Discription
Ranathanthra (2016)
Summary:
Goutham, an insurance agent, falls in love with the rich and independent Swarna. After overcoming initial opposition, they get married and go to a secluded farmhouse for their honeymoon. Their romantic getaway quickly turns into a terrifying ordeal as they are haunted by what they believe to be a ghost. The film's second half unravels a shocking secret, revealing that the "supernatural" events are part of a sinister revenge plot orchestrated by a man who was wronged by a group of "modern" women, including Swarna. The film ultimately delivers a controversial message on morality and tradition.
Detailed Plot (Movie Story):
The film has a distinctive two-part structure. The first half is a typical romantic story centered on Goutham (Vijay Raghavendra), an insurance agent, and Swarna (Haripriya), a modern and rich young woman. Their romance faces all the standard cinematic hurdles, including Swarna's disapproving father who tries to separate them. However, their love triumphs, and they elope to get married.
For their honeymoon, they choose a remote farmhouse located on an isolated island off the coast of Karnataka. This is where the film's genre shifts dramatically from a romantic drama to a horror-thriller.
Soon after arriving at the farmhouse, the couple begins to experience a series of strange and terrifying events. They are haunted by what appears to be a ghost, creating an atmosphere of fear and suspense. The eerie occurrences, including the heroine wandering alone and being targeted by a malevolent force, are designed to make the audience believe they are watching a supernatural thriller.
In the second half of the film, the plot takes a major turn as the true nature of the events is revealed. The "paranormal" experiences are not caused by a ghost but are part of a meticulously planned revenge plot.
A flashback reveals that a group of five college-going girls, one of whom is Swarna, had severely humiliated a young man. They had forced him to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes against his will. In the ensuing chaos, the man slips and falls, hitting his head. Assuming he is dead, the girls panic and dump his body in a suitcase off a cliff. However, the man, who was only unconscious, survives.
He is consumed by a thirst for revenge, not just for the attempt on his life but also for what he perceives as a violation of traditional values. He believes that "modern" women who drink and smoke are "culture criminals" and must be punished. He systematically hunts down and kills the women one by one, and Swarna and her husband are his next targets.
The climax sees Goutham having to protect Swarna from the vengeful man. The film concludes with an elaborate and controversial monologue from the antagonist, where he delivers a sermon on traditional Indian culture and the perceived moral decay of modern women. The film ends on this preachy note, with a song celebrating Indian culture playing as the credits roll.
Cast:
-
Vijay Raghavendra as Goutham
-
Haripriya as Swarna
-
Meghna Naidu (special appearance)
-
Sathyajith
-
Bhajarangi Madhu
-
Vishal Hedge
Crew:
-
Director: Aadhiram
-
Writer: Aadhiram
-
Producer: S. Ramesh
-
Music Director: M. Karthik
-
Cinematography: Rajesh K. Narayan
-
Editor: Srikanth
Release Date:
Ranathanthra was released on March 18, 2016.
