Aptharakshaka Movie Review
(3/5) She’s Back!
Those cadaverous eyes are back; and so is the doomed painting of that devilish dancer. Nagavalli, who set of records of sorts in her previous outing, is back with her set of thrills and frills; and this time around, she has one gigantic graphical snake for company to scare the dickens out of you. Although the fear factor may not work its charm, you will be reasonably entertained throughout the film.
And of course, the film is a tribute to one of the finest actors we have witnessed in the history of Kannada cinema, Dr. Vishnuvardhan. The legendary artist makes his presence felt in every frame of this film and makes you very, very sad that we will not be seeing him any more on screen or off the screen. This great actor, who until now played a Good Samaritan in most of his films, gets to display his talent in a negative role in Aptharakshaka (he plays a double role) and believe me, it’s an absolute treat to watch him in that role.
What an actor! What a loss!
While Apthamitra had a perfect mix of psychology and paranormal activities, Nagavalli seemingly outweighs the power of reasoning in her second outing. Emboldened by the success of her first outing, she does much more than merely frightening the people for the kick of it. So you have a cash starved painter committing suicide on the very day he gets hold of this cursed painting; you have a snake charmer sucked into the traps of death when he comes face to face with this snake; and you have a bharatanatyam dancer being run over by a lorry the moment he lays his hand on the painting.
The story has loads of spooky overtones used liberally all over the film. Like in the first part, the painting of Nagavalli brings bad omens to a house where it lands up. Strangely, Nagavalli seems to have a penchant for families with similar types of characters! So here is Ramesh Bhat, filling in for the character from Apthamitra and worrying constantly about his grown up daughters. We have Komal playing a sissy sidekick to Dr. Vishnuvardhan (instead of Dwarakish), and we have Bhavana loitering around eerily in the creepy mansion for no apparent reason, trying to fill in the shoes of Prema.
Enter Avinash the witch doctor and Dr. Vishnuvardhan, the world famous psychologist to solve the mystery behind the house which has lots of hot babes with loads of problem. Apart from Bhavana, there is Laxmi Gopalaswamy who partly fills in for Saundarya’s madness; there is Sandhya, playing a damn young research scholar, and there is another girl, playing Komal’s love interest.
Coming back to Vishnu sir and Avinash, more than their characters, it’s the acting of these two fine artists that makes the film worth watching. Avinash is at his thundering best (and for his age, he has an extremely well toned physique!) and Vishnu sir is as usual, exemplary. The dual of wits continues between these two, and that’s what takes the film to the next level, rather than the special effects and the 30 feet snake.
The cinematography from P. K. H Das and editing from Suresh Urs is just what the witch doctor ordered. Guru Kiran’s music is above average, and the special effects do not have much of an effect.
Watch it for Dr. Vishnuvardhan.
-Movie Review By Raju Shanbhag
this movie realy unforgetable
vishnu sir, v r missing u so much and 1 more thing he is greatest of all , government should give karnataka ratna . . . . . as soon as possible. . . .
vishnu vardan is grate i miss vishnvu (shimha} apptharaksha iam lock that 10 time vishnu tipp accocter not avlabell god blus shimha and i love shimha
finished wathing 3rd time just now !!
its playing in 16 theaters in bangalore and not 28 theaters as told by some1 here – lets post facts and not some superlative things which are far from facts.
its playing in 59 originally released theaters and has added 17 new theaters from last week
25 DAYS in almost all theaters it’s released…. Bangalore alone this movie is running in 28 theaters…. It’s HOWLA HOWLA…. and WOW WOW !!!!… All fine, but we miss our charming,lovely superstar Dr.Vishnu.
He is absolutely sensational actor with charm,smartness and terrific acting talents.
SIMHA matte hutti ba….. Ille.. ide mannale hutti ba..
Kannada industry needs U….We R gone into a shell with this LOVELY HERO
4 crorers collected by aptharakshaka in 3 weeks.It’s a Kannada film industry record !!!. Lion roar has become more and even more after his death.
Vishnu Dada has proved in life or life after death he is and will “be the only SUPERSTAR”.
No star of kannada film industry was as SMART as he was leave alone doing acting the way DADA did.
SIMHADRISIMHA-KARUNAMAYEE-SAHASASIMHA Dr.Vishnuvardhan chirayuvagali.
