Agnyathavasi

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.

Agnyatavasi is an excellent thriller, the movie starts off slow but slowly get us into their world. Charan raj bgm is brilliant, cinematography is top notch, the story telling uses a Rashomon method which worked out very well. The theatre experience is definitely amazing! Thanks for the team for bringing this movie to Kannada movie industry. The performance by each and everyone is truly marvellous, they are all into the character and the fun elements are actually fun which is very less but it is fine for this type of movie. Didn't feel anything is unnecessary scene The Final Cut is perfect, Thanks Haemanth for trusting this team and bringing this to theatres.

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.

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.

#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.