‘VIKRANT RONA’ (DUBBED) REVIEW | 28 July, 2022

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Shalini Artss, Kichcha Creations and Invenio Films India’s Vikrant Rona (dubbed from the Kannada film of the same name; UA) is a revenge and action film.

Police inspector Vikrant Rona (Kichcha Sudeepa) comes to a village where people, especially children, are being indiscriminately murdered by someone. There’s a belief that an evil spirit is behind these killings. While he is trying to solve the case of these murders, Vikrant Rona realises that the killings also have a close connection with his life. Who is behind the murders?

Anup Bhandari has written a revenge story but it is so confusing that the audience gets put off. Adding to the viewers’ tale of woes is the fact that the actors are mostly unrecognisable faces (as they are from the Kannada film industry) and, what’s more, the characters they play have such difficult names that it is a task to keep track of the characters and the actors. Anup Bhandari’s screenplay is also written in a way that the drama goes back and forth — slips into flashbacks and then returns to the present times — a number of times, confusing the audience even more. Even that would’ve been acceptable had the back-and-forth travel of the drama generated suspense and excitement of the kind which wouldn’t have been possible in a linear narration, but that doesn’t happen. Neither is the revelation of the suspense worth the drama going into so many flashbacks nor is the confusing screenplay conducive to holding the audience’s interest. In other words, the viewers get put off by the screenplay. Also, the screenplay is one of convenience. Vikrant sometimes, in a jiffy, conveniently gets to know things which could take days, weeks or years to comprehend. The climax is good but it isn’t the high point of the drama. Sanjay Upadhyay’s dialogues are ordinary.

Kichcha Sudeepa acts well in the title role. He plays the character convincingly. Nirup Bhandari looks handsome and has lovely screen presence. He plays Sanju effectively. Neetha Ashok gets limited scope but is quite alright as Panna. Jacqueline Fernandez impresses as Rakkamma in the ‘Rakkamma’ song-dance. She doesn’t get scope for much else in a special appearance-kind of role. Vajradheer Jain lends decent support as Lawrence Pinto. Samhitha (as Vikrant’s daughter, Guddi) is okay. Siddu Moolimani (as Munna), Madhusudhan Rao (as Janardhan Gambhira), Karthik Rao (as Fakru), Ranjan Shetty (as Prajapati), Ramesh Kukkuvalli (as Eknath Gambhira), Priya V. (as Sanju’s mother), Ravishankar Gowda (as Panna’s father, Vishwanath Ballal), Chitkala Biradar (as Baby Ballal), Dushyant Rai (as Moose Kunni), Vishwa (as Manna Tavde), Yogish Shetty (as Nittoni), Vasuki Vaibhav (as checkpost guard Baalu), Milana Nagaraj (as Renu), Geetha (as Nittoni’s wife), Suma (as Nittoni’s mother) and the others provide routine support.

Anup Bhandari’s direction is good as far as the craft is concerned but his narrative style, like the script, is confusing. B. Ajaneesh Loknath’s music is good. The ‘Rakkamma’ song is the best. The other numbers are melodious. Anup Bhandari and Shabbir Ahmed’s lyrics (‘Rakkamaa’ song) are appropriate. Jani Master’s choreography is eye-filling, especially in the ‘Rakkamaa’ song. B. Ajaneesh Loknath’s background music is impactful. William David’s cinematography is nice but the film has been shot in such lighting that the viewers have to strain their eyes to understand what’s going on on the screen. The 3D effects are lovely. A. Vijay’s action and stunt scenes are effective. Shiva Kumar J.’s production designing is of a good standard. Ashik Kusugolli’s editing leaves something to be desired. Dubbing is very good.

On the whole, Vikrant Rona is too confusing for the Hindi film-going audience and, therefore, doesn’t stand much of a chance at the box-office.

Released on 28-7-’22 at Inox (3D; 5 shows; in daily 3 shows from 29-7-’22) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PVR Pictures Ltd. It will open at Maratha Mandir (daily 1 show) from 29-7-’22. Publicity: fair. Opening: so-so. …….Also released all over. Opening was not up to the mark anywhere. The original Kannada version has opened today to brilliant houses.