If a bike (Rajdooth) happens to be the title of a story, then one expects content to runs around it. The RX100 sets the tone for that. Rajdooth has a seemingly decent story but it is not backed by strong performances. It seems very obvious that the entire film’s characters and the bike are merely ways to prop the main lead. Considering that this is the debut vehicle of Meghamsh (character artiste Srihari’s son ) it seems quite sensible to choose a concept-oriented story.
Writers-turned-directors Arjun and Carthyk waste no time in introducing the hero and establishing the plot, its all done in the first few minutes. Sanjay (Mehghamsh) and his friend, who are stranded on a road with their bike, are helped by a passer-by. As they narrate their story to her, we come to know that Sanjay is on a journey to find the Rajdooth owned by his lady love’s (Priya played by Nakshatra) grandpa who is apparently in coma. Priya’s father will agree to have Sanjay as his son-in-law provided he finds the lost bike, his father might recover if the lost bike is found.
Sanjay’s ordeal to prove his love for Priya begins: first he learns the bike is mortgaged and there is hunt to find its current owner. There are lengthy yawn-inducing scenes of a money lender and that is definitely not comedy. As the ownership of the bike moves from one person to the next, plots and sub plots are established. In between, we are reminded that Sanjay is the hero of the story and his heroic qualities are revealed in layers.
Now why would anyone send a youngster on a mission to retrieve a bike that was lost years ago? Logic aside, one loses patience as you wait to see things unfold. Also, the directors fail to evoke curiosity, thrill or tension and the entire story becomes a passive watch.
Meghamsh is a lanky youngster and shows ease and grace in one of the dance numbers, but he still has a long way to go in terms of emoting. Nakshatra appears in a wink and miss role, not giving scope to even comment on her work. The film is technically okay but would do itself a favour if trimmed by another ten minutes. The comedians try to salvage the film... but in vain.
