Psycho Raman (2016) User Reviews

Unconventional Cinema

[shivamt25 · 8/10 · 5 July 2016]

Anurag Kashyap has always been the one who experiments a lot with his movies. Watching his movies, you hate what is happening but love the movie at the same time. Raman Raghav was also a roller coaster ride.

This movie is like a book with different chapters dealing with different situations and characters. It displays emotions like never seen before. Each scene says something, nothing is redundant or useless.

No one in the movie performed below my satisfaction level. All the new actors gave amazing support to the main characters, who were Raman and Raghav. Nawazuddin Siddiqui has achieved a special place in my heart now. He is doing wonders. It looks like he understood exactly the thought process of the cinematographer, the essence of the story and the dream of the director.

But most of all, I like the way it ended. It is really an example of unconventional cinema.

smashes the stereotype of Indian movies

[valleyjohn · 8/10 · 10 August 2021]

When Raman Raghav was recommended to me and I said I'd watch it , my heart sank a little as my experience of Indian films are not good , Bollywood ones especially but thankfully this couldn't be further from a Bollywood movie if it tried .

Set in present day Mumbai the story follows the life of a serial killer Ramanna who is inspired by an infamous serial killer from the 1960s Raman Raghav. His strange obsession with Raghavan, a young Cop keeps growing as he closely follows him without his knowledge and often creates situations where both of them come face to face.

It's amazing how a film , with a low budget , set in extremely poor surroundings and in only twenty days , can look and sound so stylish .

Director Anurag Kashyap has somehow made a silk purse out of a sows ear and deserves a massive amount of credit.

This film is soooo stylish . From the great soundtrack to the delicious on screen graphics but at the same time the story and characters on show are just filth.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the star of the show . His performance as Raman is amazing and as screen serial killers go , this is right up there . Apparently he was hospitalised three times during the shoot because of the conditions he was working in but the end product was worth it.

The scenes in the flat with his sister , nephew and Brother in Law were as scarily brilliant as you can get .

I wasn't quite as enamoured with the story of the cop. His, and his men's incompetence seemed a little over the top at times and considering Raman was happy to be caught , the never seemed to be particularly bothered.

I absolutely loved most of this film . The last quarter was the weakest part and you couldn't help but think it probably had a couple of chapters too many but that's not going to stop me seeking out Anurag Kashyap's other films and if they are anything like as good as this I'm in for a treat .

Inside us lives a killer.

[Fella_shibby · 8/10 · 22 August 2016]

The movie is very tedious in the beginning. There r scenes which jus lingers. The editing was too bad. The movie has too many flaws n absurdities. It lacked the thrill n tension. Bad direction. It lacked the character development which is much needed in these kinda flicks. The best chapter was "The Sister". Some realistic locations nicely shot n very good acting by Nawaz n a very hot babe. Agree that the movie is bold n it dealt with many issues (Raman's childhood sex abuse, Raman's incest with his sister, Raghav's childhood physical abuse n drug abuse, Raman's dominance behaviour towards his girlfriend, poverty, drugs adverse effects, bad police procedure n police brutality). This movie is gory but much of the killings r offscreen. Some lovely cinematography. While watching this two movies came to my mind. Killers (2014) n Headhunters (for the scene when Raman hides in the drainage water).

Outstanding and Unconventional Psychological Thriller

[Dreviews16 · 24 June 2016]

I had two reasons to watch this movie, one was Anurag Kashyap and the other my own preference for Psychological thrillers.

The movie begins with a disclaimer that it isn't about the real Raman Raghav but in spirit he is present throughout the movie. Ramanna's (Nawazuddin) past is quite unknown and neither does the movie delve much into it, quite like the real psycho Raman whose early life and incidents were unknown to the world. Again the episode of his abusive relation with his sister is inspired by real Raman Raghav's abuse of his sister.

Ramanna is portrayal of an emotionless serial killer, who goes about his business quite nonchalantly. But there is more to him than that, he has a perception of Raghav (Vicky Kaushal) in his own twisted head and most of his actions in the movie are guided by the same. Raghav is again not your typical angry young cop, he has too many issues of his own and by the end of the movie he is more of a character in black than Raman. He has deep running flaws but chooses to deal with them in his own way.

This movie is obviously not the run-of-the-mill cop hunting serial killer story, rather there is a reversal of role with respect to that. The actual interaction between the two title characters comes towards the end. Yet, the viewer never gets the feeling that the scenes involving the two are not related.

