Raman Raghav 2.0 is a work of fiction inspired by the real-time serial killer namesake from the sixties of the last century. Which explains the 2.0 suffix in the title, thus making sense.
It's a tale of two maniacs - one a serial killer; and the other a cop who has been a slave all his life - first to his dad and then drugs.
There is a scene in the film where a tough guy is absolutely helpless and breaks down. Something which can only be caused by drug-addiction. And when a director is able to convey this through his actors on-screen, cinema comes to life. And Anurag Kashyap just does that - brings cinema to life - with some impeccable casting, which has always been one of his many fortes.
Take for instance, Amruta Subhash, who plays Siddiqui's sister in the film. She has a small role, but you can see absolute terror on her face, along with despair. Top-notch! The same is the case with his casting of Kaushal's father in the film, Vipin Sharma, an NSD alumni. Notice how sweat drips down his forehead as he shines through in the scene when he is held by his collar. Not to mention his son's tearful left-eye that follows...
Kashyap adapts the Quentin Tarantino style of story-telling - via chapters - with merit.
And like his one-time sensei Ram Gopal Varma, he uses sound extensively - the only difference being that Kashyap does it extremely effectively.
His two leading men never disappoint here.
Though slow, expecially in the first half, this one is Nawazuddin Siddiqui's '(The) Shining'! He is turning out to be Kashyap's go-to man, after working with him in Black Friday and the Gangs of Wasseypur movies. I particularly enjoyed his character's lines and thoughts on The Ramayana, soulmates, women, justification of killing and his straight-forward approach.
Vicky Kaushal sure seems talented. The 'grasshopper' matches upto the masterly Nawaziddin Siddiqui very well, and proves that his Masaan performance was no fluke. This dude sure is one to watch out for, in the next few years, unless he is struck by stardom - or lightning (God Forbid...) - faute de mieux. He may be the next big star after Ranveer Singh, now, and there's hearsay that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has signed him for two new projects. The psycho role that he plays here HAS to be the performance of the year. Udta chala Kaushal. Pun intended! ;) He revels as a drug addict, and gives you goosebumps with the gamut of emotions that he swings through, being a drug addict.
Miss Earth India 2013 Sobhita Dhulipala makes a great debut here. Hope her acting sways over her looks, moving forward, too, and that she doesn't get carried away, as she can get bombed with offers aplenty simply based on her seductive looks. Her character Simmy welters with the petulant
Ram Sampath's felicitous soundtrack gives the scenes additional chills.
The story and the ending is shaped marvellously.
The father-son clash reel stands out, with both the actors emoting only with their eyes; without batting an eyelid. Only a master director can extract such performances without a spoken word, and demonstrates some lucid film-making.
You may also trust Kashyap for visual impact, like when the gigantic aeroplane takes-off over the shack. Or when the screen shakes for a split second when the police vehicle moves.
It's evident Kashyap has moiled over this to deservedly silence the wisenheimers well after Bombay Velvet. Thus returning to his "Gangnam" style of film-making.
While I left the movie-hall, I wished for a moment he were directing Raees instead (another Siddiqui film; plus it would be good for SRK's career). But for now, he should stick to his guns, as we need more cinema like this.
Thank God for Kashyap. Thank you, Kashyap, for Siddiqui.
I just watched this video below, and it may help you appreciate how they've fitted in the pieces into the film, seamlessly.
This may contain some spoilers, so you may want to watch this only after you've watched the film.
There's also this 6-and-a-half minute deleted scene from the film, online -
This one may not be for the masses. But for true cinema lovers, this is THE movie of the year so far.
My verdict: 4.5 out of 5.
It's a tale of two maniacs - one a serial killer; and the other a cop who has been a slave all his life - first to his dad and then drugs.
There is a scene in the film where a tough guy is absolutely helpless and breaks down. Something which can only be caused by drug-addiction. And when a director is able to convey this through his actors on-screen, cinema comes to life. And Anurag Kashyap just does that - brings cinema to life - with some impeccable casting, which has always been one of his many fortes.
Take for instance, Amruta Subhash, who plays Siddiqui's sister in the film. She has a small role, but you can see absolute terror on her face, along with despair. Top-notch! The same is the case with his casting of Kaushal's father in the film, Vipin Sharma, an NSD alumni. Notice how sweat drips down his forehead as he shines through in the scene when he is held by his collar. Not to mention his son's tearful left-eye that follows...
Kashyap adapts the Quentin Tarantino style of story-telling - via chapters - with merit.
And like his one-time sensei Ram Gopal Varma, he uses sound extensively - the only difference being that Kashyap does it extremely effectively.
His two leading men never disappoint here.
Though slow, expecially in the first half, this one is Nawazuddin Siddiqui's '(The) Shining'! He is turning out to be Kashyap's go-to man, after working with him in Black Friday and the Gangs of Wasseypur movies. I particularly enjoyed his character's lines and thoughts on The Ramayana, soulmates, women, justification of killing and his straight-forward approach.
Vicky Kaushal sure seems talented. The 'grasshopper' matches upto the masterly Nawaziddin Siddiqui very well, and proves that his Masaan performance was no fluke. This dude sure is one to watch out for, in the next few years, unless he is struck by stardom - or lightning (God Forbid...) - faute de mieux. He may be the next big star after Ranveer Singh, now, and there's hearsay that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has signed him for two new projects. The psycho role that he plays here HAS to be the performance of the year. Udta chala Kaushal. Pun intended! ;) He revels as a drug addict, and gives you goosebumps with the gamut of emotions that he swings through, being a drug addict.
Miss Earth India 2013 Sobhita Dhulipala makes a great debut here. Hope her acting sways over her looks, moving forward, too, and that she doesn't get carried away, as she can get bombed with offers aplenty simply based on her seductive looks. Her character Simmy welters with the petulant
Ram Sampath's felicitous soundtrack gives the scenes additional chills.
The story and the ending is shaped marvellously.
The father-son clash reel stands out, with both the actors emoting only with their eyes; without batting an eyelid. Only a master director can extract such performances without a spoken word, and demonstrates some lucid film-making.
You may also trust Kashyap for visual impact, like when the gigantic aeroplane takes-off over the shack. Or when the screen shakes for a split second when the police vehicle moves.
It's evident Kashyap has moiled over this to deservedly silence the wisenheimers well after Bombay Velvet. Thus returning to his "Gangnam" style of film-making.
While I left the movie-hall, I wished for a moment he were directing Raees instead (another Siddiqui film; plus it would be good for SRK's career). But for now, he should stick to his guns, as we need more cinema like this.
Thank God for Kashyap. Thank you, Kashyap, for Siddiqui.
I just watched this video below, and it may help you appreciate how they've fitted in the pieces into the film, seamlessly.
This may contain some spoilers, so you may want to watch this only after you've watched the film.
There's also this 6-and-a-half minute deleted scene from the film, online -
This one may not be for the masses. But for true cinema lovers, this is THE movie of the year so far.
My verdict: 4.5 out of 5.
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