May 17, 2011 10:34 AM
15705 Views
(Updated May 17, 2011 04:56 PM)
Now it’s a well-known fact that it’s the small films that provide maximum satisfaction. However, it’s pleasantly surprising to know that such flicks are now making maximum noise too. Ragini MMS is one such film which is shot in shoestring budget, has 2 new faces but the promotion (and the controversies) has made it the most talked-about film in recent times. Thankfully, Ragini MMS delivers what it promised-lethal combo of sex and horror. However, the makers also claimed (like all other horror film directors do) that it’s the most horrifying film till date and called it the scariest date flick ever! However, Ragini MMS is scary but in no way ‘scariest’! Nevertheless, if you are a fan of horror genre, it would still give you the chills!
The story of the movie: Uday (Raj Kumar Yadav) takes his girlfriend Ragini (Kainaz Motivala) to a friend’s farmhouse on the outskirts of Mumbai to have a dirty weekend. However, Uday also has another purpose for taking Ragini to the mansion. As soon as they reach the place, they start getting an eerie feel and soon realize that there’s somebody else in the house who is watching them.
You can like or hate Ragini MMS but you can’t deny the fact that it wasn’t an easy film to execute by any standards. This is especially for the cinematographer as the cameras are fixed at certain strategic points. Almost 75% of the film is shot by these cameras and it was a challenge as the cameras should be able to capture the horror mood and feel and also give the viewers the chills at the right time. And the cinematography succeeds very well in doing so. Although we had seen similar filmmaking technique in Paranormal Activity and Cloverfield (and also in Ekta Kapoor’s Love Sex Aur Dhokha), it is indeed an achievement for the lensman!
Due to the unconventional filmmaking, the flick engrosses you from the first scene itself. There’s not much horror in the first 20 minutes. Proceedings spice up when one of the couple’s friends gets locked in the haunted room. Film reaches another high when Uday gets the first indication of the ghost’s presence. The intermission point comes at the perfect moment (that too in just 40 minutes). The second half too engrosses and gets more nail biting as it progresses. The climax was certainly the highpoint but one major sequence at this point was neither scary nor funny and turned out to be quite tacky and unimaginative. Also, the epilogue in the finale moves at a rapid pace and doesn’t give the viewer sufficient time to read and comprehend it fully. Wonder why they didn’t allow it to stay on screen for 10 more seconds.
The film succeeds because of the realistic depiction of characters and also their performance. Here, the female lead has more screen exposure than the male and Kainaz Motivala does full justice to it. After playing inconsequential roles in Wake Up Sid and Paathshaala, she’s lucky to have bagged such a terrific role, which newcomers badly crave for. Moreover, Kainaz has the beauty, innocence and also the sex appeal which makes her perfect for the character. Ragini MMS is sure going to be the big turning point in her career!
Raj Kumar Yadav (who was seen in the 2nd story of Love Sex Aur Dhokha wherein he played slightly similar role) also gives a terrific performance. Watch out the way he’s scared out of his wits when the ghost bangs his head-he was too good! Although his looks and Delhi accent remind you of Ranveer Singh’s Band Baaja Baaraat act, one can’t deny that the actor is surely here to stay. The film also has few more actors but the friends of couple (Rajat and Jenice) leave a huge mark.
Ragini MMS ought to be a songless film but the director has neatly placed the songs and made it a part of narrative. Background score (Faizan-Agnel) was flawless. So was the sound design (Jitendra Chaudhary). The sound makers have associated with the ghost terrifies you! And Tribhuvan Babu’s cinematography as mentioned before was outstanding and one of the highpoints of the film.
Story (Pawan Kirpalani, Vaspar Dandiwala) has been slightly inspired from real-life events and was a good comb of truth and fiction. Screenplay and direction too was topnotch but one sequence towards the finale ruined the film to an extent. Nevertheless, a fabulous debut by director Pawan indeed!
Some of the best scenes:
Uday try to cheer up Ragini while on their way to farmhouse
Uday-Ragini’s friend gets locked in the haunted room
Ghost’s first attack on Uday
The intermission point
Ragini’s first experience of the ghost’s wrath
Ragini begs Uday not to leave her alone
Ragini trying her best to open the handcuff
Ragini escapes from the house
On the whole, Ragini MMS is a neat horror flick that delivers 100 minutes of thrill and horror. Although it falters in some scenes and is not ‘scariest’ by any standards, it does give a scare at certain points and nicely amalgamates sex and horror. Watch it if horror films interest you!
My rating- out of 5!
