Raahu
{{short description|2020 Indian telugu-language film}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Raahu
| image = Raahu poster.jpg
| caption = Film poster
| director = Subbu Vedula
| producer = AVR Swamy
Raja Deverakonda
Sri Shakthi Babji
Subbu Vedula
| writer = Subbu Vedula
| starring = Kriti Garg
AbeRaam Varma
| narrator =
| music = Praveen Lakkaraju
| cinematography = Suresh Ragutua
Eshwar Yellumahanthi
| editing =
| studio = Shakthi Swaroop Movie Creations
| distributor = Suresh Productions
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2020|02|28}}
| runtime = 123 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Raahu is a 2020 Indian Telugu-language thriller film written and directed by debutant Subbu Vedula. The film features Kriti Garg and AbeRaam Varma in the lead roles while Vedula, Satyam Rajesh, Prabhakar, and Raja Ravindra play supporting roles with music composed by Praveen Lakkaraju. The plot revolves around Bhanu (Garg) who suffers conversion disorder, which makes her temporarily blind upon the sight of blood.{{Cite news|title=AbeRaam Varma, Kriti Garg's 'Raahu' trailer released - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/aberaam-varma-kriti-gargs-raahu-trailer-released/articleshow/72072322.cms|website=The Times of India |last1=Nyayapati |first1=Neeshita }}
Plot
Bhanu (kriti garg) suffers from 'conversion disorder' a.k.a. 'hysterical blindness' where she goes temporarily blind under severe stress, in her case triggered upon seeing blood. She must fight her enemy who inflicts more bloodshed than she ever imagined.
Cast
- Kriti Garg as Bhanu
- AbeRaam Varma as Sesh
- Prabhakar as Nagaraju
- Subbu Vedula as the police commissioner
- Satyam Rajesh
- Raja Ravindra
- Sahasra as child Bhanu
Production
After returning from the US, Vedula worked on the project for over two-and-a-half years.{{Cite news|last=Dundoo|first=Sangeetha Devi|date=February 24, 2020|title='Raahu', a concept thriller with an intriguing premise|newspaper=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/debut-director-subbu-vedula-is-confident-about-his-telugu-concept-thriller-raahu/article30903197.ece|via=www.thehindu.com}}{{Cite web|date=February 26, 2020|title=Raahu is a thriller!|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/250220/raahu-is-a-thriller.html|website=Deccan Chronicle}} Vedula cast AbeRaam Varma in the lead role after seeing his performance in Manu (2018).{{Cite news|title=Raahu will be a genre-bending film that will thrill the viewers: AbeRaam - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/raahu-will-be-a-genre-bending-film-that-will-thrill-the-viewers-aberaam/articleshow/74268661.cms|website=The Times of India}}
Raahu was majorly filmed in Hyderabad, while some sequences are shot in Sikkim.{{Cite web|last=Pecheti|first=Prakash|title=Into unchartered territory|url=https://telanganatoday.com/subbu-vedula-a-techie-turned-filmmaker|access-date=2020-10-17|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US}}
Soundtrack
{{expand section|date=October 2020}}
The album's single "Emo Emo Emo" with the vocals of Sid Sriram was received positively by the audience.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/music/sid-sriram-croons-for-the-stunning-emo-emo-emo-from-raahu/articleshow/71836761.cms|title=Sid Sriram croons for the stunning 'Emo Emo Emo' from 'Raahu' - Times of India|website=The Times of India |last1=Nyayapati |first1=Neeshita }}
Release and reception
Raahu was released on 28 February 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/telugu-films-releasing-this-friday-hit-local-boy-raahu-and-kanulu-kanulanu-dochayante/photostory/74333170.cms|title=Telugu films releasing this Friday: HIT, Local Boy, Raahu and Kanulu Kanulanu Dochayante|date=February 28, 2020|website=The Times of India}}
Sangeetha Devi writing for The Hindu, termed the film as an "indie-spirited venture" and an "appreciable first attempt".{{Cite news|last=Dundoo|first=Sangeetha Devi|date=February 28, 2020|title='Raahu' movie review: Kriti Garg stands out in this thriller by debut director Subbu Vedula|newspaper=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/raahu-review-kriti-garg-stands-out-in-this-thriller-by-debut-director-subbu-vedula/article30941382.ece|via=www.thehindu.com}} Prakash Pecheti of Telangana Today wrote that "Raahu is a honest attempt from newbie Subbu Vedula to tell a story of a different subject which was never touched by Telugu directors."{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatoday.com/raahu-a-suspense-thriller-that-keeps-the-audience-glued-to-their-seats|title=Raahu: A Suspense thriller that keeps the audience glued to their seats|first=Prakash|last=Pecheti|website=Telangana Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019113745/https://telanganatoday.com/raahu-a-suspense-thriller-that-keeps-the-audience-glued-to-their-seats|archive-date=October 19, 2020}}
The Times of India rated the film 2 out of 5 stars. While appreciating the execution and production values, the review stated "Director Subbu should've worked a little more on the way he narrated the story because he squandered away a good opportunity. Raahu is sincere and hard work that unfortunately goes in vain!"{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/raahu/movie-review/74389215.cms|title=Raahu Movie Review: Fails to thrill!|newspaper=The Times of India }}
Santosh Yamsani from Sakshi wrote that though the director's attempt at a novel concept is appreciable, he was unable turn it into a strong screenplay.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-28|title='రాహు' మూవీ రివ్యూ|url=https://www.sakshi.com/news/movies/raahu-telugu-movie-review-and-rating-1267002|access-date=2020-10-17|website=Sakshi|language=te}}
References
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