Ragini MMS Review: spine-chilling date

After all hindrances like pulling down the hoardings, blackening the faces of the lead pair on the posters, Censor board chopping off a few explicit scenes from the main footage, Ragini MMS has emerged as a winner by turning any publicity into a good publicity. What matters at the end is a strong concept in the film which lures the audience and entertains them.

Story

The shown couple, Ragini (Kainaz Motivala) and Uday (Raj Kumar Yadav), set out for a planned dirty weekend at a friend's farmhouse on the outskirts of Mumbai. The much-in-love and passionate weekend in no time changes to the most horrible experience ever. They find that the entire house is rigged with cameras, just in the Bigg Boss style.

The cameras were meant to capture the love-making scenes between them. The couple learn something that is beyond the limitations of human understanding, something metaphysical, paranormal. The couple Ragini and Uday are now at the mercy of that paranormal force. The sundown is approaching and the couple do not find a way out, What will they do?

Plus Points

Ragini MMS is a great example of a high-concept film made in a skeletal budget, which works big time. First it was Love Sex Aur Dhokha and now it is Ragini MMS, Ekta Kapoor has set new trends of making a film successful, in a low budget, without any A-lister in it.

Ragini MMS, shows the horror genre in a way, which has never been explored earlier in India. Director Pavan Kirpalani chooses a real-life scandal and adds up sex and horror to it. This makes Ragini MMS work for both kind of viewers, who have an appetite for horror and even who like to watch love with a little bit of skin show.

Camera work in both Love Sex Aur Dhokha and Ragini MMS is like they have been shot in real time. The unconventional way of camera makes it look realistic like watching the footage on a handycam. This real experience of love, sex and of course the third force make you jump off your seat. The timing between each movement of each frame and the usage of silence is spine-chilling. Cinematography is general and in sync.

Though the film works on the lines of Paranormal Activity, Ragini MMS has a totally different concept. The old elements of a hindi horror film like white saree, song etc, are done away with. Ragini MMS has a very western approach with a desi touch.

The emotions like love, sex, passion, fear have been used very appropriately. There is no scope for songs in the film, however the back ground scores by Faizan Agnel is mind blowing. He has gone beyond the usage of throbbing music, digitized screams and high-pitched shrieks to give the horror feeling.

Performances

Both the actors Raj Kumar Yadav (who was also seen in Love Sex Aur Dhokha) and Kainaz Motivala are truly outstanding. Leaving behind all hesitations the actors deliver striking performances. The love making scenes between them looks real and adds up to the mood of Ragini MMS.

Loop holes

The film stagnates for a few minutes, post-interval, but bucks up soon and maintains the pace till the very climax. Though the film is short (approx 100 minutes), one still feels that there were certain things that could've snappy towards the middle of the second half. Even, the card at the end that shares some vital info on the characters and the conclusion, could've had a longer hold, so that it registers well.

However, these minor flaws don't really take away much from the impact that the rest of the film creates on the viewers.

Over All

On the whole, RAGINI MMS is a fine amalgamation of horror, paranormal activity and sex. In simple words it is a creepy, spine-chilling date movie, that imparts a story which is daunting, imaginative and unconventional. It is an innovative form of sex and horror, which will impress the Gen X. Have a panicky weekend with Ragini MMS.

Cast & Crew

Starring: Kainaz Motivala, Raj Kumar Yadav
Director: Pawan Kripalani
Producer: Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor,
Screenplay: Pawan Kripalani, Vaspar Dandiwala
Story: Pawan Kripalani, Vaspar Dandiwala
Music: S. D. Burman, Shamir Tandon, Faizan Hussain, Agnel Boman, Bappi Lahiri
Cinematography: Tribhuvan Babu
Editing: Pooja Ladha Surti