Rakhta Charitra

RAKHT CHARITRA

There is a certain level of violence one can take in a film. And there is a certain level of violence one can take in a day of watching multiple films. Rakht Charita (RC) crosses both the levels in its first hour. I read what Ram Gopal Verma (RGV) tweeted about RC not being for one of those who liked K3G but now I feel that was an understatement. I happen to love RGV's hardcore cinema. Company and Satya are my all time favorite movies and I remember each and every dialogue of those films but even for me, RC was a bit too much to handle.

Let me clarify one thing. I am not saying it's a bad movie. It's a good movie which actually wins on most of the technical and acting grounds. The problem is the level of bloodshed it shows. Very authentic, very red but not the entertaining violence of Dabangg that makes you whistle in sheer pleasure but a bona fide brutality that makes you take your eyes off the screen.

The film shows numerous methods of torture and killings for retribution and in politics with different weapons, drawing different levels of pain and blood. In a 50% occupied theater on the eight day of its overseas release (which I think is a big achievement for this kind of film), I heard someone saying 'Damagh Ka Vaat Laga Diya' (it has screwed my brain). That's what RC is.

The story, based on a real life character of South India, is pretty much Mahabharata and God Father in the first hour. It becomes a lot more original in the second half and becomes really interesting after the introduction of Shatrugan Sinha in a very attention-grabbing role. The 'Khaaamosh' of Mr. Sinha has been replaced by 'Topic Khatam' in this one. The story moves between being realistic and being a bit mind-boggling throughout and has also been dragged on multiple occasions. The over-exposure of Bukka Reddy could have been slashed by 30% very easily. That amount of time could have been given to the love story of Pratab and Nandini to make things lighter and show a softer side of Pratab. To top it all, the movie does not finish when it finishes. It's only half of the film that has been released as of now and the remaining half will be released on 19th November. That might still be a smart move because those who sat through the entire movie will actually end up watching the second part as well. I will also watch it because I saw Priyamani in the trailer it showed. PRIYAMANI in Hindi movie!

Vivek Oberoi does very well as Pratab. His concentration and the effort he has put in that role are noteworthy. Watch out for his scenes in Nandini's college, altercation with Manda and attacking the Reddy house. He very well looks like a man with vengeance on his head. However, the stage where his career is now, he has chosen a wrong film for his comeback. This is a make or break film for Vivek with more chances of breaking it because it will be very difficult to find the audience for this film. He would have been much better-off with something like Saathiya for his return.

Abhimanyu Singh as Bukka Singh is one of the most terrifying villains I have ever seen in the Hindi films since Ashutosh Rana's Lajja Shankar. Even though he gets a bit comical at times with his choice of wardrobe (which means nothing but shorts) but he does emanate cruelty. He surprises you when he cries but the way he treats the lady police officer sends shivers through your body.

Zarina Wahab is excellent as Pratab's mothers. Radhika Apte as Nandini is very cute. Her role could have been meatier. It will be interesting to see how she performs in glamorous roles in the future. Another show stealer is Ashish Vidyarthi as Manda. Good to see the guy back in a very strong performance. The actors playing Pratab's right hands are excellent. Ashwini Khalsekar as the lady police officer is strong. Sushant Singh as Pratab's elder brother does justice to his small role. The men in Pratab's gang are efficient. Shatrugan Sinah looks different and goes overboard at times but has an important role to play.

Cinematorgrpahy by Amol Tahor is very good. It suits the need of the film and he has an RGV stamp on it. The light and smoke treatment throughout the film is excellent. Background sound is too heavy and adds to the violence. The title song in the background keeps haunting you in slightly lighter scenes.

RGV has done a good job. The film is quite real and raw and he has achieved what he wanted to achieve. He could have achieved the same in slightly shorter duration too but it looks like he deliberately kept it longer so that the violence looked prolonged. RC is sadistic and that's what he wanted to show. The questionable thing is his purpose to show that much bloodshed. He looked to be on a spree to satisfy some fetish of his. I would believe that he has been a bit unfair to Vivek for this role because his career doesn't seem to be going anywhere with it.

