The movie poster.
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Movie review: Raakaasa
Cast: Sangeeth Sobhan, Nayan Sarika, Vennela Kishore, Brahmaji, Tanikella Bharani and Ashish Vidyarthi
Director: Manasa Sharma
Rating: 7.5/10
TELUGU horror comedies have never particularly gained massive attention or recognition mainly because most of the humour lies in being slapstick, or from cinema of prior decades (nostalgic yes, but not for this generation of cinema lovers). However, the trailer of Raakasa showed something different compared to its predecessors of the same genre.
Raakaasa is set in the cursed village of Raakavaram, where a demonic entity demands a human sacrifice every 500 years, its return signaled by a series of ominous signs that the villagers fearfully watch for.
Fast forward to current times – Veerababu “Veeru” (Sangeeth Sobhan), who returns from the US to marry his longtime lover Sukhanya, is shattered when she marries someone else. Drunk and heartbroken, he wanders near the haunted castle and wakes up wearing the shirt of Somu, a villager who recently disappeared.
The village panchayat accuses Veeru and prevents him from leaving the village until Somu is found. Only Subbalakshmi (Nayan Sarika) supports him. She reveals that an old villager, Gangayya Thatha, saw Somu on the night he vanished. Soon, all three warnings of Raakaasa’s return appear, throwing the village into panic.
The elders choose Gangayya Thatha as the next sacrifice – but he dies before the ritual. Veeru argues that the legend is superstition and insists nothing exists inside the castle. Veeru’s accidental involvement with the cursed fort pulls him into the centre of the village’s ancient fear. As the story unfolds; comedy, chaos and supernatural elements collide while Veeru tries to uncover the truth.
The performances in Raakaasa stand out as one of the film’s strongest assets, with Sangeeth Shobhan leading confidently through his natural comic timing, expressive reactions, and the easy charm that keeps the story lively even when the plot leans heavily into fantasy.
Nayan Sarika supports him with a grounded, likeable presence as Subbalakshmi, blending smoothly into both the emotional and comedic beats. The supporting cast amplifies the film’s humour, especially Vennela Kishore.
Even with the unevenness in the film’s supernatural elements, the acting ensemble consistently keeps the film engaging, making performance one of the key reasons audiences enjoy Raakaasa.
The movie is currently streaming on Netflix