Raman Raghav 2.0 movie review: An illogical psychotic thriller

Director: Anurag Kashyap

Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vicky Kaushal, Sobhita Dhulipala

How far one can one go to show their dark side? A shade much darker than black! Director Anurag Kashyap brings you yet another engaging chase with his crime thriller ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’, which surprisingly disappoints you. Narrated in eight chapters, ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’ is visually good with a speedy narrative and pulsating background score but still does not justify why this film was made.

The story revolves around a psycho thriller Raman (Nawazzuddin Siddiqui), who brutally murders people on the streets of Mumbai with an iron rod. He is on the police’s watch list, but always manages to beat the system and sneak out. Raghav (Vicky Kauhsal) plays the cop in charged of hunting down Raman. However, Raghav’s character is not your typical just cop, he is a short tempered guy who is addicted to drugs and remains on his own trip throughout the film. He spends quality time with his friend Simmy (Sobhita Dhulipala) but decides not to commit to her and settle down. Things take a turn for the worse when Raghav accidentally kills Simmy. Meanwhile, Raman start trigging Raghav to catch him by leaving his trail of breadcrumbs. It is not too long after this that the complicated mystery unravels.

Known for making dark and intense cinema, director Anurag Kashyap tries hard to impress by showing a blood bath and scary facial expressions of psychopath Raman, but it is disheartening to see the film with no purpose. Along with his co-writer Vasan Bala, Anurag tries to overcomplicate the story but to no avail. I see that Anurag wanted to tell the story of a real life cold blooded killer Raman Raghav, who terrorised the city in the 1960’s, but there is nothing new to it on screen. He even tries his hands in telling the story in a fast paced manner by dividing the film in eight chapters, but it tends to leave you clueless. ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’ is an absolutely illogical film.

Cinematographer Jay Oza shows the slums of Mumbai through a vivid filter. He tactfully shoots Raghav’s lovemaking scenes and keeps the shots of him consuming drugs very authentic. The scenes where Raman slaughters people have been shot brilliantly. Music by Ram Sampath is ‘trippy’ especially ‘Behooda’ song which goes well with the flow of the story. The film is technically very good, but without a plot, it doesn’t serve the audience any purpose.

Nawazzudin Siddiqui is undoubtedly a master of his craft. His aggression and agony will win your heart. Special mention to him in a few scenes where he narrates his story to the cops telling them about his killings, the way he carries himself in those vintage red glasses, the way he puffs on his cigarette and make rings and the scene where he suddenly slips in and out of his violent character are commendable. His performance is a joy to watch in every single frame of the film.

After garnering so much fame with ‘Masaan’, newbie Vicky Kaushal surely deserves a standing ovation for his intense performance in the film. He pulled off the role of badass drug addicted cop with panache. He has beautifully showed his guilt of not getting an erection despite having Viagra. Sobhita Dhulipala who marks her debut in Bollywood is praise worthy.

Though the disclaimer states that Raman Raghav 2.0 is not about the psycho killer, it actually is the case with the film. The biggest hiccup of the film is that the first half of the film is all about how Raman kills people and in the second half, the story completely shifts focus to Raghav and his sex life which quite frankly annoys us to a certain extent. The film upsets even more when the mystery unfolds in the climax and you feel cheated by the director.

Raman Raghav 2.0 has only good performances to watch else the film is surely not worth your ticket price. Since there are multiple releases this Friday, pick this only if you are an ardent Nawazzudin Siddiqui or Vicky Kaushal fan, because the film holds no promise of entertaining you.