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Movie Name: Rakkasapuradhol
Directed by: Ravi Saranga
Starring: Raj B Shetty, Swathishta Krishnan, Archana Kottige, Anirudh Bhat, B Suresh, Gopal Deshpande, Gowrav Shetty, Siddanna, Jahangir, Nisha, Tarun
Genre: Drama, Action, Horror
Release Date: February 06, 2026
Language: Kannada
Running Time: 127 Minutes
Rating:
Production Company: Suraj Productions
Budget: ₹- Crore
A troubled cop in rural India confronts his own demons while pursuing a complex case that tests his moral boundaries and beliefs.
Rakkasapuradhol: Movie Overview:
Rakkasapuradhol Story Rakkasapuradhol is a Kannada movie directed by Ravi Saranga. The movie casts Raj B shetty and Swathishta Krishnan in the main lead roles. The Music was composed by Arjun Janya while cinematography done by William David. The film is produced by stunt director K Ravi Varma.
Raj B Shetty as a Maverick Cop in this murder mystery: The Kannada film will be released on February 6.
Raj B Shetty is back in the theatres, and this time as a maverick cop with a few tricks up his sleeve in the upcoming Kannada movie Rakkasapuradhol. The film’s trailer, which was recently released by the makers, introduces Shetty as a troubled cop who is never seen without his bottle. What happens when he has to solve a knotty murder under the pump? This forms the basis of the Kannada film, which also explores certain supernatural elements.
The film is directed by Ravi Saranga and also stars Swathishta Krishnan and Archana Kottige. Shetty was last seen in Landlord, a recently released Kannada film co-starring Vijaya Kumar. Earlier last year, Shetty produced and acted in the blockbuster Kannada comedy Su From So, and also featured in the action drama 45, alongside Shiva Rajkumar and Upendra.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor-filmmaker spoke about why he could never direct stars. “I can’t direct stars because I can’t wait for their dates. It’s such a painful process for me. Cinema has been very personal, but the moment it becomes about waiting for someone, I feel shackled.”
For Shetty, filmmaking has never been about scale or celebrity. “I don’t mind making small films. I don’t mind casting new actors. It’s not about the money. For a middle-class person from Mangalore, even doing films is a luxury.” It’s this mindset that drives his production house, Lighter Buddha Films- a space built on collaboration, experimentation, and a deep belief in storytelling over stardom, which is consciously focused on giving emerging talent the support they need. “Even in lighter films, we want to produce projects for new people. We want to supervise, guide, and ensure the best results. We want young filmmakers to believe that if they make good cinema, audiences will come.”
Movie Trailer:
#OfficialTrailer
Movie Review:
When fear, faith and a troubled mind collide in a quiet village
Set against the eerie calm of a village that claims to have a “low crime rate,” the film opens with the introduction of Shiva (Raj B Shetty), a suspended sub-inspector battling alcoholism and personal grief. Reinstated and transferred to this far-flung location, Shiva arrives with his wife, who we later learn exists only in his fractured mind—while the village quietly hints that something is deeply off.
From a child warning him that his house is haunted, to unsettling visuals of fireballs, hawks and dead crows, the film steadily builds an atmosphere of unease. Shiva’s first day at the police station sets the tone for his unconventional nature – he’s calm, withdrawn, casually asking about a bar nearby, and far removed from the chest-thumping cinematic cops we’re used to.
Running parallel is the story of Archana Kottige’s character, a single mother struggling to protect herself and her daughter Belli from predatory stares and whispers in the village. Belli becomes the emotional anchor of the narrative, forming a tender father-daughter bond with Shiva, one that adds warmth to an otherwise grim story. The fear of the mythical Kolli Devva, a ghost said to kill young women and children, looms large, reinforced by B Suresh’s ominous swamiji and the village’s collective paranoia.
The plot takes a darker turn when a young woman, dressed as a bride, is found murdered with her face burnt. As similar murders follow, Shiva’s investigation is complicated by his schizophrenia, which strangely allows him to “connect” with the dead. The film walks a fine line between psychological trauma and supernatural suggestion, repeatedly asking whether the horror is human or something more sinister.
Raj B Shetty’s portrayal of Shiva is the film’s backbone. He plays the character with restraint—never loud, never performative, making Shiva feel painfully real. This is not a stylised mass cop, but a broken man trying to hold himself together while doing his job. Archana Kottige, Gopal Krishna Deshpande and B Suresh deliver solid performances, while Anirudh Bhat stands out as twin brothers Aadi and Aruna, hinting at strong future potential. Swathishta Krishnan, however, leaves little impact, with dubbing that feels off.
Technically, the film is well mounted, with Arjun Janya’s music effectively amplifying the tension. Ravi Saranga’s direction is confident and assured, impressive for a debut. While the narrative occasionally stretches itself thin, the film remains engaging.
Overall, this is a slow-burn psychological thriller anchored by a compelling central performance—definitely a good one-time watch.
