Movie: Eleven
Rating: 2.25/5
Banner: AR Entertainment
Cast: Naveen Chandra, Reyaa Hari, Shashank, Abirami, Dileepan, Riythvika, Aadukalam Naren, Ravi Varma, Arjai , Kireeti Damaraju and others
Writer: Vasudeva Murthy
Music: D Imman
DOP: Karthik Ashokan
Editor: N. B. Srikanth
Art director: P.L. Subenthar
Producers: Ajmal Khan and Reyaa Hari
Written and Directed by: Lokkesh Ajls
Release Date: May 15, 2025
Naveen Chandra’s latest film Eleven has hit theaters today. The intriguing trailer had already piqued audience interest.
Let’s take a look at the film’s strengths and shortcomings.
Story:
Police officer Aravind (Naveen Chandra) is assigned to investigate a series of serial murders in Vizag after ACP Ranjit (Shashank), who was originally handling the case, is severely injured in an accident.
As Aravind delves deeper, he uncovers a pattern in the killings that leads him to a school named Twin Bird, which exclusively enrolls twins.
What is the connection between the twins and the murderer? And how does Aravind devise a plan to unmask the culprit?
Artistes’ Performances:
Naveen Chandra delivers a sincere performance as the police officer, though his expressions remain largely one-dimensional, maintaining a consistently focused look throughout the film.
Shashank, in a brief role, fits his part well, while Abirami adds value with her portrayal of a schoolteacher.
However, female lead Reyaa Hari falls short in both acting
Technical Excellence:
The film's strengths lie in its cinematography and background score, credit to the proficient work of the technical team. However, the writing is fairly basic and lacks depth.
Highlights:
Suspense elements
Flashback track
Drawback:
Formulaic to the most part
Convoluted at many places
The track between heroine and Naveen
Analysis
These days, serial killer films have become increasingly common — so much so that even casual viewers can often identify the killer well before the story reaches its midpoint. This predictability has made it challenging for filmmakers to maintain suspense until the end. As a result, a more effective approach now is to build atmosphere and engage audiences through mood, character development, and emotional depth — rather than relying solely on surprise.
Eleven, directed by Lokkesh Ajls, begins with an interesting premise but struggles to fully hold the viewer’s attention due to its uneven narrative.
The supposed suspense surrounding the killer’s identity is rendered ineffective, as obvious clues are dropped early in the first act, making the twist easily guessable.
The film shows some promise during its opening sequences and again in an emotionally charged flashback. However, outside of these moments, it largely sticks to predictable genre conventions. The climax may surprise those who missed the initial hints, but it lacks the impact of a well-earned reveal.
The masked killer trope and attempted plot twists feel clichéd and, at times, unintentionally silly. As the story progresses, the plot becomes increasingly convoluted, and by the end, significant logical inconsistencies emerge.
The climax — where the killer is revealed to always think in terms of a “Plan C” — feels overly cinematic and disconnected from the natural flow of the story.
Another major drawback is that the protagonist, played by Naveen Chandra, functions more as a passive narrator recounting past events rather than an active investigator. This robs the film of any real tension or investigative intrigue.
The film contains two main twists, with the biggest being the killer’s identity. Unfortunately, heavy-handed foreshadowing makes this reveal highly predictable. Moreover, the motive behind the killings lacks emotional or psychological depth.
The romantic subplot between Naveen Chandra and Reyaa Hari (who also co-produced the film) feels forced and unnecessary — it could have been omitted entirely without affecting the story.
In the end, Eleven is watchable in parts and has a few engaging moments, but it’s better suited for an OTT release than a theatrical run. Its predictable story and overused plot elements ultimately limit its impact.
Bottom-line: Nothing exciting
