Raakasa Review: Niharika's Second Production Stumbles Despite Comedy Moments

Following the surprise success of Committee Kurrollu, expectations were naturally high for Niharika Konidela's second production venture, Raakasa. Unfortunately, this fantasy-horror-comedy directed by debutant Manasa Sharma fails to capture the magic that made her debut production special.

The film follows Veeru (Sangeeth Sobhan), an NRI who returns from America to marry his childhood sweetheart Subbalakshmi (Nayan Sarika), only to find her engaged to someone else. His attempts to stop the wedding lead him into a supernatural mess involving a small town terrorized by a ruthless monster during a solar eclipse, complete with an ancient fort and age-old curses.

While early social media reactions praised the "fun filled first half" and "excellent second half," with Sangeeth Sobhan, Vennela Kishore, and Getup Srinu delivering "top notch entertainment", the film's core problem lies in its confused narrative approach. Director Manasa Sharma's biggest misstep lies in her confused narrative tone. The attempt to mix comedy with horror dilutes whatever little tension the story could have generated.

Sangeeth Sobhan, riding high on the MAD franchise success, tries his best to carry this ambitious project. The supporting cast, particularly the reliable trio of Vennela Kishore, Brahmaji, and Getup Srinu, provides the film's brightest moments. However, the storyline itself feels outdated, echoing elements seen in films like Anji and Shambala, but without the gripping narration needed to sustain interest.

The film's technical aspects show ambition. With music by Anudeep Dev, Rakasa has already built momentum online. The title glimpse has crossed 1.9 million views, while the teaser has surpassed 3 million views. Songs like "Rapappa," "Padhe Padhe," and "Snake Dance" have also crossed the million mark, indicating strong pre-release interest.

For Niharika Konidela, this represents a step backward after Committee Kurrollu proved that content-driven cinema could work. After showing promise with Committee Kurrollu, producer Niharika Konidela delivers a disappointing outing with Raakaasa. The film needed stronger writing to support its fantastical premise and clearer vision about whether it wanted to be a comedy or create genuine thrills.

Raakasa isn't unwatchable: there are laughs to be had, particularly in the second half. But it's a missed opportunity that shows how difficult it is to balance multiple genres without a rock-solid script foundation.