User reviews

9/10..Simply Brilliant. Deserves at least an Oscar nomination. Multi talented Anup Bhandari is our Martin Scorcsee now. Got chills throughout even after leaving the theater such was its lasting impact. Multiple thriller stories including paranormal intertwined to one mind blowing mystic plot. Top-notch Hollywoodish cinematography like a painting on every frame, Hans Zimmer kind a breathtaking background score, acting, dialogues, screenplay were down to earth classic, songs will give you goose bumps. Not a single moment boring..watch every frame carefully to grasp the whole plot. I bet at the end the more you think deeper about plot you will unfold new hidden story. Go watch in theaters only.

''RangiTaranga'' the Magnum Opus by extremely talented crew proved that Kannada Cinema has that potentiality to go beyond those stereotypical movie formula and win the audience heart, this piece of work never seems to be as the work of the débutante where there is sheer perfectionism and the ensemble artistic elements.

RangiTaranga is one among those movies that elevate the standard of an entire cinema industry and makes its viewers feel proud of their nativity, this movie has very beautiful narrative pattern and brings its audiences into its flow without any strain, mesmerizing cinematography by Lace Kaplin and William David makes every frame as the work of an art, another plus point of this flick is the fantastic BGM by Ajaneesh Loknath that enhances the intensity of the visuals and totally elevate the experience of viewing, technically it's the best among very few movies that made its mark in 'Kannada Cinema Rang', Anup Bhandari as the captain of the team had rendered his work so precisely and had showed all the possible quality of being the tremendous director that one could rely on giving good works, such a fabulous start had also increased the responsibility of giving good movies on Mr. Director, lyrics and typical Kannada songs are truly appreciable.

Nirup Bhandari is the new charm in Sandalwood and also has all those traits of being a good actor, there are slight few things that if he mould himself to the perfection then he moves to be the best, Radhika and Avanthika makes their debut with their good elegant performance, Siddu Moolimani is the person to be appreciated for his awesome on screen presence and comedic appearance, the actual star is Sai Kumar a person endowed with tremendous acting ability had provided full justice to his assigned role, in this phase Mr. Director made the proper selection.

Portrayal of Karavali Karnataka's Bhootha Kola along with syncing music especially 'Dannana' track is the highlight; wonderful locations are other special aspects that add extra beauty to its flow, overall this Kannada thriller stands as the synonyms to the quality and excellence.

One intriguing story itself is a rarity these days. Here we have three stories intertwined delicately in one delectable combo. With a wonderful story as the spine, the movie has some impeccable technical work. Amazing direction, crisp editing, music, songs and BGM helps the flow. Camera work is true in capturing the natural beauty of the ghats and accentuating it in places. The underwater fight scene, wow! Slick editing and mixing, the dairy script as the border of the flashback scenes are a nice touch. Very good (sometimes mature) acting by the debutant(e)s. The girls are not just oomph and acting scared, but adding value to every scene. Could have chosen more local actors like the adorable driver Rapeeqk :) for the teacher and postmaster roles. Their accents are a bit out of place. What happens to the murders might be one open question? Chance for a sequel? We would love to wait!

There are horror movies which offer mainly jumpscares and there are some which will be haunting even after the movie. And then there's this new wave called RangiTaranga – which offers brilliant jump-scares and leaves you haunting even after you come out of the theatre. Not many movies can do that. RangiTaranga doesn't stick to one genre. Director Anup bhandari has played with the genres according to the neatly written and twisted but brilliant screenplay.

The good news is Rangitaranga satisfies all kinds of audience be it frolic seeking janata or experience seeking world cinema followers. While normal audience can soak in the brilliant BGM and the creepy scares with frequent twists, the latter who can appreciate the technicality and the writing of the movie! There are actually more than one story to this movie. The main plot is about the haunted house 'Kamaruttu' and the theories and mysteries surrounding it! Like other movies even this had a similar format but interesting thing about this is the premise. It's surely something new to our audience and there's a lot of detail involved. And the director establishes some really good things and characters in the premise that keeps you thinking. Another story is about Gautham(Nirup bhandari) and Indu(Radhika Chetan) who come to Kamaruttu for a different purpose. And they have their own dark past to worry about. And the final arc is about Sandhya(Avanthika Shetty) looking for a writer called Anashku, who also heads to the same place.

