Movie: RaaKaaSaa
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Pink Elephant Pictures & Zee Studios
Cast: Sangeeth Shobhan, Nayan Sarika, Vennela Kishore, Brahmaji, Tanikella Bharani, Ashish Vidyarthi, Getup Srinu, Sukhwinder Singh, Anoop Singh, Vasu Inturi, Rohini, Rohan Roy, and others
Music: Anudeep Dev
DOP: Raju Edurolua
Editor: Anwar Ali
Production Designer: Ramanjaneyulu
Producers: Niharika Konidela & Umesh Kumar Bansal
Written and Directed by: Manasa Sharma
Release Date: April 03, 2026
The lead cast of "Raakaasaa", along with producer Niharika Konidela, went all out to promote the film and build strong buzz. The trailer too looked promising.
Let’s find out whether the film lives up to the expectations.
Story:
Veeru (Sangeeth Shobhan) returns from the USA to his village, only to find the locals terrified of a nearby fort believed to be possessed by a demon. According to village lore, the demon demands a human sacrifice every few years, with ominous signs appearing in the sky when the time arrives. By a twist of fate, Veeru ends up stepping in as the chosen sacrifice.
Will he escape the fort safely? What will his girlfriend Subbalaxmi (Nayan Sarika) and his friend Balu (Getup Sreenu) do to rescue him?
Artistes’ Performances:
Sangeeth Shobhan, who impressed with his comic timing in the “Mad” franchise, takes on the lead role here. However, he doesn’t get much scope to showcase anything new and largely sticks to his familiar style of delivering comedy lines.
Nayan Sarika, as Subbalaxmi, has a limited presence in the first half but gets better scope in the latter portions.
Vennela Kishore provides a few good fun moments in the second half. Getup Srinu remains more of a sidekick without much impact. Brahmaji is adequate as the village head who delivers judgments, while Tanikella Bharani is passable as the heroine’s father.
Rohini, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Rohan Roy don’t add much value to the narrative.
Technical Excellence:
The film has decent production design considering its budget, which stands out as one of its better aspects. On the technical front, however, the impact is uneven. The music is largely forgettable, and the editing lacks sharpness. The writing follows a predictable, formulaic path, while the camerawork remains just about serviceable.
Highlights:
The latter episodes
Vennela Kishore
Drawback:
The dull first hour
Forced comedy
Story and screenplay
Lack of novelty
Analysis
“Raakaasaa” is neither a full-fledged comedy nor a proper horror film. It begins on an intriguing note, introducing the story of a demon and a village haunted by its presence. This opening creates curiosity, but the moment the hero is introduced, the film slips into a formulaic zone.
Instead of elevating the narrative, the hero’s entry feels underwhelming. The prolonged comedy track in a bus, followed by episodes around the heroine’s marriage, further drag the film down. Until the point where the hero is forced into entering the fort, the narrative remains largely bland.
The film only starts getting interesting from here. The portions set inside the fort are handled more neatly, and the narrative gains some grip. A key turning point—when a character appears in two places—injects sudden energy into the proceedings. From then on, despite sticking to familiar tropes, the film manages to hold attention. The backstory of the demon is also reasonably convincing.
What stands out is the stark contrast between the dull first half and the relatively engaging last 30 minutes.
It is surprising that the director, who shows better control in the latter portions, filled the first half with such weak and tedious comedy episodes. Some of the humor, including certain suggestive gags, comes across as outdated and in poor taste, further affecting the film’s appeal.
Moreover, the storyline itself feels derivative, reminiscent of recent films like “Kishkindhapuri,” which have explored similar themes more effectively.
Overall, “Raakaasaa” suffers from uneven narration, sluggish pacing, and comedy that rarely works, making the first half feel dull and dragging. The film struggles to keep the audience engaged early on. However, the second half shows some improvement with a few interesting moments and slightly better momentum, while the final stretch manages to hold attention and offers a mildly engaging conclusion. This feels more like a children’s film than something aimed at a mature audience.
Bottom-line: Uneven