In Hyderabad city, a school girl is murdered. Then some more murders happen. A rookie police officer Arun (Bellamkonda Srinivas) suspects that a sociopath is behind these killings.
His theory and his method of investigation gets admonished by his higher officer but he continues to search for the killer. He turns obsessive with the case when a personal loss happens.
Remake of a Tamil movie Ratsasan, Ramesh Varma directed Rakshasudu is faithful to the original movie. It is as gripping as the original Tamil movie.
The good part is that the Telugu makers have not spoiled it, nor they have altered the original movie. It is like a scene to scene replica. This actually has worked in its favor.
Since we have seen Bellamkonda Srinivas in mind less action dramas, it is a welcome change to see him acting in a concept based story that gives more importance to the genre than catering to the heros action image.
Allari Ravibabu made a gripping serial killer thriller movie called Anasuya a decade ago. After that hardly any Telugu movie was made in this genre. This precisely has provided a novel experience. Moreover, the screenplay is quite engaging.
The movie begins in a simple manner but it picks up when the hero gets involved in the first investigation of the murder.
The pace further picks up when the hero and his team zeroes in on one school teacher suspecting him as serial killer which is quite believable and told in riveting manner.
The movie then turns a little bit melodramatic but the third act of the movie is what the film makes a riveting watch.
The serial killers motive is also explained in a neat way. However, the makeup for the serial killer is quite gaudy.
Despite some flaws, and weak romantic episode between hero and heroine, Rakshasudu doesnt deviate from the basic thread and is focused on telling it in genre specific way.
If you have watched the Tamil film, it may not impress you but those who watch it in Telugu for the first time, it will definitely grip you.