18 April,2025 11:29 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Still from Odela 2
Odela 2, starring Tamannaah Bhatia, released in theatres on Thursday and has opened to largely positive reviews from audiences. The supernatural thriller is earning high praise for Tamannaah's powerful performance, with many calling it one of her most intense roles to date.
In the film, the actress plays a Naga Sadhu for the first time in her career, and it appears she has nailed the look and the character. Apart from her performance, the cinematography and music are also being widely appreciated by audiences.
Netizens laud Tamannaah's act
A user took to X (formerly Twitter) and praised Tamannaah's performance and her entry in the film. "Tamannaah's most powerfull performance as Bhairavi (SHIVA SHAKTHI)ðÂÂÂ¥ Goosebumps acting ðÂÂÂ¥ Entry never before ðÂÂÂ¥ Lord shiva climax was goosebumps ðÂÂÂ¥ cinematography graphics music loved it ðÂÂÂ¥ highlight Tamannaah vasistha performance peaks"
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Take a look at other reactions
In an interview, creator Sampath Nandi opened up about crafting Tamannaah's look as a Naga Sadhu.
"Tamannaah plays a Naga Sadhu, a character with mysterious energy. Initially, we tried three different looks. Tamannaah is very fair, while Naga saints are known to be in the sun, so their skin is usually tanned and weathered. No matter how much makeup we applied, it was difficult to achieve a realistic effect," he explained.
"There are foreigners among Naga saints too, and Tamannaah's skin turns pink in the sun. So we decided to finalize her look without any makeup. I shared this idea with designer Neeta Lulla and sent her costume references. She designed a few outfits, and finally, we achieved the look you now see on screen. It took a lot of time and care to perfect it," Sampath Nandi said.
He also revealed that Tamannaah acted barefoot under the scorching sun for her role.
"She became a complete vegetarian. I believe Tamannaah garu was able to portray this character so convincingly because she was undergoing a personal transition. She performed effortlessly," he added.
Odela 2 has generated significant buzz as the second installment in the Odela franchise, following the 2022 film Odela Railway Station. The film is directed by Ashok Teja and produced by D. Madhu. The music is composed by Ajaneesh Loknath, with cinematography by Soundar Rajan and art direction by Rajeev Nair.
