Nagarahavu

SYNOPSIS: Nagcharan is a musician with a band. His mother is a staunch devotee of the snake gods. Manasa, a young girl, enters Nagcharan's life as a fan, wanting to be his band's groupie. There's a bigger reason for this and a mythical tale that leads her to a bigger fight.

​REVIEW: Kodi Ramakrishna has always liked dabbling with the supernatural in his films. Of course, he mixes these stories with copious amount of folklore, superstitions and religious beliefs to appeal to the commoners. And these films usually have a heroine leading the story as the protagonist fighting the evil forces. Nagarahavu is the same too, only this also has a little tribute to Sandalwood's original Nagarahavu - Dr Vishnuvardhan, who has been recreated through graphics in his much-talked-about 201st film.
The film, though, falls short of being that cinematic spectacle that a fan expects. While the film begins with an impressive graphic of Vishnuvardhan's face being re-created with titles of his 201 film titles, followed by Darshan's tribute song to him and an engaging flashback that's narrated in the form of an animated graphic novel, the narrative dips from there on. There is shoddy editing that pieces together a series of scenes that jump from one to another, some that hold no relevance to the story. It is only towards the end of the first half that the film picks up some momentum, just when the story breaks for an interval.
The second half seems to have better scenes and sequences. While on one side there is the flashback sequence featuring Saikumar and Ramya which holds your attention, both for being adept with technical finesse and emotions, there are also better songs and a narrative that moves forward. The climax sees the big comeback of the late matinee idol on big screen and it arouses mixed reactions. While it is a commendable effort, there are little nuances that are missed out. A die-hard fan knows Vishnuvardhan is a southpaw and this CGI-created avatar fights and dances right-handed. But, these can be pardoned because the grandeur of seeing Vishnuvardhan on the big screen again is a treat for fans.
When it comes to performances, Ramya leads the pack with one of her better performances till date. She looks good and has given her all in the emotional sequences. Diganth's character is as confusing as his misplaced wig. Mukul Dev's comical villain act is not convincing, but Rajesh Vivek does a good job as the evil aghori-like baba.
This film can make a one-time watch if you're a fan of Vishnuvardhan or have missed Ramya on big screen. But be prepared to sit through an arduous first half to get a glimpse of some entertainment.