Raman Raghav 2.0

About the film

Raman Raghav 2.0 (released internationally as Psycho Raman) is a 2016 Indian neo-noir psychological crime thriller film written and directed by Anurag Kashyap. Produced by Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vikas Bahl, and Madhu Mantena, the film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vicky Kaushal, and debutante Sobhita Dhulipala. It depicts in eight chapters the cat and mouse chase of serial killer Ramanna (Siddiqui) by corrupt cop Raghavan (Kaushal). Real-life killer Raman Raghav, who operated in Mumbai during the 1960s, inspired the film.

Kashyap initially wanted to make a period film about Raman Raghav, but after the commercial failure of Bombay Velvet (2015), his previous film that was also set in the 1960s, he realized that he would be unable to find financing. Abandoning the period-piece concept, he co-wrote the film with Vasan Bala, setting it in the contemporary time. The film's music was composed by Ram Sampath, and Varun Grover wrote the lyrics. Jay Oza served as the film's cinematographer and Aarti Bajaj as its editor.

Plot

In 2013, assistant commissioner of police Raghavan Amrendra Singh Umbi, a drug addict, visits a Mumbai drug dealer. However, his plan to purchase drugs is foiled‍—‍‌the dealer and another man have been murdered. Investigating the murders the next day, he receives a hammer followed by an anonymous phone call.

In 2015, a man named Ramanna surrenders to the police and confesses to killing nine people. He is detained and beaten by the police but manages to escape with the help of a group of boys nearby. Seeking food at the home of his sister Lakshmi, Ramanna argues with his brother-in-law. After leaving the house he quickly returns and kills the couple and their son. Raghavan is among the police who later investigated the family's murder, where he finds a picture of Ramanna with Lakshmi, confirming Ramanna's involvement in the crime.

Raghavan is in a relationship with Smrutika "Simi" Naidu, a runaway from Gujarat. Simi’s father is an alcoholic, which has indirectly influenced her choice to be with Raghvan. He abuses her and their toxic relationship results in three abortions. Ramanna surveils Raghavan and Simi, suggesting a link exists between the cop and the killer. This surveillance escalates into more murders when Ramanna stalks and kills Simi's maid and her husband. After these killings, Ramanna is caught by the police with assistance from an onlooker. However, Ramanna escapes from custody again and kills the man who aided his capture. Raghavan proves to be a killer himself when, after a trip to visit his father, he murders an African drug dealer.

Production

Raman Raghav 2.0 was inspired by the notorious serial killer Raman Raghav, who had killed several homeless people in Mumbai during the late 1960s. Bludgeoning his victims, he produced widespread panic until he was captured by the Mumbai police and confessed to 41 murders. Raghav was sentenced to death by the Bombay High Court, but his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia allowed his defence to claim mental incapability and gain a change of sentence to life imprisonment. He was sent to Yerawada Central Jail, where he died of kidney failure in 1988 after 19 years of incarceration.

Director Anurag Kashyap first became interested in the story of Raman Raghav in 1991, when Sriram Raghavan was making a 68-minute film about the killer titled Raman Raghav, A City, A Killer. Kashyap was drawn to the idea of a criminal who was not motivated by familiar human vices. According to him, the killer had "no moral compass or planning" to kill someone. He initially wanted to make a trilogy of period films based in Mumbai, the first of which was Bombay Velvet (2015), then a film on the Nanavati murder case after Raman Raghav 2.0. But after the commercial failure of Bombay Velvet, Kashyap realised that he would not get producers for another period film. He then set the film in contemporary time. The film on the Nanavati case did not materialise. Vasan Bala, the film's co-writer, had written a biopic about Raman Raghav. Kashyap re-wrote that script, taking inspiration from the actual murders. He created a police officer who would be the "mirror image" of the killer, as he felt it was difficult to create an honest cop in a contemporary time.

Kashyap said that Nawazuddin Siddiqui was his first casting choice for the film because of his "unimposing body". Kashyap modelled the character on Raghubir Yadav, who had portrayed Raman Raghav in Sriram Raghavan's 1991 film. Siddiqui left his home for two days without informing anyone and started to "fear himself" while preparing for the role.

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack and background score was composed by Ram Sampath, while the lyrics were penned by Varun Grover. Sona Mohapatra, Nayantara Bhatkal, Siddharth Basrur and Ram Sampath provided vocals for the album's songs. The album rights were acquired by T-Series, and it was released on 3 June 2016.

Marketing and release

On 24 April 2016, Kashyap released two teaser posters' of the film through his official Twitter account. They showed a runnel of blood and a pistol attached to a tap. The first look was revealed on 25 April 2016, which had Siddiqui staring at the fourth wall with his red eyes. A second poster was released on 1 May. The first teaser of Raman Raghav 2.0 was launched on 6 May 2016, with a runtime of 46 seconds. It was followed by three other teasers which showed a glimpse of the serial killer from the film. The theatrical trailer of Raman Raghav 2.0 was released on 10 May 2016. Before the theatrical release of the film, a series of comic strips were released showing the title character committing several crimes. A user generated song "I am Ramantic" was released online which showed people from Mumbai and other cities, who shot their ten-second videos sporting the Raman Raghav 2.0 sunglasses. The film released internationally with the title Psycho Raman.

Key details