From shining knights to masked crusaders, the plain-looking simpleton to larger-than-life personas, Telugu cinema has witnessed several vigilante characters. They have their own principles, beliefs, ethics and values. But, what connect them are an undying spirit and the ability to act for the greater good of society, sometimes putting their own lives at stake. Here we pick some of the most adored and remarkable vigilantes, in no particular order, that we came across.
Tagore
What do you get when you put an encyclopaedic knowledge about the state’s resources, a stunning network of immaculately clean officials across age-groups, a statistically loaded research about the most corrupt government officials and a mega star at the heights of his prowess? An epic is what you get and that is what this V V Vinayak movie is, giving you one of the most well-cultured, well-organized and well-read vigilantes of all time.
Annavaram
Annavaram broken down literally translates to brother’s boon. As a brother who loves his sister, Pawan Kalyan decides to cleanse the city of all its goons before his sister gives birth to his nephew, to ensure he gets to grow up in a clean place. A little hyperbolic, but action lovers aren’t complaining as the power star bashes one hefty goon after another.
Raakhi
Junior NTR is in a rage, who avenges the death of his sister by burning down any and every perpetrator of law he comes across, people who have committed heinous crimes against women and managed to get away. Leaving the trademark raakhi every time he burns down a molester, Junior NTR also manages to churn out couple of powerful monologues in the movie – definitely one of his best performances.
Nijam
Our prince turns a soldier in this movie, more a crusader – bespectacled and innocuous initially, but egged upon by a fearlessly stubborn and determined mother. The movie lost a close race for the Oscar entry from India but Seetaram, assayed by Mahesh Babu, stays alive in our memories as one of the more impactful characters in cinema – a vigilante with an out-of-the-mold look and a precise and scientific way of dealing with the villains.
Azad
Another hero named after a freedom fighter, Chandra Sekhar Azad played by Nagarjuna doesn’t have grand illusions about Utopia or about his own purpose in life. All he tries to do is save some money and get his sister married. But as fate has it, he accidentally steps into the shoes of a masked crusader, a fictional character created by a journalist, like Shabana Azmi does in the Hindi movie Main Azaad Hoon.
Kondaveeti Donga
The blockbuster depicts the transformation of a brilliant student turned vigilante pitted against the menace of Rao Gopal Rao, a local head who exploits the naïve villagers. Mega Star does what V does, very stylishly, years later in V for Vendetta. He becomes a symbol, a knight in black, riding a white horse and smashing the villains in a Zorro-meets-Robinhood avatar.
Aparachitudu
This Shankar character became a rage. A loose take on Fincher’s Seven, Aparichitudu drives the fear of god in anyone who sins. Vikram plays the role of a person torn by split personality. The multiple personality disorder turns Vikram from an honest lawyer to a gorgeously flirtatious lover-boy and then a menacing vigilante. More importantly, this vigilante knows the Garuda Puranam in and out and uses the methods used in hell like Kumbipakam and Anthakoopam to torment and murder his victims. The psychotic serial killer also manages to deliver a powerful monologue at a stadium to thousands of people before managing to escape from the clutches of the cops.
Bharatheeyudu
A freedom fighter who knows a thing or two about martial arts is disgusted with the present society. An idealist to the core, he loses his daughter to his time-hardened principle of not bribing anyone. Eventually, he decides to play vigilante, punishing one corrupt official after another in his endeavor to cleanse society of its ills. Almost psychotic in his intent, he doesn’t spare his own son, who bribes his way to escape responsibility in a school bus accident.
Gentleman
Shankar’s directorial debut features a thief who robs jewelers and government agencies to fund a college, while running a pappadam business as a sideshow. A brilliant student forced by circumstance and impactful events, Arjun playing Kicha, manages to elude the best cops in a juggernaut of sensational robberies, in interesting disguises such as bomb detection expert. The movie also stands out for some gory scenes contrasted by mellifluous songs.
Okka Magadu
Balakrishna’s larger-than-life person in this movie spells the death knell for a lot of corrupt people including doctors, lawyers and journalists. The YVS Chowdary movie belongs to the Bharateeyudu School of Vigilantes connecting present day society’s struggle against corruption with our freedom struggle.
Mask
Our modern day vigilante is stylish – a kung-fu expert doubling up as a lover boy, a supreme example of work-life balance, wooing his lady love and helping the police nab a gang of robbers who create a furor through a series of burglaries across the city, killing people in their attempts too. The accidental vigilante shows some cool kung-fu action accentuated by a good background score.