There are quite a few well-etched sequences, the one where Simmy reminds the double standards of Raghav with respect to murders and his own personal life, the final scene between Raman and Raghav. Vicky Kaushal holds ground well and is quite good in his portrayal of the angst-ridden Raghav. Sobhita Dhulipala had a limited role due to the needs of the story but is able to do justice to it and Amruta Subhash has a small yet memorable role.

But Nawazuddin takes the cake here, giving his best performance to date. He seamlessly portrays a calm, cold- blooded serial killer, with underlining mental frailties. He can appear to be the weakest person in the entire scene, easy to dismiss him off merely as a psychopath but there is a method to his madness.

Needless to say the music was incredible and added flavor to the movie, making it richer. Acting is quite good and natural overall. For me this is one of Anurag Kashyap's best works to date.

P.S. Good to see some of the members of Wasseypur team returning back in acting department, Murari Kumar (Guddu in Wasseypur and was also seen in Ugly) and Mukesh Chhabra.

Thanking AK for this Powerful movie experience

[knitecrawler · 10/10 · 25 June 2016]

Even though when I went to watch the movie, the theater was almost empty, whatever 15-20 people that were present knew exactly what they signed up for and its theme and tone. Those who are complaining that the movie was too dark or gory, next time you should probably watch the trailer before going to watch the movie. This movie was one of the most powerful by Bollywood in 5-10 years. It was jam packed with Powerful dialogues, excellent background score and mind blowing acting and direction. I am a big fan of Anurag Kashyap movies and I will put this at the top. It was as dark as Requiem for a Dream if not more. If someone doesn't like this movie, I know he/she is eager to watch Sultan or F&F 8 because you deserve that kind of movies only.

Dark, brutal and mesmerizing

[BecauseIAmBATMAN · 9/10 · 9 August 2016]

Raman Raghav 2.0 is absolutely brilliant. Nawazuddin Siddiqui brings out his A-game as a creepy and scary psychopath. Both the leads, Nawaz as the unhinged serial killer and Vicky Kaushal as a drug addicted misogynist cop aren't likable and aren't supposed to be. There is no character you can root for but the film manages with great effect for you to root for the story to play out.

This film has incredibly tense scenes crafted fantastically. It feels often like a horror film creating an uneasy feeling of dread as to what will happen. Most of the grotesque violence happens off screen which leaves most of the gory details to our imagination.

The use of seemingly inappropriate music at times works very well. The camera work, editing and screenplay is fantastic. This is one of the best Indian thrillers made. By far my favourite film of 2016.

9/10

Review - Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016)

[arungeorge13 · 7/10 · 6 June 2017]

Anurag Kashyap's flair for churning out unconventional cinematic pieces is something that warrants appreciation. Raman Raghav 2.0 is certainly not a film that you could expect out of a run-of-the-mill filmmaker. The director (who has also co-written the screenplay along with Vasan Bala) is known for not making compromises in the name of 'commercial cinema' and with RR 2.0, he simply reinstates this verity.

The film is divided into different chapters that delve deep into the state of mind of the hunter and the hunted. The pacing of the first half is pitch-perfect and the director succeeds in (metaphorically) grabbing the viewers by the throat and pasting them on a wall, subjecting them to the murderous and drug-infested backdrop of the central characters Ramanna (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui) and Raghavan (played by Vicky Kaushal) respectively. The noticeable factor in Kashyap's films is the subtle maintenance of tone. He never attempts to overrun genres simply for the sake of it. The undercurrent of dark humor is not forced at all. You barely know the characters that Ramanna murders (most of the time, except for his sister's family) as he picks them mostly on a random basis. The viewer is never handed out an option to feel exceptionally grim just because a murder took place. We know that they are going to continue because Ramanna is Ramanna. Nawazuddin makes sure Ramanna stays in our minds for quite a long time. The scar on his head, the earrings, the sunglasses (which he procures midway through the film), the shabby garments that he wears, his wry smile, pretty much everything is on-point. Said to be based on a real-life serial killer, Nawaz coerces us to buy into his outlandish perspectives with ease.

The surprise element here is Vicky Kaushal's character Raghavan. He is no super-cop. He is a drug-addict who treats his woman badly, and is almost disowned by his father (which is portrayed through an incident). There is barely anything that he clings himself onto, except for his steady intake of cocaine. The character sketch is comparatively hazy in the beginning but the scenes in the latter half shed ample light on his psyche. Kaushal maintains a deadpan expression throughout, which is pretty much all that is required of him. He is revealed to be an insomniac as well, and wears sunglasses all the time, even in the middle of the night, to conceal his sleeplessness and lethargy. Sobhita Dhulipala in a de-glam avatar plays her part sublimely. In fact, hers is the only character in the film that sanctions a bit of empathy.

