Movie Review: Raakaasa (2026) – A Spooky Fantasy Comedy That Finds Its Groove in the Second Half
Directed by Manasa Sharma, Raakaasa is a Telugu fantasy horror-comedy that combines village folklore, romance, supernatural mystery and comedy. Starring Sangeeth Shobhan and Nayan Sarika in the lead roles, the film follows an NRI who returns to his hometown for a wedding and accidentally awakens an ancient supernatural evil.
Released theatrically on April 3, 2026, Raakaasa runs for approximately 130 minutes. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, with particular appreciation for its performances, visual effects, humour and stronger second half. It is now available on Netflix. (Wikipedia)
Quick Review Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Manasa Sharma |
| Writer | Manasa Sharma |
| Lead Cast | Sangeeth Shobhan, Nayan Sarika |
| Supporting Cast | Getup Srinu, Vennela Kishore, Ashish Vidyarthi, Tanikella Bharani, Brahmaji, Raadhya |
| Music Composer | Anudeep Dev |
| Cinematography | Edurolu Raju |
| Editor | Anwar Ali |
| Genre | Fantasy / Horror / Comedy / Romance |
| Language | Telugu |
| Runtime | 130 Minutes |
| Theatrical Release | April 3, 2026 |
| OTT | Netflix |
| Certification | U/A 13+ |
Netflix describes the film as a horror-comedy involving an ancient evil awakened by a carefree man returning from America. (Netflix)
Storyline: An NRI Awakens an Ancient Evil
The story follows Veerababu, popularly known as Veeru (Sangeeth Shobhan), who returns to his native village after spending a decade in the United States.
Veeru’s main objective is simple: he wants to marry his longtime love, Sukhanya (Nayan Sarika).
But his return home doesn’t go according to plan.
An ancient supernatural force connected to the village is accidentally awakened, bringing a long-forgotten evil back into the present. What begins as a romantic homecoming quickly turns into a fight for survival.
The village’s mysterious history, an ancient curse and a terrifying entity gradually become central to the story. Veeru, his friends and the people around him must figure out how to stop the supernatural threat before it claims more victims.
The film mixes the horror elements with plenty of comedy, particularly through Veeru’s interactions with his friends and the villagers. (IMDb)
Character Performances: Sangeeth Shobhan Is the Highlight
The film depends heavily on its young lead and supporting comedy ensemble.
- Sangeeth Shobhan (as Veerababu): Sangeeth carries much of the film with his natural comic timing and expressive performance. Veeru is deliberately portrayed as somewhat timid and carefree, and Sangeeth makes those characteristics entertaining without making the character irritating. His performance becomes particularly effective when the story shifts from comedy to supernatural danger.
- Nayan Sarika (as Sukhanya): Nayan brings a grounded presence to the romantic side of the story. Her chemistry with Sangeeth helps keep the emotional thread alive even when the film becomes increasingly chaotic.
- Getup Srinu: Getup Srinu is one of the major comic highlights. His chemistry with Sangeeth provides several of the film’s funniest sequences.
- Vennela Kishore: Vennela Kishore adds his trademark comic timing and strengthens the film’s lighter portions.
- Ashish Vidyarthi: Ashish Vidyarthi brings authority and seriousness to the supernatural world, providing a useful contrast to the younger cast.
- Tanikella Bharani: Bharani adds veteran experience to the ensemble and fits naturally into the folklore-driven portions.
- Brahmaji: Brahmaji contributes additional humour and strengthens the village setting.
The cast combination is one of the film’s more entertaining elements, particularly when the comedy ensemble is given room to interact. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Technical Craft & Direction: A Visually Ambitious Fantasy
Director Manasa Sharma attempts to create a supernatural world while keeping the movie accessible as a commercial entertainer.
Cinematography
Edurolu Raju handles the cinematography. The village landscapes, mysterious locations and supernatural portions give the film an appealing visual identity.
The film particularly benefits from the contrast between its colourful rural setting and the darker atmosphere surrounding the ancient evil.
Music & Background Score
Anudeep Dev composes the music and background score.
The score is particularly important during the supernatural sequences, where it helps create an eerie atmosphere while still supporting the film’s comedic tone. Some reviews specifically praised the background score as one of the film’s technical strengths. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Visual Effects
The supernatural elements require considerable visual work, and the film generally makes good use of its effects.
The fort and ritual sequences are among the more visually effective portions, giving the fantasy elements a stronger cinematic presence. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Critical Analysis: A Better Second Half
The biggest problem with Raakaasa is its first half.
The setup takes time to establish Veeru, his romantic intentions and the village environment. Some of the comedy feels routine, and the supernatural storyline takes longer than expected to become genuinely interesting.
However, the film improves considerably once the central mystery becomes clearer.
The second half is stronger, with the supernatural elements, comedy and action coming together more effectively. The New Indian Express gave the film 3/5, highlighting the performances, cinematography and visual effects and arguing that the stronger second half helps the movie work. (Wikipedia)
The Hindu, however, felt that although the film has several compelling ideas, it ultimately settles for being a safe popcorn entertainer rather than fully developing its fantasy premise. (Wikipedia)
India Today was more critical of the writing and gave it 2.5/5, while Deccan Chronicle gave it 1.5/5, particularly criticising its logic and regressive elements. (Wikipedia)
So the film’s reception is clearly mixed—but there is broad agreement that Sangeeth’s performance, comedy and the latter half are among its strongest features.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Watching?
Raakaasa is a fun but uneven Telugu fantasy horror-comedy that doesn’t completely fulfil the potential of its interesting premise.
Sangeeth Shobhan is the film’s biggest strength, delivering an entertaining performance with good comic timing. Nayan Sarika provides a solid romantic counterpart, while Getup Srinu and Vennela Kishore keep the comedy lively. Ashish Vidyarthi, Tanikella Bharani and Brahmaji add experience to the supporting cast.
The first half is somewhat routine, but the second half, supernatural sequences, visual effects and comedy make the film more enjoyable as it progresses. With its 130-minute runtime and availability on Netflix, it works reasonably well as a casual weekend watch. (Netflix)
If you enjoy Telugu horror-comedies, fantasy stories, village folklore, supernatural mysteries and lighthearted entertainment, Raakaasa is worth a try.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ / 5 (Wikipedia)