Jai Karnataka,Jai Dr.VISHNUVARDHAN
This is definitely one of the best Kannada movies I watched in recent times. Dr Vishnuvardhan is exemplary. Yes, probably the characters behave similar to those in the prequel , but they dont take much screen time. How many times does Ramesh Bhat come on the screen? And where does Nagavalli outweighs the power of reasoning? All the spooky incidents are explained properly during the course of the movie.
What I liked best in the movie was never for an instant it became boring. It managed to hold the attention till the very last scene.
ROCKING FILM
Movie is rocking. It will be a never before hit for sure.
We are waiting for the film Aptarakshaka i live in USA Austin, tx i am planning to come india this summer vecations definitely i can watch the movie.
I dont know why people dont have open heart to accept the fact that it is one of the brilliant movies made in recent times with giveing a good run for money to all other language movies despite the budgetry concerns we have for kannada movies……….Hats off to DR Vishnuji and director P.vasu for giveing a rocking film
Mydear @itsme:i don’t no ur feelings but i like 2 tell 1 thing apthamitra / chandramuki if u watchit tell wich 1 better also don’t compare any movie better watch 1 more time ok
Before Aapthamitra – soundarya, Before Aaptharakshaka -Vishnuvardhan, this is the discussion among the people. This may be true. If we go through the films released after Aapthamitra (2004) none other Vishnu films were successful. I watch Vishnu films from Nagarahavu. In the recent years he could not give a big hit. Any how, some people have taken the undue advantage of Vishnu’s death and released ‘Master’ and Aaptharakshaka in a row. Now, with a big success this will be tribute to Vishnuvardhan.
Dear Manjunath ..i agree Apthrakshaka is hit…film is running full house….i happy for that ….but the point what i am talking here is y creativity in our industry is so dry….if u think properly and analyse the dedication of directors of that era from picking up hero,heroin,selcting songs and locations for that …they r legends …direcftor may fill theaters by showing gimicks but winning hearts by their art is different matter …and manjunath hope u understand my concern …
@itsme :boss aptarakshaka biggest hit for this year so don’t Compare (Connecting ) Puttanna / vasu like u & me
thanks for u r comments KFI and Christ …here i m not critisising the film but the attitude of director..kannada film audience are not fools to enjoy the entertainment which is logiccaly not true and by accepting the the flaws of film please do not announce that we are dumb audience to enjoy what even directors show case…let us buildup ourkannda films to the grades in which it was in early 60-80s the marvelous films ..showcasing the art of direction ..healthy critisisim and awareness towards things defenatly alarm our directors and they defenately try to produce Best films then just producing average films….thinking that “anyhow people will watch no matter how story and acting is done”….no… let us not build up this attitude in director……and i think u understand differnce between Nagarahavu(putanna) and Aptharakshaka(Vasu) for that instance ..as Dr.Vishnuvardhan Fans…
@itsme
Bisi Bisi BeLe saaralli neenu Karibevu Soppiddange – wont care for ur cheeky comments ….
out of 100 if 1 says its not good ..wont matter ..Avinash character is never shown as weak person…..it was to highlight Vishnu – anyway in the movie its avinash belief itself wins and not vishnu;s .,,,,,.
Comments by “Its me” seems to be valid. Film had cheesy elements… But still, watching this movie was super fun…. “Howlaa howlaaa”…..
Aptharakshaka failed to reach my expectation as i was disappointed with utalization of experienced actor Avinash as his role was shown bit pale ..as it would have much more effective …and bhavana’s efficency was not even noticed …i remember her acting in chandramukhi prannasakhi ..she would have done nagavllii acting in a better way than sandhya as her immaturity was not suiting nagavalli character …
Director Vasu can u answer these question please…..120 year old man is wearing shoe….his hand nails were grown what abt his foot?…a jipsy can cross shathabdi train…all women in house were decked with unneccesary exposure….why anaconda was needed in the script …why avinash character was given importance….y story needs overacting of heroine .more sensible enterence of hero would have added weight to story rather showing him in film city…
Please..Apthrakshaka was example for poor quality direction and taking audience for granted as they dont have sense to judge film by quality …and bear unnecessary gimicks.Sorry to say this ..this film neither have head nor the soul to hold the audence in seat ….here i am talking abt director not Dr.Vishnuwardahan….Director Vasu would have done more homework on script so that it would have doen magic on audience as it happend with Apathamithra..
poor settings,poor dress sense of director…unnecessary casting..unnecessary gimics…overactings..poor screen play …i saw only becoz this is Vishnuvardhan’s last film ..otherwise this film is waste of u r time ….