Musical score by Ram Sampath complements the mood of the film pretty well and the songs are not mere gap-fillers. They convey the internal turmoil of the characters rather deviously. "Qatl-e-Aam", "Behooda" and "Paani Ka Rasta" are all decently rendered. The film mostly shuttles between the slums and lowly neighborhoods of Mumbai. The guerrilla-styled cinematography is reasonably delightful and takes the viewer on a roller-coaster ride, with deliberate slacking in pace at certain occasions. The stand-out scene IMO would be the one where Ramanna elucidates how Raghavan is his soul-mate, and how the two are going to be inseparable. Pure stroke of genius!

Kashyap is righteously back-to-form with Raman Raghav 2.0 and as a viewer, I sincerely hope he continues to make the world, and not just Bollywood, perceive his work.

Wonderfully Sinister

[srk_turaga · 9/10 · 24 June 2016]

Raman Raghav 2.0 begins with a disclaimer saying this movie is NOT about the 1960s era killer who operated in Mumbai. This is evident from the trailer, and the seizure inducing opening scene, which could only be set in today's EDM themed clubs. This film is Anurag Kashyap delving into the mind of a serial killer who is running loose in a populous metropolis.

The movie is, for the most part, a cop-criminal chase. But unlike most Bollywood fare, the cop is as bent as a sickle and by the end of the film the audience is left wondering who is the more diabolical of the two - the psychologically disturbed Ramanna or the chain smoking, coke-snorting Assistant Commissioner of Police Raghavan. Nawazuddin Siddiqui IS Ramanna, and continues his prolific character interpretations under Anurag Kashyap. Vicky Kaushal makes a convincing turn as the corrupt cop, and Sobhita Dhulipala is a revelation as the emotionally battered 'girlfriend'.

The movie is split into Tarantinoesque chapters. This paces the movie perfectly, with each scene never getting ahead of another. The second chapter named 'The Sister' is the most affecting of all, showing a frightening glimpse of Ramanna's past and psyche. The final chapter which brings together the three main characters of the movie is reminiscent of the confrontation between Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow ( at least a part of her) and Kevin Spacey in David Fincher's Se7en.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's extended monologues ooze class and are as disturbing as the scar over the right side of his forehead. The gore and bloodshed in the film aid in the shock of the events unfolding before one's eyes without being gratuitous. Ram Sampath's music complements the intrigue and tension running through the film.

This movie is not for the faint of heart but must be experienced as it is an indication of how far Indian thrillers have come over the past decade or so.

A good thriller until unless you feel it just stole the idea from insomnia

[ankushrattan-00463 · 7/10 · 29 February 2020]

I saw this film a couple of days back and really felt it was a nice movie and one of the best the bollywood have had produced but then today I watched insomnia,directed by most anticipated director Chrostopher Nolan.Insomnia was a 2002 movie and raman raghav 2.0 was released in 2016.Insomnia is a great work of Nolan and was unique in it's idea but kashyap just stole his idea.If you don't believe me then just watch insomnia and you will come to know the truth.They didn't mentioned it anywhere that it was a adaption or something.Really disappointed me today.

Best Acting and Best Direction

[utpal-61109 · 10/10 · 25 June 2016]

Anurag Kashyap is one of the best director of India. He is often regarded as the face of an emerging new wave cinema for producing numerous independent films with newcomer.

Raman Raghav 2 is a psychological thriller movie. The movie received positive review when premiered at Cannes Film Festival 2016 in Directors' Fortnight section. Outstanding performance by Nawajuddin Siddiqui. He again proved his talent. This is a negative movie without any moral. Great combination of direction and acting and also background music. Police inspector Vicky Kaushal after super performance in Masaan also shows his best. In India people only want Masala Film. They do not habit to watch this type of movie. So they give mix review about this film. So if you want to see Nawajuddin's performance and Anurag Kahyap's direction, don't miss it.

Don't have enough words to dissect Nawaz's Stellar Presence in Here!

[SoumikBanerjee1996 · 7/10 · 27 November 2020]

If I were to sum it up; "Raman Raghav 2.0" is nothing but a barefaced character study. Incorporating a Sociopath, a frenzied cop; and their eventual affiliation shaped under distressing circumstances.



Depiction of a devilish killer, an insightful look within his crippled mind is in itself a petrifying thing to tell. With the help of Mr. Kashyap's pronounced finesse and an unerring act by Nawazuddin Siddiqui; Comes out an astute impersonation of a demented murderer.