The tagline of RC says 'REVENGE IN THE PUREST EMOTION'. The film justifies this tagline to the core. If you have a 10% reservation against violent films and your definition of violence is the last fighting scene of DDLJ, stay away from RC. If you like RGV brand of cinema like Company, Sarkar and Satya, even then it's going to be challenging. I will, as I said, watch the second half too but I have my own reasons. PRIYAMANI. You can decide on your own.

RGV did it again!! Rakht Charitra can be easily mentioned as one of the best of RGV, or even one of the best in the history of 'Dark Cinema'. The direction is top notch, the dialogues are hard-hitting, and the performances are extremely natural and great. Rakht Charitra has all those elements in the right place, to make it a classic. The movie is flawless, fast-paced, and freakingly violent! Yes, the weak-hearted better stay away from this flick!! Rakht Charitra is about an era, where it was believed that 'Revenge is the purest emotion', rather than 'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind'. It is about Pratap Ravi, one with a strong heart. After he loses his father and brother in the dirty game of Politics, he decides to take revenge, and the real Rakht Charitra begins. There is a lot of tears in the movie, tears of downtrodden mothers and wives, tears of abused and exploited sisters, but there is even more blood in the movie, which takes the revenge to all the tears shed. But, do not expect a mindless movie with blood only, it has a strong storyline, without which, the movie would have been a forgettable offering from RGV. But this has the story, and is executed extremely well, and it has turned out to be a must watch for people who watch movies with true spirit.

Vivek Oberoi is in his top-form, he does the role of the lead protagonist Pratap Ravi with ease, he is excellent in his role. Look at his eyes, the way he looks, gazes and stares, you will realize it!! And Abhimanyu Singh, he is damn great!! Excellent acting, it is fact that villains in RGV flicks will be notorious, but this guy is great, he is excellent in his role. Sushant Singh was awesome in his scenes, I had a strong sensation of clapping loudly, while watching him walk in slow motion. Shatrughan Sinha is good, Zarina Wahab, Radhika Apte, Ashwini Kalsekar, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Rajendra Gupta, Anupam Shyam all were good. Sudeep and Darshan Jariwala, I guess is reserved for the 2nd 'Adhyay' of Rakht charitra.

I really want to point out some scenes that prove the director's excellence, but it may lead to spoilers, so I'm not going to do it now. The only negative I could find is RGV's voice, which lacked high power. However, all I can say is watch the movie, you won't be disappointed. The movie has got the power, it is not just a movie, it is Epic!!!

First of all if u don't like movies having blood defying action, then this one is not your flick.

For all those action lover guys, Rakhtcharitra is one of the best action movie in 2010. Based on the true events of AP, the movie never disappoints due to the marvelous action and acting of the stars.

Vivek is kind of actor which has specialized himself in Gangster kind of roles. Raghu of company, Mayabhai of Company and now Pratap of Rakhtcharitra. He has portrayed the character of Pratap with an ease and never let you down.

But the surprise act was from Abhimanyu singh (Bukka Reddy). He has proved his acting skills in Gulaal, but he still needed a big one to solidify him self. And he come with Bukka reddy: A character which reminds you of a Rakshash. He has snatched this movie from all other actors. You must watch this for Abhimanyu Singh.

And lastly the King of Dark movies in India: Ram Gopal Verma. He always make good movies pertaining to Politics, Gangster and Horror. He is the Quentin Torrentino of Indian Cinema. Great work by him behind the scene, which makes this movie a delight for eye.

For action lovers: Strongly recommended.

Vengeance is back on Indian screen with a baggage of excessive violence. After making one of the worst film of his career, Ramgopal Verma is back with a big bang. He returned to his fort of crime, violence, power, politics and thrill with the original real life story of Andhra criminal cum politician Paritala Ravi. This is his striking and desperate attempt with a punch with all his capable might and madness which either make you hate or just praise him for his daring effort showing you never before unthinkable violence and bloodshed on Indian screen. Though in showing reality of dirty nexus between crime, politics and shifting volatile power and portraying some of his character too diabolic, he crossed the limit of Indian audience and orthodox censor board but while doing it in his limitless frenzy he made another 'original' and 'cult' film for his fans.

