Veerappan

RGV has told it taut, specially in the second half that is all about Operation Killing Veerappan. Sandeep's tranformation as Veerappan is commendable -- from his looks to his dialect. Here's an actor waiting to be explored. Usha too plays it easy. Sachiin was a delight and perhaps this is his best performance so far.

Sachiin Joshi makes an attempt to look and act the role he plays, but then the attempt shows more than the talent. Sandeep Bharadwaj as Veerappan and Jadhav as Mutthulakshmi are perfectly cast and they both do a convincing job of it. Even then this could have been an engaging watch, if not spoiled by that constant assault on one's eardrums.

The ending could have been far better. It's a bit comical to see some of our central characters sitting out and having a nice tea picnic while something so significant is happening. Still, the film is mostly gripping, sensational and involving. Veerappan's story with his spectacular rise and fall was a big one. The film does it justice.

This film is certainly not for the squeamish or the weak at heart. But for those  who are familiar with Ram GopalVarma's appetite for the  abominable, Veerappan is just the beast to grab at your nearest theatre.

In all fairness, Sandeep brings Veerappan alive and the National Award winner Usha as Muthulakshmi is convincing. Though not in top form, RGV does redeem himself to some degree. And his film does allow you to get up, close and personal with the notorious criminal who made a monkey of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments, because he knew the loopholes in the system.

'Veerappan' is mildly menacing instead of an out and out menacing film. The movie had all the potential to become a hard-hitting cult drama if only the screenplay would have been a bit tight and had some better actors to perform.

Overall, 'Veerappan' is a mediocre fare.

Veerappan may be a let down if everyone expected this to be on lines with Band Queen or Paan Singh Tomar. However, there is a still a reason to smile here as we get to see the signs of RGV's lost brilliance. If it was not for the lifeless performances from most of the cast and the silly BG score, this would have been a better film.

...it's definitely not what you want spend money on this weekend, or the coming weekends for as long as this film manages to keep a hold on the box office.

...this 126-minute film has pace and a narrative technique which may give you a glimpse of RGV's old charm. But, the mojo isn't completely back yet.

It's upsetting that Ram Gopal Varma fans have to put up with this. Even the very few and far between visual flourishes are merely reminders of an auteur that was.

We won't call the script incoherent.  In fact,  one of the film's biggest plusses is its writing.  Even when the actors stumble at their jobs,  the material comes to their rescue.  But Ramu's vision is compromised towards the end.  It is almost as if he didn't know how to execute his story.  His confidence helps the ship sail through,  but there is hardly anything noteworthy to say about it.  Barring the scene in which the dacoit kills an informer,  there is not another equally overwhelming scene to its credit.

For someone still reeling from the after-effects of watching Not A Love Story (never mind that RGV had a string of could-have-beens after that), this comes as an opportunity to prove us wrong, wasted. Where have all the Shivas, Satyas, Sarkars and Shools gone?

At the end of the day, Veerappan is hardly the redemption Ram Gopal Varma could have hoped for. It is 2.5 hours of unbearable torture.