Vicky Kaushal as the disorganised & drug addict policeman was simply amazing. The limelight might have been on Nawaz; yet Vicky succeeded finding out his own rhythm. This marked as Sobhita Dhulipala's debut feature, and I can definitely apprehend the success she got afterwards in several roles. A hefty praise goes to Anurag for continuously being the torch bearer in introducing promising talents.

Performances are the heart and soul in here alongside a technical prowess commonly showcased in a Kashyap Production! This time, the other aspects failed to accommodate. The storyline seems inchoate, inconsistencies in the writing being the main culprit. There are definite loose ends in the screenplay therefore weakening the core contemplation. Jumping around discrete timelines with advancing chapter sequences; a hard act to follow.

He can certainly do better, as his other stirring works are substantial testimonies to that!

A Hollywood item

[jena-swaraj · 10/10 · 29 June 2016]

This movie is above Bollywood standard. Anurag kashyap,Just Because of this guy,I was sure this movie can not be just ordinary.

Siddiqui is at his best. Vicky also did his job very well. Hope we get to see this guy getting more movies. Other actors also performed well.

The whole movie has been crafted so beautifully. Screenplay,direction,Script everything are in sync. Music is also very good.Transition between scenes could have been improved.but still it is far better than typical Bollywood movies

Hope we get to see these type of movies in Bollywood's as much as possible.

Not original story and definitely not worth the hype

[pranaydora · 6/10 · 30 June 2016]

All marks to Nawaz for constantly bringing out the actor in him to the platforms mostly untouched in Bollywood.

However, there's not much to this flick apart from Nawaz. It definitely centers around him and gets duller each moment he's out of the frame.

The direction of Anura Kashyap seems like a novice act and the rest of crew n cast, too dull and bored. The background music helps a li'l to the mood but is way over the top at times.

Once into the movie, it felt as if Anurag Kashyap is trying' too hard, too fast.

The demons of the Bombay Velvet seem to haunt him and you could literally tell that from the way the camera goes around in the movie.

One-time watch but nothing to take back once the lights are back on!

Frustrating

[x_d_71 · 4/10 · 5 September 2020]

Why is the Indian police so incompetent and people's reaction in danger just incomprehensible.

Wanted to like but...

Stare into the abyss long enough, and the abyss stares right back at you

[sesht · 24 June 2016]

Not for the faint of heart. Not for the immature. Definitely not for the impressionable.

I thought I'd seen movies that were dark, but this one plumbs the murkiest depths (even literally) of pure evil, that's irredeemable, no matter what.

Make no mistake, this is one hell of a disturbing experience. And I know I said that before.

But, going boldly where no one has tread before, seems to be something of a recurring theme for director/writer /all-round auteur Anurag Kashyap.

And I thought his 'Ugly' churned the evil within us, the evil all around us. This, probes deeper, and comes out with goo that sticks, that sucks life out, and cannot be cleaned easily, if ever.

This one's either a spiritual sequel, or a companion piece, to both 'Ugly' and 'Badlapur'.

In spite of the standard disclaimers and information we already have about this movie, and information on how it got made, which is all over the news all the time, the twist, of sorts, packs a wallop. A mean one, at that.

Poetically, I also thought this kinda twisted what was meant and conveyed in the little seen movie with Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, 'Seeking a friend for the end of the world'. Twisted. Mean. Nasty.

And just because there are sequences with heavy doses of humor (the gallows kind, of course), doesn't mean it's not gonna end in tears.

Now, I'm not sure this message (and others inherent in this work) is gonna come across, but it did, for me, like a sledgehammer blow: Kashyap makes us watch, makes us culpable, makes us feel dirty, makes us feel guilty, unwashed, which is the way it should be, while dealing with violence, especially in a society where it has been justified and glorified forever.

Like it has been his signature style, he puts it all in our head, and only suggests it on screen. Makes the pain all the more worse, imho.

Effective, nevertheless, which is what I'm sure he was going for. The makers want us to reflect, to ponder, to take note. We, their audience, have no choice. Can't look away.

Needless to say, all performances are top-notch, and awards worthy, if the audiences give it a chance/or are brave enough to take it, and get the messages.

I thought the audience cheering for Siddiqui's villainous character In 'Badlapur' was representative of Raghavan trying to make a statement, but the way the audience hangs on Siddiqui's every word, every expression, as well as that of the other lead, Vicky Kaushal, takes this to another level altogether. Harrowing. Disturbing. Definitely not for everyone. Yet, lessons abound. For everyone. For those who do not look away, for those who like to think.

