"Mansion 24" marks Ohmkar's foray into the world of web-series in his own making.
Starring Varalakshmi Sarathkumar in the lead role, the series revolves around investigative journalist Amrutha, who visits Mansion 24, an abandoned hotel, to clear her father's name.
Her father, archeologist Kalidas (Sathyaraj), is accused of stealing valuable artifacts, leading Amrutha to embark on a mission to uncover the truth.
Along the way, she encounters the watchman (Rao Ramesh) of Mansion 24, who begins revealing various paranormal incidents that occurred in the hotel.
The plot unfolds in a procedural manner, delving into a series of eerie occurrences within the building. Despite being uninhabited, the watchman attempts to safeguard the property from intruders. Amrutha finds herself haunted by these stories, experiencing them as nightmares.
Ohmkar attempts to transition from his horror-comedy image to pure horror in "Mansion 24."
However, the series falls short in capturing and maintaining the audience's attention.
While there are moments with potential depth, the narrative fails to explore them fully. The stories, shared by the watchman, lack a cohesive connection or a central theme.
Had the tales been interwoven around a hidden treasure, the premise could have been more intriguing. Unfortunately, the series feels reminiscent of anthology films like "Darna Mana Hai" and "Darna Zaroori Hai."
Despite commendable performances by Varalakshmi Sarathkumar and Rao Ramesh, other characters, portrayed by Sriman and Avika Gor, lack depth. Rajeev Kanakala's character starts off intriguingly but lacks substantial development.
Ohmkar's direction incorporates glossy and bright lighting, diminishing the mystery of the setting.
With stronger writing and more creative scares, "Mansion 24" would have been better.
Streaming On: Disney+ HotStar