The purposes of these main characters, the mystery surrounding the place, their dark past and how these arcs connect together forms the main crux of the plot. Anup Bhandari has cautiously tried to narrate all these stories with a gripping screenplay and he has pulled it off brilliantly. Right from the first scene, the movie starts to cast its spell on the audience.The first half is mainly about introducing the characters,establishing the premise, providing clues and ending with a great twist while the Second half caters to revelations and connecting all the loose ends! Frequent twists keep the viewers intriguing till the end.

Some scenes are really spine chilling, thanks to the amazing BGM by Ajaneesh Loknath who is definitely the third hero to this movie.Technically the movie is just perfect and they have not compromised anywhere. Cinematographers Lance Kaplan and David Williams should take a bow. The light setting, the camera angles are different and it uplifts the movie to a whole new level. People often confuse rich visuals with richly spent visuals but this movie defines what rich visuals and cinematography is. And the scares wouldn't have been this extremely effective if it wasn't for the editing! It is perfectly done most of the time! The pure Kannada lyrics for all the songs by Anup Bhandari is one more plus point to this movie. They are mostly situational.

Coming to the performances, Nirup Bhandari looks good and for a debut he does a good job but should have done better in a few sequences. The two lead actresses are another great find after Nabha(Vajrakaya) & Priyanka(Ganapa). Avanthika gets to shine more than Radhika and they were great in their roles. Ananth Rao plays a good intimidating cop and other supporting actors do their job well. And there's another important character called KaaLinga Bhat played by Sai Kumar. After Kalpana he comes back with a brilliant role to play. His dialogue delivery, his presentation and his variation in acting is exceptional. There are minor negatives – Some dialogues lacked the feel and punch while a few questions are left unanswered, maybe they weren't relevant to the main plot nevertheless it's easily one of the strongest content dependent movie to come in the recent times after Krishna Leela.

The movie definitely lived up to the hype. Brilliant, it was just brilliant! Acting, story, screenplay, music, scenery, and most importantly, the mystery - everything helped in making it a gripping movie that kept us at the edge of our seats throughout.

When the movie reaches the climax, and you get a hang of everything, you can almost hear that collective sigh of relief from everyone - for the mystery, that kept everyone speculate among each other for more than two hours, that was finally revealed, and for the happy realization that the money paid for the movie was pretty damn worth it.

Could have shortened the movie a little bit, and this is possibly the only thing one would find, if they dig deep to find a negative about the film.

What are you waiting for? Go watch RANGITARANGA. Here is a potential 100-150 day movie. Make it reach there. I am watching again for sure. Sakkath movie guru!

It's been a while since I saw a Kannada thriller movie. And, this movie exceeded all my expectations. Kudos to the entire team who gave us such a brilliant movie. This is not exactly a non-linear storyline but, the way Anup Bhandari has taken it is really fantastic apart from couple of goofs. What's a movie without any goofs and continuity misses? Newcomers Nirup Bhandari, Radhika Chetan and Avantika Shetty delivered top notch acting too. And Sai kumar, a round of applause to you Sir! As a thriller, it keeps the audience engaged with every scene and guessing every moment of the movie. Instead of the two quick songs in the second half, the director could've concentrated on going easy on two different story lines. Apart from these and extra spooky effects, this movie did a great job for a thriller genre! Ajaneesh Loknath did an excellent job for the BGM(Didn't find much of UK's BGM similarity though). Stunning DOP by Lance Kaplan and William David. Overall, I'd go with 4.5 out of 5 stars. Must watch for the Kannada movie fans.

What an experience !!! A top class Kannada movie in the midst of all Big budget nonsense movies around.

A standing ovation to the Director/Story teller-Anup Bhandari , Terrifying Banckground Music- Ajaneesh, Excellent Camera work-Lance and Williams and a new breed of genuine actors.. Radhika Chetan , Avantika and Nirup. Also Saikumar playing the role of his life...

Right from the first frame until the last one, I never even turned my head .. so much glued to the screen!!! every point when the story seems to be familiar.. there you go with a twist... this keeps you on the edge of your seat... well done team and hearty congratulations.

Lucia , Ulidavaru Kandante and now Rangitaranga.... takes the Kannada film industry to totally a different level !!

As a viewer... both my time and money well spent !!!

I saw the movie First day First show. I had high expectations for this movie when i saw the trailer. I fell in love with the Cinematography in trailer itself. The film didn't let me down, There are few Horror-Suspense movies in Kannada like "Aparichita" "Shhh" and this is one of those movies. Those who would want to see a movie which doesn't has crap love story which other movies focus on so much that they go out of the story line. Love story should be a part of movie not the whole movie.

Most of the actor and director of this movie are newcomers and they have done an excellent job with this movie. I would say please go watch this movie in theater itself to get that thrilling experience and encourage them.

The best part of the whole movie is the Cinematography which was the plus point and makes you not move your eyes away from screen. Go for it guys watch it. To those guys who like movie having over-fighting where all of them fly 5 feet from ground so called as "mass" this is not for you.

I would say nothing more than it deserves a maximum of 6 stars as an average-rated movie. Being on the top list, having more than 6 ratings does not go with this movie. The performance was a very bad, cheap and unnecessary comedy. Nonsense scenes. Which are the elements of a commercial cum bad movie. Watch it with low expectations can save you time.

This is a period where Kannada Audience are dying for quality movies, Quality directors are dying for screens and Distributors are dying for screening other language movies.

There Comes Anup Bhandari from US to direct a movie with one thing : Passion. Movie releases, people initially hesitate to go to theater as Rangitaranga is full of newbies. Within a Day Social Network goes for a toss with everybody checking in at theaters watching Kannada Movie and writing awesome reviews. More people start going to theaters. Houseful on weekdays and with in a week Boom gone. Bahubali releases and most of the screens are taken to screen it.

Having said this before reviewing the movie, it is necessary for the reader to initially understand how much the movie is liked in Sandalwood.

Since the beginning till climax, movie keeps you nail biting on the edge of your seat. It takes 99% of screen time to understand whether its a horror, psych, or a thriller movie. The twists in the movie will definitely encourage Abbas Mastan to try remaking this (May be Race- Taranga :P). Direction / Narration is the key. Actors have complimented the director with mind blowing performances. Back ground score is icing on the cake. Just Brilliant.

Audience will be left scratching their head at interval. And they will be wow stuck in the end. Another feather on SaiKumar's cap for his magnificent role.

Hats Off

Rangitaranga (Kannada) is a much decent and an unusual film, probably stands out from the regular trash made in Sandalwood. The plot which draws inspiration from the cult Kannada series "Guddada bhoota" (by Sadanand Suvarna) is cleverly written and is bound to impress for folks who like to see the twists and turns. Whilst most films suffer at the execution level Rangitaranga is surprisingly neat, thanks to the cinematography of William David and Lance Kaplan and background score of Ajaneesh Loknath. The choice of bringing in the DOPs from abroad seems to have created a magical feel. The frames are pretty good and most of the shots are smooth flowing. The background score by Ajaneesh suits the mysterious feel that is much needed for the film and the climax score bit is brilliant. Radhika is brilliant and its good to see that Anup has really helped her getting her to do her best. Nirup playing the main protagonist has really taken the risk. It is a difficult role to play at least for a debut. Though he struggles with his mannerisms he reminded me much of Ajay Devgan in his earlier days. Nirup has some great eyes which he seems to have put into use. The role itself has many shades that its hard to put him under any sort of usual buckets that we have. Hope his work gets noticed and we get to see more of him. Avantika is probably the weakest when it comes to the main characters but she fits in and has performed well. But there is some strange feeling about her dialogue delivery. You will get to know when you probably watch the film. Sai Kumar plays a role which is very different from his usual forte but its hard to say if anyone else would fit that role. Out of the main characters his is the only one character which is native to the region the narrative takes place and the Dakshina Kannada accent seems to have taken a beating, something that needed some thoughts on.