The throbbing score, the on-location work, the low budget Indie aesthetic, enhance the overall effect, without detracting from content, the way it should be.

I'll never watch this again. This is like one of Haneke's harrowing works.

Take A Deep Dive Into The Souls Of Two Similar Yet Somehow Different Men.

[Vivekmaru45 · 10/10 · 7 July 2016]

One is a corrupt drug addicted cop Raghav(played by Vicky Kaushal). The other is a homeless and jobless man Raman(played by the excellent actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui) who has spent a longtime as a wanderer.

These two eventually collide and that is the real climax of this film. You should should know that Raman Raghav was notorious serial killer who operated in Mumbai during the late 1960s. He was caught by a massive manhunt operation. He was given a life sentence and subsequently died in 1995 due to kidney failure at Sassoon Hospital.

Do not confuse Raman Raghav with another serial called The Patthar Maar(literally means a man who kills by dropping as stone on a person's head). This serial killer operated in the years 1985-1987 was thought to have been caught, escaped, and was never heard of again. A movie was made, The Stoneman Murders (2009), loosely based on the Patthar Maar killer, starring the versatile actor Kay Kay Menon and directed by veteran director Manish Gupta.

Back to the film. The film starts in a disco joint, where Raghav is having fun with his girlfriend and is highly intoxicated on alcohol and drugs. Afterwards Raghav leaves with his girl in his car to their next stop which is supposed to be the guy who supplies Raghav with his addiction.

We then witness a murder. Raghav's drug supplier is killed. We don't know who has committed the deed. It will be revealed towards the end of the film. Next day a consort of policemen arrive at the murder scene to begin the investigation. Next, we see Raman sitting outside a police station, waiting for an opportunity to confess to a string murders that he has committed. One of the detectives listening to the interrogation is Raghav. As soon as Raman sets his eyes on Raghav, he knows his destiny.

The interrogaters think that Raman is lying to get media publicity, and so thrash him soundly and lock him up in an abandoned area. However he soon escapes later on, when some loafers hear his cries and release him by breaking the lock of his cell. After he leaves, the film really starts...

This film has intense scenes of violence that I feel that no one under the age of 18 should see. Also it shows how Western culture have corrupted the morals of people in India. We see Raghav having depraved sex with a woman who deeply loves him and wants to take care of him. She also wants to marry him and have a child. However Raghav is so drug addicted and has such lack of morals that he often threatens or beats her.

We begin to see eventually that Raghav is no better then Raman, and in a few instances we see that Raman is actually seeking redemption for his crimes. See the film to find out what happens next...

This film directed by the acclaimed director Anurag Singh Kashyap who has won the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) in 2013.

More films you may like: Hatya(1988), 100 Days (1991 film), Tarkieb(2000), Rahasya (2015) and Talvar (2015).

Thank you for taking the time to read this review. May you live long and prosper.

India's gift to world cinema!!!

[harshit_pande · 10/10 · 29 June 2016]

When you watch a movie made by a great director or a great actor or actress you get a feeling that is difficult to explain in words. It makes you alive. But then there is a movie like "RAMAN RAGHAV 2.0" which can easily be called as one of the finest movies of Bollywood of all time. Inspired from the life of a serial killer, the film is very intelligently shown from the prospective of an individual who himself is deeply inspired by the acts of Raman Raghav (who killed around 41 people in Mumbai during 1960s to 70s) played brilliantly by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. He is so into his character that even you feel scared by the way a psycho killer thinks. Well to say the least, he deserves all the standing ovations, awards and praises for this role. And India is truly blessed to have an actor like him. Vicky Kaushal in the role of the drug- addict policeman is great. Even if it is an out and out Nawazuddin Siddiqui film, he makes his presence felt in many of his scenes which in itself is an achievement considering it is just his third film. Another great thing about the movie is its direction done by our favourite "ANURAG KASHYAP". His direction is such that the film remains with you for quite a long time, actually it changes you and your way of seeing to things. For example, this film will make you afraid of every random guy who gives you a close look or just a look. The director is greatly inspired from "QUENTIN Tarantino" which is seen in his work. To sum up, this film may not earn the money which is expected due to obvious reasons and its violent content and language of course but I am sure it will surely be in your list when you recommend a film to someone. A 10/10 for this film as there are no loopholes in here.

Best movie on the subject from India, I know of.

