Following the success of Committee Kurrollu in 2024 as a producer, Niharika Konidela collaborated with Sangeeth Shobhan and first-time director Manasa Sharma for a comedy fantasy thriller titled Raakaasa. The film raised expectations with its posters and promos.
In this Raakaasa Review, we explore whether the horror comedy manages to deliver on its promise of laughs and thrills.
Story
Eera Babu, also known as Veeru (Sangeeth Shobhan), returns to his village from the USA to marry his childhood girlfriend. She ditches him and marries someone else.
On the night of her marriage, he drinks heavily and ends up dozing off at a deserted and haunted fort in the village. The fort has a curse on the village that has been continuing for ages.
The rest of the film is about how Eera Babu’s journey gets linked to that fort and how the village gets saved from the curse.
Sangeeth Shobhan performs well and carries the entire movie on his shoulders with his unique comedy timing. Nayan Sarika is fine in her role and leaves a decent impact.
Getup Srinu and Vennela Kishore deliver plenty of laughs. Tanikella Bharani, Brahmaji, Ashish Vidyarthi, Rajsekhar Aningi, Raadhya, Annapurnamma, and Rohan Roy are alright in their supporting roles.
Analysis
Manasa Sharma, the debutant director, takes a routine storyline—a young man fighting against a blind faith that villagers have believed for thousands of years.
But here, Manasa takes a fun route to narrate her story in Raakaasa. The starting intrigue about the curse on the village is decently established. The introduction of the hero and the following scenes bring some entertainment.
After the hero arrives near the deserted and haunted village, some funny and some silly scenes follow. But the real excitement starts when the curse and sacrifice episode begins. Here, Sangeeth Shobhan and Getup Srinu take the impact to the next level in a chaotic and fun episode. The interval scene sets up for an interesting second half.
Second Half
The second half starts on a good note. The entry of Vennela Kishore brings a hilarious impact, similar to the comedy timing seen in Vishnu Vinyasam.
The backstory blends nicely, and the re-entry of Getup Srinu makes the film move on a fun note. Manasa Sharma attempts to bring an emotional touch to the backstory at the climax, which is a heartfelt attempt. However, some might feel it is rushed and too simple.
Also, the characters of Ashish Vidyarthi, Brahmaji, and the gang raise expectations but are not fully explored.
Positives
- Sangeeth Shobhan’s Performance
- Getup Srinu and Vennela Kishore’s Comedy
- 20 Minutes Before Interval
- Second Half
Negatives
- A Few Silly Scenes in the First Half
- Other Villagers’ Characters Not Fully Explored
- Climax Appears Too Simple
Final Verdict
Raakaasa is a neatly made horror comedy that delivers plenty of laughs. Both the first half and the second half are packed with several hilarious moments. The backstory feels convincing and well-executed, though the climax impact may vary.
A few characters could have been handled better, and there are some repetitive moments in between, which hamper it a bit. Overall, it emerges as an engaging ride for fans of the comedy-horror genre, much like recent entertainers such as Hey Balwanth.