The first half of Rangitaranga goes real good and during the intermission it does put you into thinking mode. However there is a drop as the second half begins, as the narrative gets into a catch up mode going onto flashbacks with back to back songs. Most narratives have this problem of the tempo going down in the beginning of the second half and probably the lengthy flashbacks could have been crisp to keep the experience graph at the same level. Though there are considerably some significant amount of continuity issues in terms of shots which come over there are many things to catch on that these nuances tend to get forgotten. the edits seem to have some issues. There is a problem when you place two scenes side by side , a scene in the night time followed by a shot during the day and again night. This creates a jarring effect and your brain does not digest such transition unless something more important is fed to fade that though out. Some of the characters really do not have much to do with the main plot could have easily be chopped off to shorten the runtime. Rangitaranga does have this shortcomings and could have gotten much better however as a whole the experience what it has to deliver is put across. Its definitely good to see in a new team pitching in the industry which is haunted by big budget boredom remakes. If you are aware of the experience of goosebumps then i got it around thrice and twice during the "Dennana Dennana"

Cinematography and tight screenplay is the heart and soul of the film.Anoop's brilliance is seen in every frame and hard work of the entire team is reflected for 2 plus hours on screen! Newbies Nirup, Radhika and Avantika have done a neat job; they look like the people next door, which make the movie close to heart. Sai Kumar's performance too is brilliant. AjaneeshLoknath's compositions are good; Songs AkkaPakka and EeSanje are good. AkkaPakka has topped the charts from the day of the audio release. KeleCheluve- a Yakshgana redemption gives a new feel to the audience. Kareyole kareyole is well stitched with maximum letter 'ka', with strong words. Overall, a good album by AjaneeshLoknath. It's time to support and encourage this talented bunch of film-makers by watching this film. Recently added subs for the people who don't know Kannada. MUST MUST MUST watch the movie.

Fantastic movie, gripping storyline and screenplay. Technically the movie is very rich, the camera-work is treat to watch with beauty of Malanadu. Kudos to the director who delivered such an amazing movie in his first attempt. Songs are melodious, catchy and lyrics is fresh and meaningful. Story is so gripping it keeps you guessing you the next scene, but most of the time you will fail with unexpected twists.

All the actors justify their role with ease, no mass scenes for hero more realistic characters, In fact story is the hero in this movie.

Climax is thrilling and any description about it would ruin the suspense. So people do watch this movie in theater

Finally i would say WELL DONE RANGITARANGA TEAM. you seems promising for Kannada film industry.

Once great director Anurag Kashyap said " Indian Cinema is not only about it's more than that." I must say in recent years, Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil industry are Producing mind-blowing film's and This film is one of them.

!! Possible Spoilers!!

**RangiTaranga** is a Kannada psychological thriller that took the industry by storm upon its release. Directed by Anup Bhandari, the film is a masterclass in suspense, with a complex narrative that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

The film follows the story of a documentary filmmaker, Naduveera, who returns to his hometown to investigate a series of mysterious deaths. As he delves deeper into the past, he uncovers a web of secrets, superstitions, and a haunting folklore. The film's non-linear narrative and multiple perspectives create a sense of intrigue and confusion, making the audience question their own perception of reality.

The performances in the film are exceptional. Nirup Bhandari as Naduveera delivers a compelling performance, capturing the character's vulnerability and determination. The supporting cast, including Radhika Chetan and Terence Lewis, also deliver noteworthy performances. The film's script is tightly written, with every scene serving a purpose in unraveling the complex mystery.

The supporting cast, especially the villagers, are etched with a certain enigma. Their subdued yet watchful demeanor contributes significantly to the unsettling atmosphere. The film masterfully avoids stereotyping and presents them as individuals with their own secrets.

The film's central mystery revolves around the disappearance of Naveen's wife, Nandini. As the narrative progresses, we're introduced to a series of red herrings and potential suspects. The village's eerie atmosphere, coupled with the enigmatic behavior of its inhabitants, keeps the audience guessing.

RangiTaranga's cinematography is nothing short of exceptional. The foggy landscapes, dimly lit interiors, and long shadows create a palpable sense of unease. The camera work is deliberate, often focusing on specific details or characters to build suspense.

The music in RangiTaranga is an integral part of the storytelling. It seamlessly blends with the visuals to create a haunting atmosphere. The score is subtle yet impactful, with eerie undertones that complement the on-screen action. It effectively builds tension and reinforces the psychological horror elements of the film.

The climax of the film is both satisfying and disturbing. The tragic fate of Nandini and the other victims is heart-wrenching, while Kaalinga Bhat's demise offers a sense of closure. However, the film leaves a lingering sense of unease, as the psychological scars left on Naveen and the villagers are evident.

RangiTaranga has garnered a cult following due to its ability to blend horror, mystery, and folklore seamlessly. It has been praised for its intelligent screenplay, which explores themes of superstition, human psychology, and the power of the past.

RangiTaranga effectively employs local folklore and mythology to create a chilling atmosphere. The film's exploration of superstition and its impact on the villagers' lives adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. The blending of reality and folklore is done seamlessly, making the supernatural elements believable within the context of the story.

While RangiTaranga is a near-perfect film, it does have a few minor flaws. Some viewers might find the film's pacing to be slow in the first half.

Despite these minor drawbacks, RangiTaranga is a landmark film in Kannada cinema. It pushed the boundaries of the genre and showcased the potential of Kannada filmmaking. The film's success led to a cementing its status as a cult classic.

If you haven't watched this Masterpiece, Please do yourself a favor, stop reading reviews of this film, go and watch this absolute mind blowing Mystery Thriller which is a rare gem of Indian cinema.

This is a very Nicely crafted Movie By Debutant Anoop Bhandari... the plot is completely flawless... adapting the guddada bootha Legacy.. Although having no relation to the story... Why create New ghosts when we have very own Bhoothas... Well timed Twists and turns... Its a treat to watch the movie... The lead actors did their job well.. considering it their debut... sai kumar was the main highlight of the movie...This has been one of the best movies in kannada film industry in recent years... the camera work has been excellent and the screenplay was awesome... it is a very good suspense thriller and the director is successful in keeping audience glued to the seats till the end of the movie..

RangiTaranga is by far the best movie of this year from Kannada industry.I never usually comment or vote but this movie deserves it and i would like to recommend this movie to both Kannada and Non-Kannada audience as it is released with subtitles in some multiplexes.

Coming to the movie,it is has a very interesting plot and from the very first scene you will be hooked.The movie has lot of thrilling moments and BGM really is exceptional.Songs are very nice especially 'dennana dennana' and 'kareyole' are my personal fav.

The novelist and his wife take a journey to a village called 'Kamarottu' and what happens there is what the movie is all about.

Debutant Nirup Bhandari(main character) has done excellent job as Gautam,his voice suits his personality.Radhika Chetan is also a débutant who is very talented and beautiful actress.Avantika shetty is cute and likable.saikumar is brilliant.

Cinematography is exceptional and one of the best works in recent past.

Director/musician/lyricist Anup Bhandari is undoubtedly one of the best directors of Kannada industry.This man is simply brilliant.we have always wanted one like him in industry and we will proudly support him for years to come as talent like him deserves to be recognized and appreciated.Will keep looking forward to his upcoming movies.

All in all the movie is a MUST watch in THEATRES!!

Well first of all the new kids on the block Anup and Nirup who also happen to be siblings are here to stay. Impressive story line and crisp screenplay keeps the viewer on the edge of the seat except a couple of unnecessary songs which does not serve the purpose. Avantika shetty looks cute and does her job as a "journo on a mission" well. Radhika on the other hand is more impressive and makes her presence on screen felt. Nirup is alright but needs to put a little more effort. The veteran Saikumar as Kalinga has put his best foot forward with this movie and probably reminded the audience how much we missed him.Hollywood Cinematographers Lance Kaplan and William David rose up to expectation and have shown what difference inculcating technology in film making can make to the still largely star power dependent industry.The final 20mins is a roller coaster ride!!

Make no mistake. Rangitaranga is not the best film ever made, but its kind of a redemption for new-wave Kannada filmmakers who for long had been battling for a space of their own. Anup Bhandari, the latest entry into Sandalwood New-Wave offers post-modern Kannada audience their sweet slice of pie in the form of a mystery-thriller.

It's flaw lies in most of its casting choices, except for one - Sai Kumar as Thenkabaila Kalinga Bhat. He ends up owning the entire movie after despising the monotony of amateurs in principal roles. Had Anup Bhandari been a little unbiased about casting his own brother Nirup Bhandari and looked for someone brilliant instead, the film would have looked a lot better.

The screenplay is nothing more than potpourri of both necessary and unnecessary elements stuffed around the legend of 'Guddada Bhoota' (the 90s TV show), so much that some elements don't play any big significance on the narrative (e.g. the sand mafia angle). Though Anup Bhandari deserves his own share of credit for the movie's success, he can't help but admit that it was the brilliance of Sai Kumar and composer Ajaneesh Lokanath is what saved his day. The Hollywood duo cinematographers have done a good job, only to be let down by the post-production team.

Overall, in spite of its flaws and biases, Rangitaranga is a must watch for the fans of the original 'Guddada Bhoota' and those who like suspense-thrillers alike.

Rangitaranga is was just awesome! Acting, story, screenplay, music, scenery, and most importantly, the mystery - everything helped in making it a gripping movie that kept us at the edge of our seats throughout.

When the movie reaches the climax, and you get a hang of everything, you can almost hear that collective sigh of relief from everyone - for the mystery, that kept everyone speculate among each other for more than two hours, that was finally revealed, and for the happy realization that the money paid for the movie was pretty damn worth it.

What are you waiting for? Go watch RANGITARANGA. Here is a potential 100- 150 day movie. Make it reach there. I am watching again for sure.

A different and fresh approach. Good to know all the new people are so talented.Especially, most of them coming from IT background.

But it is little bit lengthy and I feel some parts of the story could have been edited and removed. Other than that,movie looks promising. Nice Mangalore touch and depicts our cultural richness. Nice songs. I personally like the 'dennana dennana' song. This movie gives another reason to go watch Kannada movies and to be proud of.Hoping that the director sir will come up with many such projects and make the audience happy.

Kriti

First and the foremost I would like to thank all the crew members of this film. This is an excellent movie, must watch movie by all youngsters to the old. Songs are awesome. I love watching mystery movies but this is an ultimate movie. Even watched for more than 10 times is worth for money. I ones again thank all the crew for stealing the people's heart and soul to watch this movie. In fact I was not finding to time to watch it as I was busy even during weekends. But I made it a point to go for the evening show at least on any weekdays. I watched the movie just about 2 days back. But dilkehetahe to see many more times but any day, any time it is housefull. Hopefully I will watch it again next week.

ALL THE BEST R A N G I T A R A N G A. You are rocking.

I wish to see many more movies of this kind.

All the best.

I watched this movie after my friends' serious advice and they were right. Such a technically and structurally perfect movie, after so much time in Kannada. Hats off to every person in making this movie so perfect, that, I could not find a single flaw in the whole movie. And kudos to Anup Bhandari for the outstanding songs only in Kannada (one in Tulu), and his selection of the right people for the movie. A worth mention is the flow of the story, the locations taken for the movie, Nirup and other newcomer's acting and Sai Kumar's ultimate dialogue delivery and facial expressions! Waiting for Anup Bhandari's next movie!!!