[MuviFan73 · 7/10 · 16 December 2018]

There are many movies out there which carry the theme defining serial killers. When it comes to portray reality, psychologists go with the most correct movie to be 'no country for old men'. There was a time when I liked the movies American psycho and No country for old men. I am happy I don't any more, in fact I hate them. On the other hand I totally disliked the movies The silence of the lambs and I am happy for that.

Further comes the part including movies I am Okay with. They are The Zodiac (real life based), Identity, Murder 2 and Ek Villian.

To follow, I like The girl with the dragon tattoo, Changeling, I saw the Devil and Se7en mostly because how it ends.

To add further I like Mr. Brooks and Monster as well.

Then comes the movie directed by India's Reality King Anurag Kashyap Raman Raghav 2.0. The movie is entertaining and mostly because the cast of Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the direction provided. It is the best act from Siddiqui till date.

Final Verdict: I like the movie (even with theme involving serial killers) because of the same reason why we all like such movies. I am happy that I could slide out some of them as most disliked.

The greatest Hindi movie of modern times

[manojmuralidharan · 10/10 · 26 April 2020]

This movie is not for the weak hearted. Not a family movie. The serial killer (Nawasuddin) played the role of his life. I have watched a 100 serial killer movies, this one is one up there...one of the MOST gripping dark, chilling, evil movies I have seen. It is as realistic as it gets. When you see him eat a leftover burger that he picked from garbage and when he cries and says he is hungry, you feel pity and then you hate him when he is prowling for his next victim.

The disturbed and violent cop that is on his trail was played perfect too. I give this a 10/10 because I thought camera work, direction, music, actors ..even the smallest bit was done 100% real. and even though you hate him for what he does you are going to be startled by his honest conversations. I know if you had enjoyed wasting money on chunkey pandeys and sunil shettys you woould not appreciate this movie because your protogonist Raman Raghav 2.0 is sleeping and living and eating in Bombay;s garbage and filthy areas. Greatest Hindi movie of all times!!

RR 2.0: A Multi Layered Reflection of Oneself. 9/10

[jitendra-sahay89 · 7/10 · 25 June 2016]

The 2001 supernatural thriller AKS by ROM portrays the story of two characters, one elite cop, and one psychotic terrorist, one good face and one bad face of the coin. Later it shows the good face tends to approach the bad face. But here the idea, the obsession of the bad face is actually shown to get transmitted from one person to another by the means of some supernatural entity, may be metaphoric.

Anurag's RR 2.0 is about a psychotic serial killer Raman and the drug addict Raghav, a cop hunting and chasing for Ramana. The film opens up with the depiction of Raghav's misogynous attraction for Simmy (Sobhita) and his addiction to the skag which actually happens to be dodged or unnoticed by us. Then it shows Raman's surrender in an attempt to fool the cops around his act of killing 8 of his victims which actually was hinted by Phantom through their series of teasers (though never shown who the killers were). Here We want to believe Raman (Why?). Then a series of killings by Raman and a series of unsuccessful attempts of hunting by the cops and their boss. Ramana's torturous killing of his own sister and her family, the account of his relation with the sister, his hiding in the filthy sewer, his hunting for the prey around the streets, his incapability or refusal to understand the basic addition is enough to accept his being of psychotic nature. On the other hand there is this guy with a gun and a designation of ACP violently convincing his so called girlfriend to kill the unborn baby appears to be not so pathetic by our damn sensitive and highly educated society. Though both of them bears a commonality in their upbringings. The dark bloodshed killing of victims by Ramana has not explicitly been displayed on the screen but the conversation, the real location and the background music is haunting. Nawaz is at his convincingly best showing his depth for this layered character of Ramana. Vicky is power packed at his depiction of Raghav, though I still think there could have been a more mature actor complementing Nawaz. Story is an eight chapter division, each one linked to each other still independent and complete enough to tell a brief story showing a psychotic criminal with or without a mask. And so the editing needed to be tricky and sharp which actually is smart enough. Cinematography is required brilliant.

So where does this story is leading us, is it showing a mirror to us, a mirror which reflects the second face of ourselves? As RR 2.0 progresses we start realizing that though we don't like Raghav as a person but we still want him to chase down Raman, obviously we never develop any sympathy for him. So we still want the Rat to get killed by the Cat, aren't we?

Raman and Raghav both of us are approaching each other, so whom we want to win?

A masterpiece that was made a few years earlier than it's time.

[nairvineeth-49197 · 10/10 · 7 October 2019]

The current views on the movie shows that this masterpiece was made earlier than it's time. Now there is not one person who would change the channel if the movie is on. The same people who complained it to be dark during its release are enjoying it now.

