A Murder Mystery That Fails to Engage]

REVIEW BY

SUYASH PACHAURI [GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD] & [DIRECTOR'S DAILY CLAPBOARD]

Introduction

Mahashakti Productions’ Anveshan attempts to step into the psychological horror-thriller space with a murder mystery set against the lush backdrop of Jharkhand. Directed and written by Mohammed Ismail, the film centers on a group of horticulture Ph.D. students whose academic retreat takes a deadly turn. While the premise offers potential for suspense and intrigue, the film’s lackluster execution, weak writing, and unconvincing performances make it a tedious watch. Despite being released on September 19, 2025, the film has failed to gain traction either critically or commercially, and for good reason.

Synopsis

Anveshan opens with six horticulture students embarking on a week-long stay at a secluded resort in the forests of Jharkhand. Their goal is to work on a research project related to indigenous plant species, vital for their Ph.D. program. The resort is maintained by a mysterious caretaker, and a solitary gardener oversees the grounds.

What begins as a peaceful academic retreat quickly spirals into a nightmare. Strange occurrences unsettle the group, and soon, the students begin dying one by one. What's particularly eerie is that none of the murders seem to involve any visible weapon. The killings are clean, almost supernatural in execution, leaving behind frightened survivors and a deepening sense of paranoia.

The remaining students struggle to piece together the puzzle. Who is behind the murders? What is the motive? How are they being executed without any physical evidence? And ultimately, who will survive this deadly ordeal?

Unfortunately, even with this promising setup, Anveshan fails to craft the tension or drama necessary to sustain a gripping mystery.

Story and Screenplay

Mohammed Ismail’s story treads a painfully predictable path. The basic murder mystery setup isolated location, dwindling cast, unknown killer who has been seen countless times before, and Anveshan bring nothing new to the table. The absence of innovative plot points or surprising twists makes the narrative feel dull and repetitive.

Ismail’s screenplay is equally uninspired. Instead of building suspense, the script plods along, failing to deepen the characters or create genuine emotional stakes. The fear factor, which is crucial for a thriller of this nature, is virtually nonexistent. Key moments that should evoke shock or dread pass by without impact. By the time the final reveal arrives, which should ideally be a moment of catharsis or surprise, the viewer has long lost interest.

The dialogues, also penned by Ismail, are mundane and often clunky. They neither elevate the scenes nor define the characters. Conversations feel mechanical, serving only to move the plot from one uninspired moment to the next.

Performances

The cast of Anveshan delivers performances that range from mediocre to subpar, with none standing out.

• Mushtaq Khan gives a by-the-numbers performance, lacking any real gravitas or nuance.

• Ajay Kumar Singh is passable but doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

• Rajkumar Kanojia manages to scrape through with an average act.

• Deboshree Chakraborty does just enough to stay afloat.

• Captaini Armaan delivers an indifferent performance.

• Rupsha Banerjee, despite a few attempts at emoting, remains ordinary.

• Rahul Sil, Charni Bharadwaj, and Anjali Verma all fail to create believable or engaging characters.

• Jitesh Asiwal and Gargi Kundu don’t fare much better, and the remaining ensemble falls below par.

The film clearly suffers from a lack of experienced actors capable of carrying emotionally intense scenes, which are crucial for any suspense thriller. Without compelling characters, it becomes nearly impossible for the audience to become invested in their fate.

Direction

As a director, Mohammed Ismail struggles to maintain tonal consistency or build atmospheric tension. The horror elements feel generic and disconnected, and the murder mystery aspect is poorly handled. Pacing is uneven; scenes meant to build dread are either rushed or linger pointlessly. Instead of escalating suspense, the direction flattens it.

Key moments that should feel urgent or terrifying come across as unintentionally comical or emotionally hollow. Ismail fails to use the setting effectively; despite the haunting potential of a forest resort, the locale is rarely used to create mood or drama. Moreover, the film lacks a coherent visual language that distinguishes it from typical low-budget thrillers.

Music and Songs

The music, composed by Milan-Suman, is another weak link in Anveshan. The background score lacks originality and doesn’t complement the film’s tone. In a genre where sound design is essential to building tension, the dull and uninspired music detracts from the atmosphere rather than enhancing it.

The songs are forgettable, with unimpressive lyrics and unmemorable melodies. They often disrupt the narrative flow, appearing forced and unnecessary. Anurag Mehta’s choreography, though barely utilized, also adds no value.

Technical Aspects

Cinematography: Abhishek Chatterjee’s camera work is decent in patches but ultimately does little to elevate the material. Some of the natural landscapes are framed nicely, but the camera fails to build suspense or highlight critical moments effectively.

Editing: Mohammed Ismail, who also serves as the editor, delivers choppy and inconsistent transitions. Scenes lack rhythm, and the film feels disjointed as a result. Poor editing decisions further diminish the impact of key scenes.

Art Direction: Swarup Das provides basic, functional sets. However, the lack of detail and stylization makes the setting feel bland and lifeless.

Visual Effects: Minimal and unimpressive. Whatever limited VFX is used to show the murders or supernatural elements is poorly executed.

Publicity and Release

Anveshan was released on 19th September 2025 at Super Cinema and another theater in Bombay through Mat Entertainment. The publicity for the film was minimal and failed to generate any pre-release buzz. As a result, the opening was weak, with extremely poor footfall in both metro and non-metro areas. The all-India release witnessed similarly disastrous openings, signalling the film’s commercial failure.

Final Verdict

Anveshan is a textbook example of a wasted opportunity. With a setting ripe for horror and mystery and a classic whodunit structure, the film had the potential to deliver a gripping thriller. Instead, it falls prey to clichéd storytelling, uninspired direction, dull performances, and poor technical execution.

The film neither thrills as a murder mystery nor entertains as a drama. It leaves the audience with more yawns than gasps and more eye-rolls than raised eyebrows. Given the poor opening and even poorer word of mouth, Anveshan is bound to disappear from theaters quickly and deservedly so.

FILM REVIEW: ANVESHAN

[ONE-LINER: Anveshan A Murder Mystery That Fails to Engage]

REVIEW BY SUYASH PACHAURI [GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD]