Review: Harikatha - Intriguing but Passive

 

Movie: Harikatha
Rating:2.5/5

Cast: Rajendra Prasad, Sriram, Divi Vadthya, Ambati Arjun, Suman Jha, and Others

Director: Maggi

Produced By: People Media Factory

Streaming On: Disney+ Hotstar

Story:

After a Naxal attack claims the life of his wife Anjali, police officer Virat finds himself raising their daughter on his own. Adding to the troubles, he is diagnosed with a critical condition that gives him a maximum of two years to live. He relocates to a village in Araku and lives with his friend Bharat's family. A series of killings haunt the village, and now another tragedy hits Virat's home. Virat tries to know the reason behind it and he suspects the Rangachary troupe in the village. What twists Virat gets to know in this process forms the rest of the story. 

Performances:

Rajendra Prasad embodies a theatrical veteran and tries his best to make the character work. As usual, he excels in emotional scenes. Sriram was good as a fighting father as well as an investigative officer. Divi Vadthya, Ambati Arjun, and Suman Jha also perform well within their limits.

What worked for the Series:

The main theme of connecting the Lord Vishnu Avatars from the stage play to murders seems interesting. The beginning moments raise the excitement. Some dialogues in crucial scenes work well along with a good reason for the murder of the hero's friend. Also, technically the film is sound. 

What did not work for the Series:

The links connecting the murders to the criminals are routine, and one can easily guess their intentions and backstory. The treatment lacks the required surprises and compelling moments, making it feel like everything is given out too easily. The backstory fails to offer anything new and over-the-top nature does not help either. Despite both the lead characters having strong emotional arcs, the effect does not come as expected and one feels that more care should have been taken in establishing the world of the main characters.

Harikatha Web Series Review and Verdict:

Harikatha appears to be an ordinary and standard tale of revenge. The main theme is fascinating, and the suspense elements generate some curiosity. However, the backstory is pretty routine. Overall, the series turns out to be an ambitious but underwhelming experience.