An oscar level acting by Nawazuddin. I still get goosebumps watching this movie and everytime I notice some new acting brilliance by Nawas. Vicky was also top notch playing a drug addicted cop. The cat and mouse chase between Nawaz and Vicky is amazing. It was dark and that is what you should be expecting when you know its being helmed by Anurag.

It did not disappoint me at all. I can watch it another 100 times and still not be bored of it. If this movie was released in late 2018 or 2019 it would have been a box office hit for sure.

Enjoyed it in parts

[AnonymousbutDilpreet002 · 7/10 · 1 May 2020]

It's not a psychological thriller like others. It's not a serial killer hunt. It's something else. First there is Raman, a serial killer and then there is a cop inspecting his case. The segments of Raman are relatively better, much better. The parts of Raghav are uninteresting, but get better at the end. But somewhere, they don't connect to each other well. The film lacks the appeal.

Taking nothing away Amruta Subhash, Vipin Sharma and Vicky Kaushal, this film belongs to Nawazuddin Siddiquie. He dominates everyone where he is present. Unlike other Pyscho killers, he does not have that trademark smile, he does not look intimidating from his face and act more like a normal person. But, he is still threatening enough and creepy as well. He goes deep into the pysche of character avoiding all conventional means of acting.

Some reviewers are saying this is boring, I disagree. It's not. Raghav's character though, is not very detailed. I wish the film was all about Raman only, it would be more interesting.

Haunting. Stunning. Exhausting

[samthav · 8/10 · 26 June 2016]

Ever since the movie roared at Cannes, I have been waiting impatiently for the movie to hit theaters. I have more faith in Nawazudin Siddiqui than in my own self, and I adore the Anurag Kashyap weaves intricacies to his characters. So, one can imagine how much I had built up this movie in my head.

I love how the story is literally Raman Raghav 2.0 instead of just a replica. The chapterwise narration is fresh and gives your poor heart a heads up about the upcoming story. Each time a new chapter flashes, my heart skipped a beat. The characters are just so mind blowing! You don't sympathize or empathize with a single one of them. But, the depth of their characters will startle you. Who else can think of portraying a character which has more than 50% screen space as a full fledged junkie? The nuances of each character's traits will reassure that it's an Anurag Kashyap movie.

Nawazuddin is one of the finest actors we have currently and this movie proves that we blessed to have him. As a sinister, a serial killer with no motive, he cab haunt you for days. Vicky Kaushal kills it as the drug addicted, frustrated police officer and you will be surprised to see such a young bud pulling off such a complex character. Shobita and all the other characters in the movie stay with you for a while.

A few background scores were turn offs considering there was gruelling, intense scene in screen and the music sounded super lullaby sorts. The title track on the other hand, can be played on loop. So trippy.

What made the movie a great watch for me is the coldness. The story is super straightforward, it hits you hard. The confrontation of Raman and Raghav, sent chills down my spine. After you witness the way Siddiqui expressed the thrill he gets out of murder and this long journey to find his partner in crime Raghav, your brain may be confused for a few hours. I left the hall feeling breathless, thanks to the climax where the legacy of murders are being taken forward for someone.

I am glad that finally we can proudly say that we have a dark cinema genre that's actually well- received. A great watch!

His final scene in the movie, where he explains his motive, while finding his soulmate to carry on his legacy is beautiful, bringing out his acting caliber.

[vinodemails · 7/10 · 6 November 2017]

Anurag Kashyap is back into direction and thankfully in the 'Ugly' mode, than in the mold of the unholy offspring with Karan johar (something Velvet).

The movie begins with an unexpected disclaimer that it is in no way related to Raman Raghav, a psychopathic serial killer from Mumbai in 1960's. That did help reduce the budget which would have been required to make a 'period' film, while the title helped catch enough buzz without the marketing spends.

The review deserves to be written in 2 parts, first about Nawazzudin's performance and then the flaws.

We are first introduced to 'Ramanna' as a voice over a call to the police station, in the form of a murder informant, but the wait is short before Anurag brings him to the screen as a self-confessed serial killer (9 as per his count), story about his first murder being illustrated with his glistening eyes and hand gestures. Even though audience loves the story, police doesn't, and we see him again out on the shady / littered streets of Mumbai amongst a pair of fighting rats and thin cats, sitting smug and comfortable, as if he belongs there. Through multiple chapters guiding the story, the serial killer continues his murdering spree which is done in grotesque manner, not with cold calculation, but with seething anger and passion. The actor aces it in a conversation with a 6 year old child where he explains his twisted logic for the crimes. As an escape artist, we are hardly surprised when he's shown submerged in a sewage drain to escape cops, and emerges to murder the traitor who baited him. The sheer aura of madness he brings to the screen not withstanding his small and lean body profile, scares the audience who keep guessing his next move. The ability to be invisible as a common man in a crowd also helps him. His final scene in the movie, where he explains his motive, while finding his soulmate to carry on his legacy is beautiful, bringing out his acting caliber.

