Despite an unusual premise and Kichcha Sudeep's swag writ all over, Vikrant Rona is not a winning combination. Blame it on poor Hindi dub or bizarre twists, this Kannada outing ends up as a mediocre

Nonika Singh

Fantasy meets horror meets action... And what do you get? Well, a mixed bag that engages and loses you in equal measure. To be honest, the premise is unusual, the technical effects befitting a spectacle and cinematography by William David remarkable.

On top of it we have long-limbed Kannada superstar Kichcha Sudeepa, whose chutzpah and style are writ all over and each act of his oozes unmistakable charm. The way he lights up his smoke, the manner in which he bashes up goondas, his dialogue delivery...It’s a swag ride all the way. Of course, like all superstar vehicles Vikrant Rona too circles around its titular character played by Kichcha Sudeep. Mercifully, this mega-budget Kannada film starring a mega-star has a plot, even if contrived, that packs intrigue, thrill and elements of phantasmagoria.

The film begins with a prologue of sorts. A young woman accompanied by a daughter, whose face we don’t see, drives through a dark deep tropical rain forest. We get goose-bumps for early on we have been informed this is a legend of Brahma Rakshasa. Some supernatural forces (or so we are made to believe) bring the car to a screeching halt.

Few moments of unadulterated horror lead us to another scene. Lest we forget though it does not exactly tell you which year it is; it is somewhere in the recent past when petrol prices were not even in double digits. The village in Kamarottu is enveloped by mysterious forces leading to one macabre death after another, including that of an inspector. What adds to the dance of the dread is that innocent children are being killed and hung on trees.

In walks Vikrant Rona (Kichcha Sudeepa), an inspector along with his lovely daughter who keeps proffering him gyan, yes on phantoms too. Their bond is touching. Only as perplexing is the fact as to why a concerned and doting father has brought his daughter (Baby Samhitha) into such a dark, desolate place? Well, there is credible reason behind it, which we can’t give away for that would be a spoiler.

That is not to say rationality thy name is Vikrant Rona. The story and the back-story involving a low caste family are not without loopholes. A couple of sidetracks are only a distraction device, to throw us off the scent of murders. In a bid to capitalise the horror dimension and to up the mystique quotient, twisted twists and turns abound. In parts, these manage to keep you invested in the drama. Intermission comes with yet another turning point. Or is it really?

The suspense hangs heavy and the atmospherics are enveloped in dark tones and shades as we roll over an item song by Jacqueline Fernandez who has been roped-in for pan-India effect. But her bubbly presence and equally effervescent song Ra Ra Rakkamma, otherwise lilting and breaking the net, seem like a commercial imposition. Masterfully executed action sequences are laudable and actors like Neetha Ashok as Panna and Nirup Bhandari hold their ground. The climax unfolds at its own pace and as is with most mediocre thrillers, there is greater fun in speculating whodunit rather than in knowing/understanding actually who did it?

Yet another spoiler is the dubbing in Hindi. And we strongly suspect the humour and punch-lines get lost in translation. What doesn’t lose its charm are the visual effects. The 3-D film is in VFX overdrive, enhancing the horrific aura of the film. The loud background score, however, is a dampener. But nothing can dilute the star charisma of Kichcha Sudeepa. Watch it, if only to know how South-Indian stars own the screen.