Raakaasa Review: Routine first half, decent finish

What’s Raakaasa about?

Veerababu (Sangeeth Shoban) returns from the USA to his village, hoping to marry his lover, only to find that she is set to wed someone else. With the help of a local astrologer, Subbalaxmi (Nayan Sarika), he tries to stop the marriage, but his efforts fail. Meanwhile, Subbalaxmi begins to develop feelings for him.

At the same time, a comet sighting signals an ominous tradition. The village must send a person as a human sacrifice to a demon trapped inside a deserted fort for centuries. By a twist of fate, Veerababu is forced to go in place of another.

Once inside the fort, he relies on his wit and presence of mind to escape the deadly situation. But will his cleverness be enough to outsmart the demon?

Analysis

“Raakaasa,” which literally means demon, falls into the comedy-horror space. This genre has gained momentum after the success of films like Bollywood hit “Stree.” Telugu cinema too has explored similar territory with films like “Ooru Peru Bhairavakona” and “Kishkindhakanda.” “Raakaasa” is the latest addition, but it follows a familiar path.

As the makers themselves admit, the story is not new. That reflects clearly, especially in the first half, which largely banks on Sangeeth Shoban’s comic timing. While a few jokes land, most of the punchlines fall flat. The writing here feels routine and at times derivative, making the initial portions dull and predictable.

The film finds some footing in the second half, particularly in the last 40 minutes. Once the key characters enter the deserted fort, the narrative gains grip. The horror and comedy elements work better, and the staging of sequences becomes more engaging. Debutant director Manasa Sharma shows better control here, though her handling of the first half feels amateurish. Comedy tracks like the hero placing a powder mark on aunt’s navel are in poor taste and not something one would expect from a female director’s film.

In terms of performances, Sangeeth Shoban sticks to his usual style without bringing much novelty. Nayan Sarika is adequate. Vennela Kishore adds some energy in the latter portions, while Getup Srinu does his routine bit. The production design is decent for the film’s scale, but the technical departments do not leave a strong impression overall.

The core issue lies in the writing and direction, which lack consistency and freshness.

Bottom line: “Raakaasa” follows a routine template within the comedy-horror genre. While the first half is largely formulaic and underwhelming, the latter portions offer some engaging moments.

Rating: 2.75/5

By TC Staff