Radheyaa movie review: Krishna Ajai Rao in vigilante serial killer with a god complex mode in this thriller

Radheyaa movie story: Radheyaa (Krishna Ajai Rao) walks into a police station and confesses to 36 gruesome murders; cases that had been baffling cops. His confession is all it takes for the court to grant him what he seeks – the death sentence. But before his dying breath, Radheyaa wants the world to know the motivations behind his actions and that he’s actually done society a favour by getting rid of them. To tell this story, he seeks out a crime reporter (Dhanya Balakrishna), which, as it turns out, was not a random choice.

Radheyaa movie review: An actor breaking free from a stereotype is a welcome move, provided, he/she commits to it wholly. Krishna Ajai Rao says that he’s yearned to play a character with grey shades since the start of his career, but got stuck with a lover boy image, instead, for two decades. Radheyaa , in which he played a serial killer, was just what he’d been looking for, he’d said. And yet, his role is designed to have other characters and audiences give him a stamp of approval. The heinous crimes of his victims far outweigh the violence he unleashes. It’s a justified end, apparently.

Between writer-director Veda Guru and Ajai, they decided that having the actor play a vigilante, albeit one who won’t hide behind a mask, would be the best course of action. Ajai gets what he wanted, without really affecting his Mr Goody Two Shoes streak. He’s even given a happily-ever-after in the afterlife. Sigh!

Also read: Krishna Ajai Rao on Radheyaa: I wanted to play a bad guy right from my first film, but got the chance only now 

Ajai as a ‘psycho’ looks like he’d been smoking something recreational, rather than menacing, while the rest of the cast, including Aravind Rao, Sonal Monteiro and Giri Shivanna have nothing much to do. Dhanya was meant to be a crime reporter, but instead of remaining impartial and get Radheyaa to tell his story, she’s in therapist mode, forcing him to face his inner demons, right from his childhood trauma to the death of his unborn child. But wait, he’s already communing with a gumma! I’ve said enough.

Radheyaa movie verdict: Radheyaa is a vigilante tale meant to keep the protagonist high up on a pedestal. Don’t be fooled by the claims of it being a serial killer’s story.