It will be one of the biggest block buster in kannada film industry. we the citizens of karnataka have to thanks Dr.VISHNUVARDHAN for acting in this film.
hats of to Mr.P Vasu .
Everybody should watch Namma ”AAPTHARAKSHAKA” …………….Otherwise u will miss one of the greate of kannada film industry ever made………………i wish Dr. Vishnuvardhan anna should have been alive to see the huge success of his best movie ever , breaking all records………….
Vishnu Ji, You are so handsome and so smart.Your acting has moved many hearts.Why did you move out of us so soon??
Vishnu,pls. come back.Matthe banne….. Namage neevu beku…. Neeve namma “APTHARAKSHAKA”. Namage innu yaaru illa.
This movie will draw min 03 Crores population of Karnataka to the Thetaers.Biggest hit already as declared by the trade pundits
Mr.Reviewer, how can you rate this 3/5???? In this very same portal a movie like ‘Junglee’ was rated 3.5/5… for wat?? jus because of some below the waist dialogues??? you think ‘Junglee’ was better than ‘Aptharakshaka’?? brush up your reviewing skills…
APTHARAKSHAKA is the biggest hit in recent times and has got such a opening which is “UNHEARD” of in Kannada film industry.
Dr.Vishnu is at His best specially in Howla,Howla role..
Fans frenzy could be felt across… In Prasanna Theater alone in Vijaynagar-Blr Fans have put “2000 GARLANDS” which is a RECORD !!!
VISHNU is VISHNU, There can never be another VISHNU.
Btw. read Bangalore times of 19th Feb’2010 which said a Kannada movie ticket running in the black market at Rs.3000/=, Can U beat this ??? Btw. the highest was MAGADHEERA at Rs.800/= and SIVAJI (Rajini starrer) at Rs.1000/= Now APTHARAKSHAKA has broken all records.
FANS have put Garlands worth Lakhs of rupees across in all theaters.
Vishnu’s charisma remains irrespective of wherever he is.
SUPERSTAR of all times is sad to note “physically” not with us.
3/5 ??????/
come on sir – its not fair …..this kindaa movie we get it once in two or three decades .easily it can be rated as one of the best movies in the History of KFI-this will be and should be the biggest grosser movie of all times ….watched it today …gonna catch it atleast 3 more times …
Shanbhag can give 4 stars for Hindi films but not this.
And this post will not be allowed too…LOL
I watched the movie today great entertainer. HOWLA HOWLA
Superb acting by DR Vishnuvardhan.. We will miss him a lot.. First half of the movie is excellent with nice comedy by Komal and Vishnu Sumne tamashege 
.. Second half bit of flashback but more of predictable plot misses the twists from Apthamitra.. Anyway i enjoyed a lot watching this movie. Hats off to Vishnuvardhan. Don’t miss this movie i would say. My rating 4/5
Adbhutha cinema..
Enjoyed it fully.. Sahasasimha minching in cruel king’s role.. Different role than what we have seen him all these years.. i would rate 4 out of 5..
What a movie, wat a performance from Sahasa Simha sir and Avinash… they are the heart and soul of the movie… Climax could have been better… Movie definitely deserves not less than 4… i would definitely watch another 2 or 3 times..
movie is good i want all 6 (six) crore kannadigas to watch at least one time, in this way let them pray last tribute to Dr.vishnuji.
Suprb Movie don’t misssss,Absolutely i will watch 1more time gud movie,
super movie… dont miss it
i would give 4/5
Shenoy has gone out of his mind…3/5???
This film deserves 10/5!!!
Movie tumba chennagide.. Sahasa simhanige nanna namanagalu..Neevu movie yalli maadida aaaneyannu poornagolisabekendu nammella kannadigara aase..Chaamundi Taayaane!
I wud surely rate it 4.5/5… Awesome movie..Planning to watch one more time
Super movie, olle entertainment….. Vishnu irbekittu
Wow i watched the movie today,really Dr. Vishnuvardhan is one of the super star of Kannada film industry and i am very sad that we have lost him.. The movie entertains you till end, but the climax could have been better… Don’t wait go for it…
- Sonali joshi (www.KannadaWood.com)