This is the only Indian commercial film shot and made with a length of more than five hours and the reason enough why it has to be released in two parts. The first installment begins with impressive shifting of power that gave birth to revenge and bloodshed with mind-blowing treatment, brilliant ensemble cast and striking performances all with what one can expect from RGV's diabolic dark mind. The film is saving grace and praiseworthy comeback not only for RGV but also for Vivek Oberoi and he's the extension of fire what we witnessed in his debut 'Company' with the same mentor. Apart of him, the film has fine ensemble and supporting presence of many RGV loyal cast with certain new entries. The prominent among them is Shatrughan Sinha, who has short but impressive presence with his mustache less face as popular film star cum politician Shivaji with dialogues and attitude that suits his aura; this time his 'Khamosh!' is replaced with 'Topic is over'. Abhimanyu Singh who blew our minds in his short but terrific presence as Ransa in 'Gulaal' has performed one of the most heinous and violent villain you have ever seen on Indian screen as Bukka. It's in portraying him as 'Rakshas', RGV showed certain objectionable violence crossing all possible barriers. But the intensity of Abhimanyu Singh's act is visible in some of the striking scenes with his bloodthirsty rage in expression and pervert body language. Watch the scene where he continuously slapping the lady cop repeating 'Touch nahi karna' or another where he's showing his temper when his brother comes to meet him in prison. Without a doubt he's the villain of the year.

Technically film is almost flawless and has gripping editing with few avoidable distractions and a song. Cinematography, background score and production deserved clapping. The only complain is too dark portrayal of characters shedding their part of violence on screen. It would have been better if Ramu had explored multiple dimensions of their charcterization like 'Satya'. He ended the film on interesting turn with showing you rushes of his second part releasing 19th on next month with the entry of South Indian superstar Suriya to give Vivek enough fire. I'm desperately waiting to see the second part and I'm sure that Ramu won't fall short of my expectations in making this epic bloodbath of his career.

The film is strictly no, no to family audience and achche ghar ki bahu-betiyan. It's all loaded for RGV fans who're as mad enough as him. Watch it at your own risk, it's quite hard to digest for all.

Ratings-8/10

PS- "I am like a hardcore porn DVD. You might hate it, love it, look down upon it or get disgusted by it but if it is in the room you can't resist watching it." - RGV's interesting comment on his blog.

Before starting about RGV and all the hype he does. Primary factor to be discussed here is the Story of the movie. As everybody knows Raktacharitra is a make of popular rivalry between Paritala Ravindra and MaddelaCheruvu Suryanarayana, most of us in Andhrapradesh knows the facts of the story. But the unknown facts hidden are always hidden under the darkest corner of the history. And to find them all in a movie is greater experience. The movie provides wonderful and powerful story which Indian audience are missing since years. As the title shows it, the soul of the story is revenge, power and politics; And all the three factors not in tuxedo style, but on pure Indian grounds. All the three factors played significant role to make the story powerful.

But, the movie, play and storytelling could be better. The movie opens with a murder scene in daylight; Which introduces us with the emotion and heat of the story world. When story slowly unfolds a stretch of scenes are merely visual and audible, No scene development is done; which resulted in no emotion and banal storytelling and a feeling of watching Discovery Documentary show. Adding to the fuel, RGV's Voice- over is a partial disaster but he was able to carry the emotion of the scene and intention of the story in his voice. The scope of the first half is huge. A director can ask for no more. There is lot of politics going around in the first half which would've resulted in an epic drama if scenes are well planned. Unfortunately, no ideas in Storytelling and screenplay were used and all drama was wasted. Maybe the director doesn't wanted the screenplay to dominate the story? Wat soever, It could've been an epic.

After the first episode, The big time drama starts and audience lost themselves in to the dramatic world of the story. Politics, Power, Revenge and Powerful Characters are the life of this movie. Every scene is linked, has value and content. Raktacharitra is gore story and demands gore scenes. You cannot see a Gandhi with a missile and Adolf Hitler preaching Peace. This movie is presented as it is chosen by Story and the story is chosen by reality.

Other Factors

RGV could've concentrated on the dubbing artists which brought previous movie experiences and confused audience unknowingly.

Screenplay and scene development cud be better.

The idea of voice-over is good to make the lengthy story short and a direct interaction of story teller to the audience.

One song is an abuse to the movie.

We need more movies with content. Thanks to RGV