Raangi - So Bad That It’s Good!

Bharath Vijayakumar

If you are busy with your year-end lists of movies from 2022 and if you are considering the category ‘so bad that it’s good’, then Raangi has released in the nick of time. Few minutes into the film and it becomes very clear that you have two options to choose from. Be annoyed with the film or have some fun with the absurdity on screen. The film luckily makes it easier for you to choose as it keeps throwing unintended jokes one after another. In a way, this is one of the most fun I have had in recent times in a cinema hall.

Raangi keeps jumping timelines and geographies, sometimes within minutes. It is packed with scenes and sometimes leaves no time for you to even fully grasp the absurdities. There is actually quite an interesting story on paper. A journalist who tries to protect her niece from the menace of impersonation on social media, lands up discovering a rebellion happening in a far-off country. And there is even a love that blossoms amidst all the chaos. But on screen, Raangi never gets anything right. The actor playing Aalim makes a bit of an impression but that apart, Raangi comes across as a poorly made spoof at best. The acting all around is laughable. There is no clue if the characters are serious or acting under influence. Some of the crucial decisions taken by the lead character leaves you baffling. And this isn’t even your regular action film with regular baddies. The film talks about war, international politics and what not. The film doesn’t just trivialize these topics but almost ends up ridiculing them.

The audience that I saw the film with was also in a similar frame of mind as myself. Could hear giggling all around. Somebody walking in would have easily mistaken the film for a comedy. And the best part was how everyone actually waited till the end, even as the credits were rolling. This doesn’t even happen to the best of films. Nobody wanted to miss out, just in case there was more fun to be had.

Rating: 1.5/5