When a serial killer plays mind games…

The indefatigable hero Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas, yet to see big success coming his way, is back again to test his fortunes at the box office this time with a nativised remake of a Tamil hit titled 'Rakshasudu'.

A psycho crime thriller, it had set the cash counters on fire in neighbouring Tamil Nadu in the manner in which the film progressed to a tightly wound climax.

Retaining the original film's tone and setting, including a few scenes in which only the voice-over is in Telugu, the 149-minute film begins well when cops are suddenly face-to-face with a serial killer, who leaves behind a gift box at the scene of the murder and in contrast, badly mutilates the kidnapped girls whom he packs up and dumps in various parts of the city.

Naturally, the people panic, and this further emboldens the serial killer, whose moves and motives are closely scrutinised by the hero, an aspiring film director-turned-cop.

His domain expertise is pooh-poohed by his seniors, a lady ACP especially, who wants him to just play second fiddle and not interfere in the investigation process.

Undoubtedly, the junior has his day when the seniors take cognisance of his unique unravelling of the crime scene and what the killer may be planning next.

For the better part of the film, however, the villain is a few steps ahead of the law and order enforcers.

This deflates the protagonist who loses his niece to the killer and almost has his lady love and her adopted daughter butchered, while he chases the evil element all across the city.

Blending in a good mix of technology, intelligent and down-to-earth positioning of the hero's persona and a plausible mix of psychological angst and deprivation of the bad guy which forms the core of the film, it is a different presentation to that extent.

As much as one empathises with the frustration of the hero with the system and the internal hostility which he faces from his team, the rather longish stretch of the climax, which runs to nearly 40 minutes, is a little unsettling.

Fit and agile, Srinivas does what he has been known for in his seven releases so far – a passable mix of action and emotion.

Anupama Parameswaran is just there to fill the slot of a heroine with a limited presence in the narrative.

The Hollywoodish approach to fitting the jigsaw puzzles one by one is interesting but whether the hero can pull it off this time is still a matter awaiting the benediction of the film-watching public.