When it is RGV making a crime thriller, the expectations are bound to be reasonably strong, never mind his recent terrible record. In a year when 'Rowdy' received accolades from some and brickbats from others, how RGV would deal with Vishnu another time was waited to be seen. Defying the regular format for another time, RGV treats Vishnu as a character instead of according a bloated status to him. Vishnu's character shares screen space with Revathi and doesn't have a larger-than-life place in the story.
With the film's run time short, this makes a good enough watch. The premise was revealed much before the release and the trailers threw up the hints.
'Anukshanam' is a film that would be told in 30 minutes' time by a good film. That too, only to set the premise for a bigger plot. Somehow, RGV's characters behave as if they are from the distant Bollywood, out of sync with the nativity. Like the angry news presenter (played by Madhu Shalini) who actually talks like an agitated college girl in a 'We The People' kind of programme. Like someone (played by veteran actress Revathi) who has studied serial killers' psychology tells the cops that the killer has murdered during day because the police have cautioned public not to venture out during nights. Like the courageous, heroic cop (played by Vishnu) who says to the media, "It's difficult to nab the killer because he is not committing all the murders in the same place." Doesn't this sentence sound like a sarcasm written on a cartoonscape?
One feels that RGV may have to do away with the raw kind of BG score that he has been infatuated with, especially when the target audience are different. Whether it is a biopic on Paritala Ravi or a horror thriller or a crime thriller like this one, the stuck gramophone behind the screen belches out the same music.
It is not exciting if what is revealed about serial killers is Googleable information. One wishes that such ideas are layered with subtexts.
When the news presenter Asha (Madhu Shalini) is telling about the latest caution note issued by the police, she sounds like a voiceover from a Ministry of Women and Child Welfare ad. When Supreet, Vishnu's fellow cop is briefing his boss about the serial killings, he sounds like giving an interview to a tv channel. When Revathi meets Vishnu, she tells her flashback to Vishnu as if she is giving an interview for a job. So much of reality.
A character playing the Home Minister (Kota Srinivasa Rao) talking like an insensitive creature can't be entertaining. One wishes he was portrayed in a clever way in the age of rampant media activism and social media-led campaigns.
Revathi is the guide, friend of Vishnu. Why? Only she can tell good from bad by looking intently into the suspect's eyes. Revathi is the Odarpu lady for the cop whose biggest activities are receiving bad news through phone calls and shouting down the only journalist in the two Telugu states.
For those of you wishing to watch Vishnu in an extended role, 'Anukshanam' disappoints a bit because Vishnu is as less larger-than-life as he can be. He delivers a decent performance showing the right emotion.
There come Navdeep and Tejaswi (of 'Ice Cream' fame). The former looks suspicious and the latter doesn't look to be scared enough even in a death-like situation. Close to reality, of course. RGV thinks others' films don't need songs, but it is creativity if he has Brahmanandam in a crime thriller.
The villain Surya is menacing and looks softcore at once.
Verdict: A crime thriller that passes muster.
Rating: 3.25/5
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