Inspirations tend to be drawn from various sources and the cine field is the best example for this. The Kannada film
Ring Master
is virtually a Xerox of the Thai flick Countdown. Also, it has similarities to the recent Kannada flick Aatagara. But here, there are only 3 persons (in Aatagara there were 10 persons).
Plot: The story of the film happens in one night. A couple, who are living together, along with their friend, phones a drug dealer to provide them drug. This door-delivery person happens to share their fun! He seems to be quite likeable at the beginning, but gradually it dawns on the three that something is wrong.
The film has a list of good actors, but that’s seems not good enough to keep the audience hooked to the seat. Arun Sagar’s performance is commendable and Shrunga, Shweta and Anushree have managed to essay their character to a likeable degree.
The film is technically good and has a novel subject. But it could have been scarier too. Director Vishruth Naik could have worked well on this genre. The music of Ravi Basru gives energy, otherwise it would be a dull film.
Cinetech Soori
has handled the camera and he has done an excellent job. In fact, the close shots are something to reckon with. The film has every potential of becoming a success, but it falters pitiably mainly due to the reason that it is virtually a copy of Countdown. Also the flick is quite preachy and somehow fails to emotionally connect with the audience.
Verdict: When regional films in India are remade into another language, care is taken to modify them according to the taste of the native audience. But Ring Master doesn’t make any change; instead sticks to the foreign taste. But yet it is acceptable. The main concern is that the filmmakers should not call it their original film.