Shivrajkumar in ‘Bhairathi Ranagal’ Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Some characters are created for certain actors. Shivrajkumar was brilliant as the crime boss of the fictional village Ronapura plain dressThe director of that film, Northan, has now brought Bhairathi Ranagal, Prequel to the 2017 blockbuster, Which is a celebration of the hit character.

More of a star vehicle than a director’s film, Bhairathi Ranagal begins with an intriguing origin story of the titular character. Ranagal gets a glimpse of his dangerous attitude when we first see him as a 12-year-old boy. Unlike his father, who follows the rules, Ranagal guarantees quick justice.

Northan’s direction is extremely subtle as he unfolds the story of Ronapura, a village deprived of basic facilities. We see Ranagal become a good lawyer, and Shivarajkumar brings out this dark side of the character.

Even as the titular gangster, the star does justice to the aura that we have associated with the character. She has very few lines to say, but her body language conveys fear. Northen uses the actor’s fiery eyes to make people understand why the character is a dreaded gangster.

However, despite these positives, the first half is marred by dullness as the film is emotionally distant from its audience. The general story offers few surprises, and the film suffers from inconsistent pacing.

After a long episode of factory workers fighting for the union against corporate sharks and an unnecessarily violent scene involving actor Shabir Kallarakkal, we accept that the fate of the film depends on what happens after Ranagal turns gangster. What happens?

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A scene from ‘Bhairathi Ranagal’. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Northen reserves all his ideas for his protagonist and fails to populate the story with interesting characters. Rukmini Vasanth plays the typical commercial cinema female lead, who is impressed by the hero’s noble ways but has nothing more to add to the story.

The film picks up its pace with an exciting interval block. Bhairathi Ranagal It has been a treat for fans as we see Shivarajkumar roll back the years, beautifully blending his old performances with his charming screen presence. The punchy dialogues are fresh and in line with Ranagal’s all-conquering reputation.

But beyond fan service, Bhairathi Ranagal lacks depth Mufti. In that film, Northerner brilliantly balanced two important characters (played by Sri Murali and Shivarajkumar) and scripted an engaging crime saga with meaty conflicts.

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The prequel takes the usual route, covering tough subjects like illegal mining and land scams. The jaw-dropping climax involving a toothless villain (Rahul Bose) leaves you in a void.

However, thanks to its high moments, Bhairathi Ranagal It is a film made for the big screen. Northans play to Shivarajkumar’s strengths and fans have enough reason to celebrate.

Bhairathi Ranagal is currently running in theaters