STORY: Ramanna (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) hunts and kills. He uses a metal rod to bash his victims’ skull in, leaving behind mashed bones and blood. Is that graphic enough for you? The film doesn’t stint on these details, and you watch with mounting horror the relentless violence being unleashed on screen: What kind of man is capable of advancing upon a harmless innocent with murder in his heart?

Raghavan (Vicky Kaushal) does the same. His awareness that he is a policeman entrusted with keeping crime and criminals at bay lies buried under the substance he uses and abuses. He comes across the same way with his girlfriend (Shobhita Dhulipala): There is marked roughness and a lack of respect and a take-it-or-leave-it attitude that colours their relationship.

REVIEW: The film doesn’t give its characters enough nuance to go on with. Kaushal displays a lot of brave acting, including a terrific confrontation scene with his father (Vipin Sharma in a brief appearance). There is real good cinema in that scene towards the end of the film, and also a reminder that Kashyap has a lot of talent. He just needs to stop making films that are very similar.

Raman Raghav 2.0 is a taut thriller, full of energy and brimming over with tension. It doesn’t flag even once and holds the viewer tightly in its grip. Such is the dizzying momentum and pace that you even stop caring about some missing pieces of the jigsaw that would have been niggling you. Clear-cut, uncomplicated Raman Raghav 2.0 takes you on an entertainment high.