Film Aatmaram Live Review: Young director’s bold attempt with fresh content and a new cast

• Aatmaram Live
• Critic Rating: ★★★☆☆

A Punchy Blend of Comedy and Horror

The young filmmaker Niharika Sahni makes her feature directorial debut with Aatmaram Live, released this week in select theatres. The film boldly explores the obsession of today’s youth with social media fame—an area mainstream filmmakers have often avoided. It highlights how the desire to become an overnight “superstar” drives individuals to unexpected extremes.

Story

The narrative follows a struggling social media influencer who arrives in a big city from a small village, dreaming of fame and virality. His father enrolled him in a B.Tech program hoping he would build a stable career, but the young man has his sights set firmly on social media stardom. He shares a tiny rented room in the city and collaborates with a local vendor’s son—a jovial Sikh boy—yet every attempt they make at creating content fails miserably.

Things take a turn when his friend’s grandfather passes away, and the duo visit the cremation ground for the final rites. There, the influencer gets the idea to shoot horror videos using the cremation site as the backdrop. While filming, his foot accidentally lands on a burning pyre’s ashes, and some residue gets stuck in his boot.

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This moment triggers a chain of comic and eerie events. The two friends begin to experience bizarre happenings, even as their horror videos suddenly go viral overnight. Unknowingly, they bring back the presence of an “Aatmaram,” whose influence begins to disrupt their lives. In the chaos, a young woman named Vaishnavi—already grieving her grandmother’s death—finds herself pulled into the supernatural whirlpool.

Direction & Presentation

As a debutante, Niharika Sahni deserves praise for attempting a fresh concept with limited resources and an entirely new cast. Taking such a risk is not easy, especially when commercial success is not guaranteed with unfamiliar faces.

The film offers sharp commentary on the modern-day obsession with online presence and the compulsive need to stay connected. Several dialogues evoke laughter, while others provoke thought.

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The horror-comedy treatment resembles the popular Stree franchise—balancing scares with humour rooted in Indian cultural rituals and beliefs.

Technical Credits

• Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Niharika Sahni
• Music Producer: Ankit Deepak Tiwari
• Cast: Vithal Chadha, Akashdeep Singh, Avyaana Sharma

The film starts off a bit slow, but post-interval it gains considerable momentum and holds the audience’s attention right until the climax.

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Final Verdict

Aatmaram Live is a refreshing, experimental attempt that combines horror, humour, and social satire. Despite its modest scale and new cast, the film manages to make an impact through its strong concept and engaging treatment.

The makers are also preparing for an international release, which could give this unique story a wider audience.

Overall—A quirky, entertaining mix of horror, comedy, and social media satire. Worth a watch.

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