Rakta Charitra 2 movie review

The ApunKaChoice movie review of Ram Gopal Varma’s film Rakta Charitra - 2. Violence begets violence and a gore-fest flick begets a sequel. After unleashing Rakta Charitra, arguably the most violent film in Hindi cinema a month and a half back, Ramu returns again with another bloodbath saga of revenge and retribution.

If the first part was about the bloody rise of Pratap Ravi (Vivek Oberoi), Rakht Charitra - 2 the second part turns the tables and is the revenge saga of Pratap’s arch foe Suriya (played by south star Suriya), whose father was slain by the former. Suriya’s sole purpose of existence is to kill Pratap, who’s now moved to the powerful echelons of politics in Andhra. Suriya skulks around for a while, waiting for the right opportunity to strike his enemy. Easier thought than done. For, he is promptly put behind bars.

What unravels is a story of endless aggression as the reasons why Suriya became so vengeful are revealed. His wife Bhawani (Priyamani) makes an entry into politics and thereby begins the fall of Pratap.

Brace up for an unabashed display of violence as the arch foes vie to destroy each other. Throats are slit, bombs go off, limbs ripped apart and stomachs prised up in a gore-fest that though doesn’t match the grotesqueness of RC 1, but is repulsive nonetheless.

Silver lining, and a big one at that, is Suriya. The seething rage in his glares, his stone-hardened expressions, his pulsating, throbbing sinews simply keep you glued to the screen. Here’s a talent Bollywood can use, the most emphatic Hindi film debut of the year. Suriya namaskaram!

Vivek Oberoi is somewhat pushed aside and is relegated to giving angry and frustrated expressions. But these serious sort of roles are tailor made for the newly-wed star. Hope his new bride won’t cringe the way she did when she saw him in Rakht Charitra 1.

Sudeep has a bit more to do in this part than the previous one, but its Priyamani who catches the eye with her brief but intense portrayal of Suriya’s wife. Shatrughan Sinha has a small role.

Ram Gopal Varma makes his cinematographer Amol Rathod do the kind of zany shot composition we have now come to relate with RGV. The dizzying camera angles, the swift pans, the tight close-ups and circular shots, all lend a visual language to the film. What puts off is the jarring background score that, after a while, necessitates the use of ear plugs.

To give credit where it’s due, Ramu does execute a few sequences very well. The assassination of Pratap being one of them. But why did Ramu give such a long recap of Rakht Charitra 1. A little less than half hour of RC 2 is devoted to this recap.

If you must, do watch Rakta Charitra 2 for Suriya. He’s the film’s lifeline. But let me forewarn you that RC 2 is not for the faint of heart. As a lady sitting a few seats away from me in the theatre proclaimed at the end: “Ramu has taken revenge from us for rejecting his Aag”. That was the only moment I grinned during RC 2.

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5