Movie: Rakshasudu
Rating: 3/5
Banner: A Studios
Cast: Bellamkonda Sreenivas, Anupama Parameswaran, Saravanan, Rajeev Kanakala, Ravi, Kasi Vishwanath, and others
Music: Ghibran
Cinematography: Venkat C. Dileep
Editor: Amar Reddy
Action: Ram Lakshman, Vickey Master, Venkat
Producer: Satyanarayana Koneru
Director: Ramesh Varma Penmetsa
Release Date: August 2, 2019
Bellamkonda Srinivas has released many movies in the last five years but he has not scored a big hit. He has now attempted new genre to get noticed from the urban audiences.
Let’s find out whether he has succeeded in this image makeover?
Story:
In Hyderabad city, a school girl is murdered. Then some more murders happen. A rookie police officer Arun (Bellamkonda Srinivas) suspects that a sociopath is behind these killings.
His theory and his method of investigation gets admonished by his higher officer but he continues to search for the killer. He turns obsessive with the case when a personal loss happens.
And what is the final twist and who is the real killer?
Artistes’ Performances:
This is second time that Bellamkonda Srinivas is playing police officer’s role after ‘Kavacham’. However, this time he has played the role with a more subdued approach. This is his better act among all his movies.
Anupama Parameshwaran as his lover is neat. Rajeev Kanakala gets meaty role after a long time. All the other actors including Saravanan have played their parts well.
Technical Excellence:
These kind of movies click only when the technical output is perfect. Musical background score by Ghibran and the sound design have actually elevated the movie. The sound is terrific. Production values are perfect.
Highlights:
Theme and storyline
Thrilling moments
Background score
Drawback:
Extremely Violent
Runtime
Analysis
Remake of a Tamil movie “Ratsasan”, Ramesh Varma directed “Rakshasudu” is faithful to the original movie. It is as gripping as the original Tamil movie.
The good part is that the Telugu makers have not spoiled it, nor they have altered the original movie. It is like a scene to scene replica. This actually has worked in its favor.
Since we have seen Bellamkonda Srinivas in mind-less action dramas, it is a welcome change to see him acting in a concept based story that gives more importance to the genre than catering to the hero’s action image.
Allari Ravibabu made a gripping serial-killer thriller movie called ‘Anasuya’ a decade ago. After that hardly any Telugu movie was made in this genre. This precisely has provided a novel experience. Moreover, the screenplay is quite engaging.
The movie begins in a simple manner but it picks up when the hero gets involved in the first investigation of the murder.
The pace further picks up when the hero and his team zeroes in on one school teacher suspecting him as serial killer which is quite believable and told in riveting manner.
The movie then turns a little bit melodramatic but the third act of the movie is what the film makes a riveting watch.
The serial killer’s motive is also explained in a neat way. However, the makeup for the serial killer is quite gaudy.
Despite some flaws, and weak romantic episode between hero and heroine, “Rakshasudu” doesn’t deviate from the basic thread and is focused on telling it in genre-specific way.
If you have watched the Tamil film, it may not impress you but those who watch it in Telugu for the first time, it will definitely grip you.
Bottom-line: Gripping Thriller
(Venkat Arikatla can be reached at venkat@greatandhra.com)