Title – KILLING VEERAPPAN, Producer – Raghu Acharya, BV Manjunath, GS Sudheendra, E Shivaprakash, Direction – Ramgopal Verma, Music – Ravishanker, Cinematography – Rami, Cast – Dr Shivarajakumar, Sandeep Bharadwaj, Parul Yadav, Yagna Shetty, Rockline Venkatesh, Sanchari Vijay, Rajesh Nataranga and others.

The long awaited Kannada film ‘Killing Veerappan’ (Telugu version was not released today due to procedural problems in censor) has come with some shocking revelations.

Veerappan fugitive when living was opting for kidnap of Rajanikanth after Dr Rajakumar and a minister from Tamil Nadu. The severe betrayal for Veerappan in the exchange of money in Dr Rajakumar kidnap case and in supply of arms for him had eventually made him to join LTTE Prabhakaran. It is in this trap he faces the rain of bullets.

RGV is known for such daring facts to come on silver screen. He has even kept the name of cop – played by Dr Shivarajakumar who is labeled as ‘Kannan’ in the uniform for security purpose. The inside of some of the developments of course not revealed so far in the media. RGV collection of data is very good. The making of the film is far above the average level. The climax is similar to AMR Ramesh ‘Attahasa’.

Perhaps the best Veerappan is this Sandeep Bharadwaj. In looks, style and acting Sandeep the new discovery to Kannada film is very fine.

The dialogue given to Dr Shivarajakumar as cop because he is the son of Dr Rajakumar is also very neatly made in the film. The fact of the matter is that Dr Shiv is the right choice for at least killing Veerappan on silver screen.

The second half is better than first half as developments speed up for the climax. The defeat the cop faces lifts the strength of Veerappan yet the fight is not given up Dr Shiv role in the film.

Finally it is the end of Veerappan in an ambulance. The dialogue with Veerappan body on the one side ‘Rakshasas should be given same counter treatment’ is precise ending.

Dr Shiv heroism a little less compared to his previous films. He is very nice in handling the role. Sandeep takes the major share as Veerappan. Yagna Shetty as Muthulakshmi and Parul Yadav as Shreya supporting the camp of Dr Shiv have given splendid performance.

The background score and two punching songs sung by Puneeth Rajakumar and Dr Shiv are well timed. The camera work deserves special mention.

RGV has given a pretty good cinema in ‘Killing Veerappan’. This is worth watching for many unknown facts and struggle in putting down the severest criminal.

Score – 3.5/5