Rākāsā (2026): Sangeeth Shobhan’s Fantasy Comedy Misfires in Plain Sight
Sangeeth Shobhan plays Veeru, a name that carries the weight of Bollywood legend, inside a Telugu fantasy-horror comedy that arrives with genuine curiosity value and a surprisingly stacked ensemble. That curiosity curdles quickly when a film backed by Pink Elephant Pictures and Zee Studios has so little to say about its own genre.
Sangeeth Shobhan Carries More Than He Should Have To
Sangeeth Shobhan is a performer with real comic instinct, and Rākāsā leans on that heavily, perhaps too heavily. As Veeru, he is often the only reason a scene maintains any energy. When the writing fails him, which is frequent, his physical commitment still pulls attention.
I found myself watching him with genuine sympathy, the kind reserved for a capable actor stranded in a script that underestimates both him and the audience. Nayan Sarika, opposite him, does what the material allows, which is not nearly enough.
Manasa Sharma’s Direction Finds a Tone and Then Loses It Completely
Manasa Sharma writes and directs, which means both the strengths and the failures belong entirely to one vision. The setup, a fantasy-comedy world with horror textures, shows real ambition for a debut in this space. That ambition, however, does not survive the second half.
The screenplay’s core flaw is structural. The film builds a comedic register early, then shifts gears erratically, creating tonal whiplash that no editing can rescue. Moments that should land with comic precision instead arrive without rhythm or confidence.
At 2 hours and 10 minutes, the runtime is a problem. Sharma does not yet have the discipline to earn that length in this genre. Scenes exist that serve neither the comedy nor the horror, they simply fill space.
The Fantasy-Comedy Genre Demands Precision, Rākāsā Settles for Volume
Fantasy-comedy is one of Telugu cinema’s most demanding formats. It requires a world that operates by its own internal logic while still delivering laughs on a consistent clock. Rākāsā builds its fantastical premise with visible effort, the production design suggests a team that cared deeply about the visual grammar.
The horror-comedy overlap is where things begin to slip. Horror comedy works when fear and laughter arrive in close succession, each sharpening the other. Here, the two registers sit in separate rooms and rarely speak.
The comedy, when it does connect, comes almost entirely from the supporting ensemble rather than from situational writing. That is a warning sign in this genre, if the comedy depends only on performers and not structure, the film has no floor when the cast is offscreen.
If you enjoy Telugu fantasy films with large ensembles, you can find more Telugu Comedy reviews covering the genre from multiple angles.
Vennela Kishore and Brahmaji Do the Heavy Lifting Without Breaking a Sweat
Vennela Kishore, as always, is the most reliable comic presence in any room he occupies. His timing is instinctive and he salvages at least two scenes from complete deflation. Brahmaji adds texture in his limited screen time, grounding the fantasy world with recognisable human behaviour.
Ashish Vidyarthi brings weight to his role, as he invariably does, even when the writing does not justify the gravitas. Tanikella Bharani and Getup Srinu are used sparingly, which is either a waste or a mercy depending on your reading of the script’s intentions.
No Controversy, But Audience Reception Tells a Quiet Story
Rākāsā generated no political controversy or censorship friction ahead of its April 3, 2026 release. What the silence around its reception suggests is perhaps more revealing, a film that landed without significant outrage but also without significant enthusiasm.
Films produced by Niharika Konidela’s Pink Elephant Pictures carry a certain expectation of craft and ambition. Rākāsā meets the ambition part intermittently. The craft, particularly in the writing, does not match the production’s visible investment. That gap is the film’s most honest review.
If you are curious how another 2026 Telugu film handled its genre commitments, the Leader 2026 review of Leader offers a useful contrast in structural confidence.
Rākāsā is for patient audiences with a specific fondness for Telugu fantasy-comedy, the kind willing to extract scattered moments of genuine fun from an uneven whole. Watch it on OTT when it arrives there, the big screen does not add enough to justify the journey. If you go in expecting Vennela Kishore to carry the film, you will not be entirely wrong.
Rākāsā is a watchable misfire with a capable cast wasted by an undisciplined screenplay, and Manasa Sharma’s debut, despite its visible ambition, earns a generous 2 out of 5 from this corner.
For another 2026 Telugu genre film testing its ensemble against a tricky premise, the Kaalidas 2 verdict is worth your time.
Ankit Jaiswal is the Chief Author, covering Indian cinema and OTT releases with honest, no-filler criticism. An SEO strategist by background, he brings a research-driven approach to film writing, cutting through hype to tell you exactly what's worth your time.
