Make no mistake. Rangitaranga is not the best film ever made, but its kind of a redemption for new-wave Kannada filmmakers who for long had been battling for a space of their own. Anup Bhandari, the latest entry into Sandalwood New-Wave offers post-modern Kannada audience their sweet slice of pie in the form of a mystery-thriller.
It's flaw lies in most of its casting choices, except for one - Sai Kumar as Thenkabaila Kalinga Bhat. He ends up owning the entire movie after despising the monotony of amateurs in principal roles. Had Anup Bhandari been a little unbiased about casting his own brother Nirup Bhandari and looked for someone brilliant instead, the film would have looked a lot better.
The screenplay is nothing more than potpourri of both necessary and unnecessary elements stuffed around the legend of 'Guddada Bhoota' (the 90s TV show), so much that some elements don't play any big significance on the narrative (e.g. the sand mafia angle). Though Anup Bhandari deserves his own share of credit for the movie's success, he can't help but admit that it was the brilliance of Sai Kumar and composer Ajaneesh Lokanath is what saved his day. The Hollywood duo cinematographers have done a good job, only to be let down by the post-production team.
Overall, in spite of its flaws and biases, Rangitaranga is a must watch for the fans of the original 'Guddada Bhoota' and those who like suspense-thrillers alike.
It's flaw lies in most of its casting choices, except for one - Sai Kumar as Thenkabaila Kalinga Bhat. He ends up owning the entire movie after despising the monotony of amateurs in principal roles. Had Anup Bhandari been a little unbiased about casting his own brother Nirup Bhandari and looked for someone brilliant instead, the film would have looked a lot better.
The screenplay is nothing more than potpourri of both necessary and unnecessary elements stuffed around the legend of 'Guddada Bhoota' (the 90s TV show), so much that some elements don't play any big significance on the narrative (e.g. the sand mafia angle). Though Anup Bhandari deserves his own share of credit for the movie's success, he can't help but admit that it was the brilliance of Sai Kumar and composer Ajaneesh Lokanath is what saved his day. The Hollywood duo cinematographers have done a good job, only to be let down by the post-production team.
Overall, in spite of its flaws and biases, Rangitaranga is a must watch for the fans of the original 'Guddada Bhoota' and those who like suspense-thrillers alike.