Bhagwat Chapter One: Raakshas

Bhagwat (2025) : Movie Review -

Bhagwat Chapter 1 Rakshas is based on true events that will shatter your perception of criminals. How can someone be so cruel and feel proud of it at the same time? That's the question that will make your heart burn. The bigger regret is why our law and order system is so weak. But that is reality, and that is why we adore fictional characters like Singham and Dabangg, because they deliver justice on the spot and never make the law look helpless. Bhagwat tells a shocking story of a criminal and a cop in a thrilling manner but loses momentum in the final quarter due to its predictability.

The film revolves around Bhagwat (Arshad Warsi), a brutal and out-of-the-rulebook cop, who takes on the case of a missing girl. During his investigation, he discovers another missing girl, and the chain keeps growing until he learns that a total of 19 girls have disappeared with no clue about the culprit. This buildup creates real tension, but the narrative also includes a parallel story of Samir (Jitendra Kumar) and Meera (Ayesha Kaduskar), who fall in love and elope. Soon after, Meera goes missing. From here, the rest of the story unfolds, showing how Bhagwat corners Samir, aka Rajkumar, and how the culprit fights back, putting Bhagwat in a jam. Will Rajkumar escape due to the flaws in our system?

The film runs for two hours and remains engaging and fast-paced for the first one and a half hours. However, the last quarter loses grip because the courtroom drama becomes very predictable, and the finale takes too long to reach its climax. The worst a storyteller can do is insert a 5-minute song right after revealing the ace card, making the audience wait for something they already know. This choice is disappointing. Bhagwat could have easily removed the song and trimmed some unnecessary courtroom dialogues to maintain tension. For any crime thriller, the climax twist should be a genuine surprise, but here it's revealed ten minutes too early, draining the excitement.

Arshad Warsi is convincing as a cop. I genuinely appreciate seeing a mid-aged officer with a tummy and a beard, because that reflects reality. Those fictional cops with six-pack abs and fight scenes every fifteen minutes are far from logical. Thank you, Arshad Warsi, for making the character believable, because true stories need to feel real. Jitendra Kumar plays a sophisticated and cold-blooded Samir, and you'll end up hating him, which is a testament to his acting skills. Ayesha Kaduskar is a fine surprise and arguably the best in the film. Her expressions, accent, innocence, and overall performance are exceptional. Tara Berry looks beautiful, Rashmi Rajput is good, Devdas Dixit is excellent, and Sandeep Yadav is decent. The rest of the supporting cast performs adequately.

Cinematography by Amogh Deshpande is visually appealing, though some overly dark frames make viewers squint unnecessarily. Hemal Kothari's editing maintains a strong pace for three quarters but falters in the final stretch. Bhavini Bheda's story and screenplay shed light on a significant topic that deserves attention. Director Akshay Shere's effort to make the film socially impactful is evident, and he succeeds in most parts. Despite its predictability in the final quarter, Bhagwat Chapter 1 Rakshas remains watchable, thanks to strong performances, intense storytelling, and gripping subject matter. Had the climax been tighter and the unnecessary scenes trimmed, this could have been a truly compelling crime thriller. Nevertheless, it's a film that deserves your attention for both its social relevance and the talent on display.

RATING - 5/10*

Bhagwat: Chapter 1 - Raakshas is an intense crime drama that tries to explore the dark side of human psychology through the story of a serial killer and a determined cop. The film is inspired by real-life "Cyanide killer" cases from UP, which instantly grabs attention.

Arshad Warsi once again proves his command over serious roles. As an SP investigating a series of mysterious murders, he brings both grit and emotion to the screen. Jitendra Kumar, widely loved for his calm and charming "Jeetu Bhaiya" image, takes a surprising turn here portraying a manipulative and cold-blooded killer. Though it feels awkward initially to see him in such a dark avatar, his performance is convincing and layered.

The first half builds good suspense, but the narrative slightly weakens in the middle due to uneven pacing and predictable moments. The background score and cinematography add some depth, but the screenplay lacks the tightness needed for a gripping thriller.

Overall, this movie is a watchable attempt with strong performances but an average execution. It deserves appreciation for trying something bold, especially with Jitendra Kumar stepping out of his comfort zone, but the film doesn't fully reach its potential as a psychological thriller.

The the direction is good, but the point is that it is a remake of the web series. Now Bollywood people are remixing web series. It's disappointing. I thought it would be interesting, but I predicted the plot because I have watched the original series, even though those who haven't watched it might still enjoy the movie. I recommend it to them. Thank you.

This is a sufficiently engaging whodunit about an investigation on a serial disappearance of a number of young women based on actual events. Sincere and dedicated police Inspector Bhagwat of the small town is given the task of investigating the disappearance of these young women. As he digs deeper he finds that there is a serial killer at large who first entices these women using his charm and convincing power and then kills them.

Arshad Warsi for a change takes up a serious role and does a fine job. He keeps the narrative absorbing. Another actor Jitendra Kumar enacting a negative character is a surprise and he also does well. (Looks like he has taken inspiration from Vikrant Massey in "Sector 36.") Both these actors playing the protagonist and antagonist contrary to their images elevate the sequences to a convincing level. The direction and cinematography are good and give the scenes an authentic look indeed. The small town atmosphere is brought out well and the court scenes look realistic minus the customary melodrama.

Good thriller movie based on serial killer cynide mohan.

Direction script and acting of arshad warsi Jitendra Kumar and all actors good.

Despite a compelling performance from Jitendra Kumar, whose quiet menace truly 'kills' it, the plot feels like a rerun-less a fresh hunt and more a walk-through. It lacks the 'depth' to surprise and ultimately feels like a chapter we've already 'read' before.