The Telugu supernatural horror thriller Odela 2, directed by Ashok Tej and written by Sampath Nandi, hit theatres today. Tamannaah Bhatia stars in the lead role as Shiva Shakti. The film is a sequel to the 2022 movie “Odela Railway Station.”
While the first installment featured Hebah Patel in the lead role, Odela 2 sees Tamannaah take center stage, with Hebah making a brief appearance to maintain continuity.
The film has garnered mixed reviews. While some critics praised Tamannaah’s performance—especially her striking entry, intense climax scenes, and the atmospheric score by Ajaneesh Loknath—others felt the narrative fell short. Many found the first half engaging but noted that the second half lacked suspense, apart from the well-executed climax.
Several reviewers drew comparisons with Arundhati, the Anushka Shetty-led supernatural hit. Tamannaah’s look as a Naga Sadhu drew attention and was widely appreciated. Critics acknowledged her strong screen presence and convincing performance but felt that her character lacked depth and impact.
Despite the mixed reactions, the film’s music and select scenes have been well-received by audiences.
This marks Tamannaah’s first female-centric Telugu film, and also her first release post her breakup with actor Vijay Varma, with whom she was in a relationship for over two years. The film had a simultaneous Hindi release as well.
A post-credits scene in Odela 2 hints at an upcoming sequel, Odela 3, suggesting that the franchise is set to continue. However, it remains to be seen whether Odela 2 will succeed at the box office and justify the next chapter.