Film: Nishabda 2
Direction: Devraj Kumar
Cast: Roopesh Shetty, Aradhya Shetty, Avinash
Nishabda 2 is not meant to be a sequel to Vishnuvardhan-starrer Nishyabda, released in 1998, but this movie is not an original too. The film is largely influenced by the Hollywood flick Don’t Breath, and it remains faithful to it. It has even retained the name of the lead character -- ‘Rocky’.
More a thriller, the film’s is about three people living in Mangaluru as small-time thieves. They want to live better and find a permanent answer to their difficulties, and decide to make a fast buck. Rocky, who has worked in a security firm, is a technical whiz and along with others breaks into an army officer’s (Avinash) bunglow. The officer is blind, guarded by a dog, and the three make good with their loot.
They succeed in their theft but what they face from the officer and the scares he gives them form the second half of the movie. In spite of all the hurdles, Rocky and Shraddha manage to shake free but they will not be spared of their troubles because the filmmakers are planning a sequel in Nishabda 3.
Director Devraj Kumar has done justice to the plotline and has done well technically too, with the special effects for thrills, but it is no match for the Hollywood original. By itself, the movie may draw crowds who like to be shocked once in a while. The dog has a limited role to play in the movie, more like it makes a cameo appearance.
Cinematographer Veenus Murthy has brought in effectiveness with lighting, which help to bring out the drama in the story. The film could have shed some of the songs though the background score by Sathish Aryan is good.
While Avinash has done his part exceptionally well, Roopesh Shetty and Aradhya Shetty have given an average show with their debut performance in Nishabda 2. They seem to hold great promise though and moviegoers would expect more from them, in future. But they would need to work more hard on themselves if they are serious about this as a career. Petrol Prasanna has done his supporting role well.
With technology, moviegoers can watch any film from the comfort of their home. Will they really want to see the remake of a Hollywood flick in Kannada? It is great that the filmmakers are keen on a series but the audience must decide if the sequel would be worth the effort.