Agnyathavasi

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.

Inspector Govindu is residing in Nalkeri, Malnadu and has been leading a peaceful life as the locality is largely crime free, resulting in the local police station to barely exist. It's the late 90s and the boom of computers is slightly beginning. Rohit convinces his brother to buy him a computer which everyone else resents. The village's landlord Srinivasaiah is lonely after his son left him and Pankaja, a girl from the same village is in love with Srinivasaiah's son. 2 mysterious death happen in a fateful night and Inspector Govindu solves it instantly while it leads to another case from the past. How did he solve the case and what really happened in the past, forms rest of the story.

The film had the right setting and spends the entire first establishing the plot. The film picked up when Ananthu starts to question Govindu and that would remain the best part of the film. The whole Malenadu setting and limited characters should have ideally made way for a gripping murder mystery but the slow paced writing simply doesn't allow the script to evolve. The tone is laced with humor in the first half which makes it little tough to take seriously and the non-linear narrative doesn't add anything positive. The film has solid actors but doesn't give them much to work on. Overall, Agnyathavasi is a misfire.

Yes, it's a worth of watching and it has many twists in throught cinema. I suggest you after this you should definetly watch shakahari also and newly comed actress also done good job and total lense quality also very good at last you will definetly get goosebump. Also has some knowledgeable thing at the climax.

Agnyathavasi is one of the finest Kannada crime thrillers to come out in recent times. The film boasts a gripping and intelligently crafted storyline that keeps the audience engaged throughout. Right from the opening sequence, the suspense builds steadily, maintaining tension and curiosity till the very end. The direction is sharp, and the screenplay is tight, leaving little room for dull moments. What truly elevates the movie is the cast-each actor and actress delivers a convincing performance, breathing life into their characters. The cinematography and background score further enhance the viewing experience. It's a must-watch for thriller lovers.

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.