Dev Gill Productions’ Aho! Vikramaarka (dubbed from the Telugu-Marathi bilingual film of the same name; UA) is the story of a ruthless cop who uncovers a long-buried mystery prompting him to battle a villain and liberate the enslaved victims.
Asura (Pravin Tarde) has since several years held many inhabitants of Parvati Vasahat village captive in Thadka village and makes them work like slaves. Corrupt police officer Vikram (Dev Gill) is transferred to Parvati Vasahat village. There, he befirends a teacher, Archana (Chitra Shukla). One day, Asura’s son, Ugra, comes to search a slave who has escaped from Thadka village, and kills him. This murder is captured by news reporter Sankalp on video. Archana is also an eyewitness to the murder, because of which the killers frame her for the murder. Unknown to Vikram, Archana is arrested for the murder she never committed.
Meanwhile, Sankalp shows the video of the killing to Vikram. But the latter accepts money from Ugra, hands over Sankalp and returns to Parvati Vasahat. However, his conscience is awakened when Archana’s sister informs him about Archana being arrested. The villagers also narrate to him the story of how many inhabitants of the village had been taken away by Asura, never to return. They also reveal to him about how a brave police officer, ACP Bhawani (Tejaswini Pandit), had put an end to the illegal businesses of Asura but she had mysteriously disappeared thereafter. Vikram goes to Thadka village to set the villagers of Parvati Vasahat free. There he meets his father, Sangameshwar (Sayaji Shinde), and Bhawani too. How is Bhawani there? Who is she actually? Does Vikram succeed in setting the villagers free? Does Vikram succeed in eliminating Asura and his son, Ugra?
Penmasta Prasad Varma has written a routine story about good versus evil. The story of a corrupt police officer turning over a new leaf and coming to the rescue of helpless villagers while battling the evil forces has also been seen in many earlier films. All in all, the story as well as Penmasta Prasad Varma’s screenplay are weak and lack novelty of any kind. Even the climax is dull. Dialogues are ordinary.
Dev Gill is average as Vikram alias Vikramaarka. Chitra Shukla is alright as Archana. Tejaswini Pandit leaves a fine mark as ACP Bhawani. Pravin Tarde is effective in the role of Asura but he does go overboard in some scenes. Posani Krishna Murali is okay as Bilal (who works for Asura). Sayaji Shinde is average as Sangameshwar. Kalakeya Prabhakar, Vikram Sharma, Rahul Nevse, Bitthiri Sathi and the others lend ordinary support.
Peta Trikoti’s direction is nothing to shout about. Ravi Basrur’s music is so-so while his background music is too loud and intimidating. Lyrics are ordinary. Song picturisations are fair. Karam Chawla and Guru Prasad N.’s cinematography is good. Action scenes and stunts afford thrill. Tammiraju’s editing is quite sharp. Dubbing is proper.
On the whole, Aho! Vikramaarka is a flop fare.
Released on 30-8-’24 at Galaxy (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru UFO Cine Media Network. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere. …….The Marathi version of the Telugu-Marathi bilingual has also been released simultaneously in Maharashtra. The opening of the Marathi version is very dull.