[*** stars / *****]
In the village of Godavari, a village don's right hand, Shiva (Kartikeya Gummakonda), falls intensely for the rival don's feisty daughter Indhu (Payal Rajput). The bitter rivalry causes the two to separate.
Three years pass and Shiva, now a bearded, desperate lover, waits restlessly like a mad man for Indhu to return...
RX 100 has a usual, linear formula-ridden romantic storytelling pattern in its first hour.
Somewhere from its 55th minute, the telling branches away from the usual to make it a deviant tale of lust, love, obsession and tragedy.
The underplayed cuts of the beloved Yahama RX 100 motorbike are nicely layered to this 'different' love story.
There are risque bits too, especially in Indhu's wooing of Shiva, but the main tale thankfully takes centre-stage in RX 100.
Lately, Telugu films are finally melding art and a faint faraway whiff of something remotely cinema into their otherwise hero worshiping, flesh-baring, navel-fondling narrative.
RX 100 does have some body objectifying scenes too, thankfully it doesn't mar the narrative.
Arjun Reddy (2017) was among the first noticeable films to stand out last year, followed by Rangasthalam (2018).
RX 100 stands out in parts as a cautionary tale on casual sex, unconditional love and sexual complexity.
If you still fall for Payal Rajput as I did, you only have yourself to blame.
Though a tad long, RX 100 is a good watch, a sturdy, well-made commercial entertainer.
