Let me tell you, Rudhiram isn’t an easy watch. Written and directed by Jisho Lon Antony, the journey through this psychological thriller starring Aparna Balamurali and Raj B. Shetty is dark and uneasy. It’s intense, disturbing, and, at times, hard to sit through—but it’s also captivating in its own way.
The movie pushes us right into an alarming situation. Swathi (Aparna Balamurali) is trapped in a room, scared and helpless, with her dog Piku, whose performance is noteworthy. It doesn’t take us long to realize how twisted things are when a masked man creeps around. At the same time, we meet Dr Mathew Rosy (Raj B. Shetty), a well-respected physician who seems to be a perfect gentleman to everyone around him. However, as the movie goes on, it becomes evident that underneath his charming exterior, Mathew is hiding something very dire.
At first, you’re left wondering why Mathew is doing all of this and what his ultimate goal is. Without giving anything away, let’s just say that the reasons behind his actions are disclosed later on, and, although important to the story, they’re not exactly unconventional. You’ll likely find it quite predictable if you’ve watched a lot of thrillers.
The most notable part in Rudhiram is the performances. Aparna Balamurali is excellent as Swathi. You feel every bit of her fear, frustration, and determination while also impressing in the well-executed action sequences. Raj B. Shetty, as Mathew, is out-and-out chilling. Something about the way he alternates between being soft-spoken and threatening bothers you.
The film also does a great job with its technicalities. Jisho’s direction and cinematography by Sajad Kaaku are supreme, particularly the way confined spaces and forests are shot to give you a sense of claustrophobia. The music? Good enough. It maintains the tension throughout, ensuring you don't fully de-stress, adding intensity and weight to the scenes when needed.
But let’s not sugarcoat it: this movie is unsettling. Some viewers may find the scenes of torture a bit too much. It’s not the kind of film you “enjoy”—it’s the kind you endure, and “maybe” that’s what makes it work for some.
In addition to not just being perfect, it doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the table. The idea of a psychopath with a traumatic past driving his actions? We’ve seen that before. But what works here is the way the plot develops and the performers’ ability to really live in their roles. What stands out, though, is the performers’ ability to really live in their roles, bringing depth to an otherwise routine plot.
Simply put, don’t go expecting twists you’ve never seen before, and the film subsequently drops us into a cliché confusion of whether to sympathise with or despise the villain. If nothing else, Aparna Balamurali and Raj B. Shetty are enough reasons to give it a watch.
Film: Rudhiram
Director: Jisho Lon Antony
Cast: Raj B. Shetty, Aparna Balamurali, Kumaradas T.N, Ramesh Varma, P.K Babu
Rating: 3.5/5