Now, to the flaws. Agreed, this wasn't a biography. But, some background on the lead character would've helped, we get none except some indications about a violent childhood from his sister. Then, we would have needed a start. The first murder, it's motive brushed aside as a vengeance for child labour seemed meek. Also, the development of the character, the reason for becoming a serial killer is pushed under the carpet. The second protagonist, the shades-wearing disco hopping cop (who wears the uniform only for one scene), unnecessarily gets a lot of screen time. Although the director does try to justify this towards the climax, it falls through.

Credit must go to the camera man and the location scouts for showing us a part of Mumbai we aren't proud of, but have to live with. Also, for Anurag for bringing out again that there's a dark side within every common man.

Would recommend this for anyone who loves to watch Nawazzudin perform. For those who hope for another Anurag special, sorry he's way far from his best.

Misguided script and an immature directorial fiasco

[shoreup · 3/10 · 26 June 2016]

Raman Raghav could have been a solid exploration of psychological intricacies but ends up being a shallow montage of clichés pepped up by pretentious classical beats and stylistic gimmicks of distortion sounds, fast cuts and post production gymnastics. Anurag Kashyap has of course managed to better his performance from the dreadful Bombay Velvet but he has nothing to show here except his pale copying of Tarantino type, chapter-ed narrative and school level Freudian psychology.

The story is "based" on the notorious 60s killer Raman Raghav as a modern day Ramannah gets inspired by his hero and starts killing people. The plot apparently revolves around him and his "nemesis" so to say, the cop Raghav, detailing their apparent contradictions but deeper identifications but here ends the movie for all narrative purposes. Cinema is still driven by plot development no matter how much avant garde novices claim the newness of absurd plots. And there is none of that elusive plot here. Vicky Kaushal, an actor with great potential is portrayed as the clichéd conflicted cop whose interaction with evil brings out the devil inside him. He is so full of pain and agony rescued by narcissistic self hate. Nawazuddin Siddiqui of course is the killer who kills for no understandable reason and by the end of the movie, you're still wondering why this serial killer really kills ? The plot was surely designed to show how the people on both sides of the law are not really so different but an immature script has let the film down. Serial killers are not mad, their motives are not absurd and their philosophies not as lame as the film shows. In the end, the killer is almost given his own podium to justify his killing through the purity of its absurd motives. Since he does not kill for money, or by hiding behind the garb of religion or any such material motive, he is the pure, he is the unblemished and he indeed is the lord of death. After seeing the film, it seems that had the makers lifted the story of the real Raman Raghav verbatim, that would have made for a better film. At least it would have had a coherent psychological framework. Here we see the now fashionable, "real world" obsession of independent film makers with slum neighborhoods, cheap laborers slaving away for foreign brands in Mumbai ghettos, African drug peddlers ignorant of English and how our cop is conversant with all the dirt of an urban cosmopolis. But as far as the psychology of the characters is concerned, something which a thriller should explore, there is such a lack of depth here that you feel cheated in the end as an audience.

I am sure intellectuals will come running with justifications about the plot, showcasing it as some complex mix of absurdity and dead-pan humour, an element which is destroying cinema. Borrowed from American art-house cinema, dead-pan is not a lived reality, it's an artificial form of extra smart directorial flourish which should be used sparingly. But Mr Kashyap seems to have overestimated it's narrative value. Its possible he uses it to cajole our brain-dead audiences who, deprived of such comic relief might just slip into a coma but it's a worthwhile question to ask if that coma is the inevitable outcome of anything he does these days. A film marketed like a thriller such as this one creates expectations of pure plot-driven narratives of tightly packed scenes with little space for nonsense but the outcome is a tightly packed collection of nonsense with little space for plot. There is no need to make your characters erupt into agonizing bursts of self-hate if you intend for the characters to do nothing about that realization of their weakness. Of course this is a question of how the director imagines his characters to be. But do we really want to make and see films where characters appear weak and impotent in changing themselves for the better and instead, in absurd ecstasy of Freudian "death-wishes", rush headlong into destruction ?