Ahimsa

Story: Raghu (Abhiram Daggubati) and Ahalya (Geethika Tiwary) are a couple in love leading an idealistic life. What happens when a heart-breaking incident turns their lives upside down?

Review: Director Teja, who was once hailed for making new-age romantic films like Chitram and Jayam still seems stuck in the early 2000s if his latest film Ahimsa are anything to go by. His lead characters dress, talk, behave, even fight the way his characters used to in his early films. What’s unfortunate is that the narrative also seems stuck in the same era, making this a tiring watch.

Raghu (Abhiram Daggubati) is a ahimsavadi who believes issues can be solved by talking it out and following the law. His lover Ahalya (Geethika Tiwary) believes that violence is the solution if it means it’s the quickest way to get justice. Their ideologies aside, the two lead a peaceful life and look forward to getting married soon. However, destiny has other plans. Ahalya is violated and left for dead by Dushtanth’s (Rajat Bedi) sons. Raghu immediately seeks the help of lawyer Lakshmi (Sada). But what happens when the law can’t give them the justice they deserve?

There’s a story lying at the core of Ahimsa that has the potential to be the coming-of-age tale of Raghu, who believes in non-violence but is forced to change his ways when he realises that’s not how the world functions. He might be willing to turn the other cheek, but the world is waiting to beat him down. Maybe the answer lies somewhere between his and Ahalya’s ideologies. What we get instead is a haphazard, outdated tale of how their love perseveres with a climax that’s too outlandish to comprehend.

It doesn’t help matters that Teja spends a lot of time objectifying Ahalya in the way she’s introduced and even dressed. He even inserts an unnecessary special number that yet again objectifies a woman in the middle of serious proceedings. There are some serious topics the film deals with, but Teja undercuts the tension with a running gag that mocks another woman for her appearance and failing mental health. Some of the film’s most ridiculous scenes are set at the hospital, even as Ahalya lies there fighting for her life and dignity.

The film banks a lot on Abhiram and Geethika’s performances – the former looks camera-conscious and awkward for the most part while the latter does okay. It doesn’t help that for most of the film Abhiram is required to run around while looking bereaved. Sada, Rajat Bedi, Kamal Kamaraju, Kalpalatha and others are also handed roles that seem one-note. RP Patnaik’s music has nothing home to write about, nor does Anup Rubens' BGM. The editing could’ve been better, and the cinematography makes the best use of the lush greenery the film is set in.

Teja delivers moments when you think the film will pick up pace and proceedings will turn interesting but that never happens. Ahimsa has a story and narrative that unfortunately seem stuck in a time capsule while the whole world has moved on. Make of that what you will.