The Terrorist

Once in a while, you come across a film that clearly does not promise you the regular fan fare, yet assures you of a few some well spent hours at the cinema hall. PC Sekhar’s The Terrorist is probably one such from the Kannada film industry.

The director takes little time to establish the setting of this story – Reshma and Asma are two sisters living along. There are traces of the fact that they have recently lost all other family. Reshma (played by Ragini Dwivedi) has taken it upon herself to ensure her sister is well cared for. So much so that she decides to put her own personal life on hold for her younger sibling. Just when you feel life is all about routine, comes the twist – Reshma receives an anonymous caller who has kidnapped her younger sister. He follows that with proof and there begins a series of manipulations – one where the kidnapper controls all of Reshma’s movements to serve an ulterior motive. From manoeuvring a bomb into a well secured star hotel to placing bombs in over-crowded locations in the city. As a viewer, you feel for the helpless, yet smart, sister who manages to complete the tasks put forth by her manipulator, one after the other, in the hope of rescuing her sister eventually.

What works for this film is the screenplay. Barring the few negligible scenes spent on setting the scenario, the screenplay literally puts you at the edge of your seat as you follow the sequence of events. Add to this the fact that the story is set against the backdrop of politics. What is the real ulterior motive and who is behind the entire game plan and will that person have his or her way? While the entire cast has played their roles aptly, each one in their own way, helps up the impact of the lead actor – Ragini Dwivedi’s character. With her subtle performance, Ragini has proved her mettle and this film surely takes her closer to the league of performance oriented actresses who can hold a film on their shoulders.

Take time off to watch The Terrorist this weekend for its gripping, but no-nonsense tale.