With 'Ananthabhadram' fame writer Sunil Parameswaran penning the story and Suresh Gopi touted to bring in the thrills, the packaging was quite alluring. But neither is 'Rudrasimhasanam' a Suresh Gopi movie nor is it a thriller. Also, Sunil Parameswaran has not been able to recreate his previous magic with this one.
A movie spanning nearly two and a half hours, 'Rudrasimhasanam' boils up all those ingredients that a typical ancestral family based thriller always offer. Beautiful women clad in traditional attire, superstitions, an old ancestral house where mysterious elements rest, unusual occurrences, other worldly encounters, and of course a powerful poojari. 'Rudrasimhasanam' in this way caters to this cliched formula.
Cliche can work if the said elements are presented in an interesting manner. In 'Rudrasimhasanam', that too goes for a toss as cliches goes from boring to downright insipid. As the movie progresses, one wonders where Suresh Gopi is. His entry is presented appealingly, but there is less of him in the movie. Suresh Gopi fans are in for a disappointment as his role in it seems more like an extended cameo than an full blown heroic avatar as projected by the makers.
Its a downward spiral throughout and there is not much to keep the viewers engrossed. Shibu Gangadharan's 'Praise the Lord' could not create much of an impact, nor does 'Rudrasimhasanam'. Though the movie had the potential, a failed story and making, was its doom.
There is no point in talking about the technicalities of the movie as overall, the attempt is rather pitiable considering the interesting cast consisting of Suresh Gopi, Kaniha, Nikki Galrani and Swetha Menon. With such a powerful female cast, one would expect it to at least be respectful in portraying them. But along the way, we find sensuous and some rather provoking dialogues marring the narrative.
'Rudrasimhasam' could have been differently made. The movie does not offer much and family audience especially wouldn't be able to digest parts of it.
Rating - 1/5
