A spooky, sprite saga

Rakshashi
Kannada (U/A) ¬¬¬
Cast: Singhy Loknath, Navarasan, G K Reddy,
Kuri Prathap
Director: M U Ashraf

Spooky films seems to be the flavour this week in Sandalwood. Along with Ouija, is Ashraf’s Rakshashi, an inspirational mirror image of 2014 Tamil original Pisaasu by Mysskin,. And thankfully, Ashraf does full justice to the genre thanks to Mysskin’s own delectable dealing with the subject as a polestar guiding him. The Tamil film, which solicited rave reviews, was dubbed in Telugu as Pisachi.

So, with a ready template to tred upon, Ashraf has his job made that much easy. Sure enough, Ashraf ensures he does not slip in any manner but faithfully follow the Tamil thriller with all its tricks and trappings to provide audiences with a hair-rising thriller that gives them the goosebumps.

The film is all about how a cupid struck beau, an aspiring violinist and his family is visited by a sprite leading to paranormal activities. Even as the family and the beau’s friends try to find the exact reason of these strange happenings around them, the beau slowly makes sense that the sprite is actually trying to seek his help in finding the murderer. Even as others try to get exorcise the ghost. How with the help of his best buddies, the beau Siddu tries to solve the murder mystery and tracks down the real culprits to lay the ghost to rest, forms the fulcrum of Rakshashi.

Navarasan, the producer, plays the debutant lead role with Sindhu Loknath as stalking ghost. What makes Rakshashi a decent watch with its thrills and frills is the cinematography of Mohan P G and haunting and moody background score by Arrol Corelli providing the necessary feel and flamboyance for the flick. Acting is no great shakes. With two spooky flicks beckoning, and each a genre of its own, you can make your choice, this festive season.