Rudrangi Review

Rudrangi tells an old-school story of feudal strife in rural Telangana during the post-Independence era. Dora Bhimrao Deshmukh (Jagapathi Babu) runs an oppressive regime in the village of Rudrangi. A lecherous man, he covets women with the predatory thrill of a lion devouring a lamb. When one of these "lambs" puts up a fight and resists, it sparks a movement. And the people of Rudrangi finally decide that they can take no more.

Rudrangi is not only an operatic tale of power and lust but also an illuminating look at a particular flavour of feudalism in Telangana - the unique customs and rituals. Villagers address Bhimrao as their master ("I am your humble servant"). They scurry in fear when he growls, believing themselves to be lesser beings compared to the "dora". And when he speaks to them in English, they gaze in awe, calling it the "language of the gods".

Director and writer Ajay Samrat brings naked clarity to the characters and their motives. Bhimrao is a Dionysian man. He sucks on his hookah and listens to the Opera. More fascinating is his second wife, a stunning, feisty woman named Jwalabai (Mamata Mohandas). In a sensational scene between these two characters, Jwalabai saves Bhimrao from assassins only to be later rejected by him in bed for being too strong and free-spirited. Women, he says, must be meek and helpless - that is Bhim's idea of feminity.

This intellectual honesty is also reflected in the action sequences. We see that fights between the oppressor and the oppressed are just as much psychological as they are physical. The "hero" of the story, a young orphan named Mallesh (Ashish Gandhi), who grows up in Bhimrao's palace, don't simply charge the gates and defeat the villain. He must first find the inner strength to stand up for himself. Given that most of our contemporary heroes are rarely truly powerless, Mallesh's vulnerability and indecision are bold choices that ultimately pay off.

However, a significant flaw in Rudrangi is to do with Bhimrao's exaggerated mannerisms. He sees himself as a lion-like figure, but the constant growling and exaggerated antics of his character feel cringeworthy, giving the movie a B-grade quality. Jagapathi Babu doesn't hold back, but he seems the wrong choice to play Bhimrao, coming across as unintentionally funny and off-putting. On the other hand, Mamata Mohandas delivers a spectacular performance as the dorasani. Her confident presence and strong voice make her portrayal leave a lasting impression.

Rudrangi may be unfairly judged as a loud, vulgar and outdated story, but it offers more than meets the eye. The clarity of its storytelling, its well-developed characters and its polished costumes make it a mesmerizing watch - provided you can get past its crass protagonist.