Agnyathavasi

Watched this movie in theatre this week, very slow narration and unnecessary showing same scenes again and again for scenes which are already understood.

Message to society is totally lost, if mother is having mind related issues killing does not make sense, there were alternative solutions at 1990s also totally absurd.

Atleast shakahari had some suspense till end but story was on similar lines.

I went to movie based on previous stitnt by janardhan chickannas gultoo but disappointed.

Blink was really good with oedipus stuff like dark.

If we watch monk or any suspense tv series this could have been an epsiode.

Great screenplay, superb acting. Must watch for people who like malayalam thrillers and complain about Kannada movies not being able to produce great thrillers. Keep it up! Suspense could have been built even more until the climax. The cinema hits it out of the park with this gripping thriller! The screenplay is fantastic and the acting is superb. If you're a fan of Malayalam thrillers or have been disappointed by Kannada movies in this genre, this one's a must-watch. Kudos to the team! One suggestion - a bit more suspense building up to the climax would have taken it to the next level. PLEASE WATCH IN CINEMAS.

Set in the tranquil village of Nalkeri in the late 1990s, Agnyathavasi explores the themes of guilt and forgiveness through the lens of a rural crime thriller. When a murder after 25 years shakes the village, a nameless inspector (Rangayana Raghu) - also a farmer - begins his investigation, opening the doors to an unresolved crime from the 1970s.

Director Janardhan Chikkanna, known for Gultoo, steps into new terrain with this layered narrative. While the first half is slow and dedicated to character building, the second half grips you with its emotional depth and suspense. The film shines in its detailing of the Malenadu region and its nostalgic 90s setting.

Performances are top-notch:

Rangayana Raghu is excellent and carries the film effortlessly.

Ravishankar Gowda surprises with a restrained and poetic performance.

Siddu Moolimani, Paavana Gowda, and Sharath Lohitashwa deliver strongly in their roles.

Technically, the movie excels - Adwaith Gurumurthy's cinematography is immersive, and Charan Raj's background score elevates the experience. The songs blend well with the narrative.

Drawback: The core thriller element lacks the punch expected from the genre, especially in the reveal. However, the film's philosophical undertone sets it apart.

Verdict: An out-of-the-box attempt that merges crime, emotions, and introspection. Agnyathavasi isn't your regular thriller - it's a meditative slow burn for those who seek stories with soul.

#Agnyathavasi #RangayanaRaghu #SidduMoolimani #YamunaSrinidhi #ZEE5

Different title Agnyathavasi written in interesting font, and above all, the intriguing, layered face of Rangayana Raghu on the poster (reminding of his look in Shakahaari) pulled me to watch this film over others on my watchlist.

The film opens with parallel tracks and a bunch of characters, leaving us puzzled - even disoriented in the first half. But this narrative chaos seems intentional to build tension and curiosity, making us wonder how - or if - all these threads will converge. Thankfully, they do, and with finesse. The director ties the loose ends into an impactful climax that gives a profound message on parenting.

Rangayana Raghu delivers a nuanced performance reminding us of his portrayal in Shakahari. His portrayal is restrained, and emotionally layered - a man burdened by the weight of choices, yet silent in his suffering.

Siddu Moolimani catches our attention with his expressive face, whose performance as a youngster of the 90s adds enthusiasm to the narrative. The rest of the cast too, mostly from the theatre background are impressive.

Set in a time when owning a computer was a life's milestone, the experience of connecting to the internet using dial-up modem, the thrill of logging into email, the excitement of online chats. For anyone who grew up in the '90s, these moments are pure nostalgia.

Agnyathavasi is not for the impatient viewer. Watch it with no distractions till the end to feel the impact.

Walked into an empty theatre for "Agnyathavasi"-just me, my popcorn, and approximately 100 empty seats. Felt appropriate, honestly. This is a film that breathes sighs, with fractured timelines and Malnad mist. It was quiet-strikingly so for this genre. No bombast, no gratuitous violence, just Thai New Wave restraint with a hint of South American cop drama simmering beneath. And then there's our main lead, Actor Raghu, he totally carries this flick. Without him, it'd be all atmosphere and no pulse.

But here's the kicker: you've seen this plot before. The cliches pile up, feeling a bit dusty, much like the police station in the film. So yeah, nothing's exactly wrong, but the screenplay just needed more punch. Of course, the film wants to make guilt simmer, and we get the point-the title is apt-but it stretches thin, losing its grip. There's also a song that drops out of nowhere, the concept was good, but it was a major mood killer because it lightened the narrative, settling for something safe. Those shades of grey, those tough moral calls, they could've hit harder, lingered longer, really making you feel it. Instead, Janardhan Chikkanna hedges his bets: half-arthouse melancholy, half-mainstream concession. (The same fate as "Roopanthara", another Kannada film I reviewed, which faced a similar dilemma.)

The whole chicken and computer angle felt a tad too convenient, a bit of a deus-ex machina. While it's meant to bridge the distance between characters and resolve things, it ultimately led to a predictable widening of relationships. And again, the clichés kept piling up, right to the very end, making the outcome easy to foresee. But yes, some shots were staged interestingly, which conveyed more than meets the eye.

Strangely, while watching, I couldn't help but draw parallels to 'Whaler Boy", a brilliant film where the arrival of the internet fundamentally alters the village. (I wrote about that one too, if you're curious; it's on IMDb.)

In closing, go in with low expectations. The cinematography does capture the stark, secretive landscape beautifully. But do watch out for Rangayana Raghu; he truly stands out. He embodies the alienation and guilt, trapped in his own personal melodrama that festers within him until the very end.