MOVIE REVIEW – RAMAN RAGHAV 2.0 (2016)

Today we are here with a review of a psychological thriller – movie named RAMAN RAGHAV 2.0. Co-produced, co-written and directed by Anurag Kashyap, it is a movie of a psycho murderer of the present Mumbai, who is inspired by the Psychopath serial killer namely Raman Raghav of 1960s who terrorized the Mumbai at that time & killed about 41 people in cold blood.

As always, Anurag Kashyap has always something different in his kitty, Raman Raghav 2.0 is a story of a psycho killer Ramanna (Nawazuddin) from the lower strata of life who is in search of his soulmate Raghav (Vicky Kaushal), a drug addict ACP, to complete Raman Raghav. It is clear when Ramanna says of Raghav: “Apni mukti aurat mein dhoondh raha hai” implying that it is he who is actually his salvation.

The movie revolves around its two main protagonists Ramanna and Raghav. Ramanna (Nawazuddin) hunts and kills, he uses a metal rod as his weapon to crush victims’ head, leaving behind pool of blood without any remorse. Raghvan (Vicky Kaushal) does the same. Due to excessive use of drugs, he is unable to sleep, and behaves strangely with his father. He ways of dealing with his girlfriend (Shobbhita Dhulipala) is also very rough.

Both Ramanna and Raghav share much in common. Both have emerged from filthy surroundings; belong to worlds that are rotten and foul. Be it the filthy slums or a decaying middle class family. Both Ramanna and Raghav are also creatures bred and brought up in patriarchy, are victims of it. No wonder women, however strong-willed, get the worst end of the stick, be it Ramanna’s victims or Raghav’s girls.

The story must have told us more about the past circumstances of Ramanna which shaped him like he is, there is an issue with his sister (Amruta Subhash), which hints some disturbed past which too is very brief. Ramanna’s madness is spot on, but the lack of detailing by exploring his past reduces the talented Nawazuddin to a man trailing a rod and doesn’t add his character of showing us what is the reality of his being such a kind.

The turn of the film is the portrait of the serial killer. The creature of Mumbai mythology and folklore is brought alive with added shades of the dark and the menacing in this brand new avatar. Glowing cat eyes, a scar running down his forehead, at times wearing his own sister’s earrings, humming “aadmi musafir hai” and moving around with an iron car-jack in hand, searching madly for victims, hiding in mud and rising up from it plastered with sewage dirt. He has his individual philosophy: that he has a wireless access to God, that he is the messenger of Yamraj who is telling him to pick people up and kill them.

Star Peformance:-

Nawazuddin, has once again stealed the show with role as a psychopath killer. He has adopted his character of Ramanna with perfection and has looked scary.

Vicky Kaushal, as a drug addict cop, Raghavendra Singh has looked good and carried his character.

Sobhita Dhulipala as Raghavendra’s girlfriend Simmy Naidu has played her role impressively.

Problems:

The biggest problem with Raman Raghav 2.0 is that it glorifies bloodshed. The climax monologue will run your patience thin. Can you digest the logic that killing for insanity is better than killing in the name of religion?

The violence against women is on the rise in the film. In one of the scenes, a man assaults his girlfriend in the presence of two policemen. The cops have been assigned as her personal security guards, to protect her from a notorious serial killer, yet they watch wordlessly when her own boyfriend roughs her up. Raghav, a drug addict, careless cop is repeatedly blamed by his girlfriend for the three abortions she undergoes.

I personally think that every movie must have some message for its viewers which is missing in the present movie.

Final words:

Die hard fans of Nawazuddin may watch the movie, but for the others it is hard to watch.

My ratings for this movie is 2.2 out of 5 stars.

So keep following the page, good day till the next review

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