Raksha- Movie Review

Film: Raksha

Cast: Jagapathi Babu, Kalyani, Baby Neha, Master Atulith, Radhakumari, Subbaraju, Chandrasekhar, Rajeev Kanakala, Sathya Krishnan, Narsing Yadav, Jeeva, Melkote, Jayasudha, Pradeep Rawath, etc.
Dialogues: Jeevan Reddy
Sound Effects: Pappu, Gopi
Audiography: Tharani
Camera: Surjodeep Ghosh
Editing: Bhanodaya
Background Score: Bopi Tutul
Executive Producer: A.V.S. Raju
Project Chief: Riyaz Hyder
Co-director: D.S. Ramachandra Rao
Producer: Azam Khan
Presents: Ram Gopal Verma
Banner: OneMoreThought Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. ; Zed3 Pictures Productions
Story, Screenplay, Direction: Vamsikrishna Akella (debut)
CBFC Rating: A
Date of Theatrical Release: September 19, 2008

Summary:
The movie deals with the conflict among the powers of God, Evil, and Science, as seen in the case of a child.

What it's all about?
Rajeev (Jagapathi Babu) runs a construction company on his daughter's name Raksha (Neha Thota) and lives happyily with his wife Arthi (Kalyani), mother (Radhakumari), and his children Rahul (Master Atulith) and Raksha. The construction crew finds a stone with an embossed shape like Lord Ganesha. Despite the repeated insistence of Site Manager Shyam (Narsing Yadav), Rajeev declines the plea to build a temple there, since it'd change their construction plans totally. The site incharge Vinay (Subbaraju) once complains to Rajeev that the latter's close friend Venu (Rajeev Kanakala) and his wife Madhu (Sathya Krishnan) have been cheating the company. An enraged Rajeev kicks them out of his house and workplace. Strange happenings occur at Rajeev's home, and soon his daughter Raksha starts behaving strangely. Is it a case of black magic? Or, is it a psychiatric problem? Or, is it Lord Ganesha's anger? Did the atheist Rajeev heed to his mom and wife and consult black magicians for a solution? What did the doctors find about the girl? The film goes through several scenes that bring a shudder or a stir within, as the real reasons are revealed.

Performances:

Cast:
Jagapathi Babu gave a very good performance as the tensed parent of a lovable daughter. His silence also is so expressive, particularly in the scene where he looks at his mom in the hospital when a black magician walks in. Baby Neha is superb as the child that undergoes trauma, and so is cuet Atulith as her innocent younger brother. Kalyani is adequate as the mother of two children, who cannot command her loving husband, and Radhakumari is fitting as the grandmother of the children, who strongly believes in black magic, voodoo and other such occult powers. Pradeep Rawath gives a totally different performance in the distinct role he got to play in the film. Jeeva is dignified as a child psychologist, Subbaraju is good, and Jayasudha appears in a special role as Seema, the country's renowned psychiatrist.

Technical Departments:
The film's theme is inspired by, and is loosely based on, the popular trilogy of Yandamuri Virendranath from the late '70s and early '80s - the novels Tulasi, tulasiidaLam, and ashTaavakra. The story is convincing, and the treatment is good too in that it leaves open questions to the audience towards the end. Sound effects, BGM, and audiography, the key departments for a thriller, are commendably handled. Interestingly, the film doesn't depend much on visual effects, but camerawork is good and the lighting effects are good. Dialogues are good, with light comedy when possible, and thought-provoking when necessary. The director should be appreciated for a tight screenplay, convincing narration, and conviction in execution, without taking the focus off the theme with distractions such as songs. Certain symbolic shots are good too, such as the way he shows everyone "praying" in their own way about the child's well-being towards the end of the film.

Bottom Line:

Raksha is an intense suspense thriller powered by gripping screenplay, good background score and audio effects, and decent performances. It'd appeal to those sections of audiences that like films of this genre.

Rating: 3/5