Movie Name : Sarvam Maya
Streaming Date : Jan 30, 2026
Streaming Platform : Jio Hotstar
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, Riya Shibu, Janardhanan, Preity Mukhundhan, Raghunath Paleri and Madhu Wariar
Director : Akhil Sathyan
Producers : Dr. Ajayya Kumar and Rajeev Menon
Music Director : Justin Prabhakaran
Cinematographer : Sharan Velayudhan
Editors : Akhil Sathyan, Rathin Radhakrishnan
Related Links : Trailer
Released on Christmas Eve, Sarvam Maya is a Malayalam film featuring Nivin Pauly in the lead. After a successful theatrical run, the film is now streaming on Jio Hotstar in multiple languages, including Telugu. Read on to know how it is.
Story:
Prabhendu (Nivin Pauly), an aspiring guitarist and atheist who lives away from his family due to differences with his father, is forced to return home after his visa for a Europe tour gets cancelled. To earn money, he assists his cousin Rupesh, a priest, and during an exorcism-related assignment, experiences a strange incident. Soon after, Prabhendu senses the presence of a young girl in his room who uses his phone and behaves in puzzling ways. He later encounters her and nicknames her Delulu (Riya Shibu). With no memory of her past and an unusual nature, Delulu does not behave like a typical ghost, and as their interaction grows, she begins influencing Prabhendu’s life. Who exactly is Delulu? What is her past? Why is she connected to Prabhendu, and how will her presence change his life? These questions form the crux of the film.
Plus Points:
The story of Sarvam Maya follows a familiar supernatural setup, but the film benefits from its treatment and character-driven narration rather than novelty.
Riya Shibu’s portrayal of Delulu is the film’s biggest strength. Her character is playful, mischievous, and humorous instead of being scary. Her expressions, timing, and screen presence stand out, making Delulu instantly likeable. She clearly emerges as the show-stealer.
Nivin Pauly delivers a controlled and sincere performance as an atheist caught in an unusual situation. He balances fear, innocence, emotion, and humour effectively. His combination scenes with Riya Shibu form the emotional and entertainment backbone of the film.
Preity Mukhundhan appears in a limited role but leaves an impression. Aju Varghese supports the film with light humour, while Janardhanan performs reliably as the lead’s uncle. The supporting cast fits well into the narrative.
The emotional portions towards the climax, particularly the revelation related to Delulu’s identity, connect well and leave an emotional impact.
Minus Points:
While the treatment elevates the film to an extent, the core story remains predictable. A few sequences feel routine and offer no major surprises.
The dynamic between Nivin Pauly and Aju Varghese could have been explored further to generate more humour. Similarly, Preity Mukhundhan’s character feels underwritten and exits the narrative abruptly.
Not all the comedy works. While character-driven humour clicks, some situational sequences feel overstretched. Although the emotional intent of the climax connects, some viewers may feel the narrative explanation could have been clearer.
Technical Aspects:
Director Akhil Sathyan presents the film in a clean and accessible manner. His attempt to blend humour, emotion, and supernatural elements mostly works, though the second half could have been tighter.
Sharan Velayudhan’s cinematography suits the film’s tone. Justin Prabhakaran’s music complements the narrative and enhances the emotional portions. Editing by Akhil Sathyan and Rathin Radhakrishnan is adequate, though trimming a few scenes would have improved pacing. Production values are decent, and the Telugu dubbing is fine, but could have been better.
Verdict:
On the whole, Sarvam Maya is an entertaining supernatural comedy that relies more on its characters than its story. While the plot feels familiar, the engaging treatment and the Delulu character keep the film afloat. Nivin Pauly delivers a steady performance, but it is Riya Shibu who truly elevates the film. Though it does not break new ground, Sarvam Maya benefits from its neat presentation and family-friendly treatment, placing it firmly on the positive side. It emerges as one of the better OTT options for a relaxed weekend watch.
123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team
