Ye Mantram Vesave movie review highlights: The first half fails to live up to the expectations

Vijay Deverakonda's 'backlog' has come to haunt him in the form of the disoriented '

Ye Mantram Vesave

'. Directed by Shridhar Marri and co-starring

Katrina Kaif-wannabe Shivani

, it seems the film was released with the hope that it will ride on Deverakonda's new found fame with Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 'Arjun Reddy'.

Deverakonda plays the role of a misogynistic gaming addict Nikky whose addiction is a cause of concern to his parents. Rags (Shivani) is a game designer who's always discouraged by her boss. When Nikky places a bet with his friends that he'll make Rags fall for him, she sets him off on a hunt to find her. However, the hunt doesn't seem to be all fun and games thanks to a human trafficking ring that seems to involve someone close to Rags. With a premise like that, one expects the film to be pacy and tight in narration. Instead, the film tries hard to find its footing.

Deverakonda tries to make the best of his role that seems to have a sudden development switch in the first half. Shivani tried too hard in her role of do-gooder as quirky Rags, but is barely able to flesh it out. Despite the storyline, which is outdated in parts (thanks to web chat rooms and all), the basic premise seems interesting and is reminiscent of Mohit Suri's 'Murder 2' in at least some portions. The first half ended with a bang and it remains to be seen how the second half will fare.