Utkarsha is a 1990 Indian Kannada psychological crime thriller film by Sunil Kumar Desai, starring Devraj, Ambareesh and Vanitha Vasu in the lead roles. The film was the second directorial venture of Sunil Kumar Desai after the 1989 film Tarka retaining much of the cast especially Devaraj (who played the role of a psycho in both the films) and Vanitha Vasu. Just like Tarka, Utkarsha didn't have any songs and had a thriller theme. The background music of the film was scored by Guna Singh. The film received critical appraisal for Devaraj's portrayal of the psychopathic Rajesh. The concept of the movie is based on Jack the Ripper. The 2008 South Korean movie The Chaser which was unofficially remade in Hindi in 2011 as Murder 2, also had a similar plot line. The film was dubbed into Telugu under the same title. Plot Rajesh Sharma, a talented artist specialised in nude paintings, is secretly a psychopath who upon seeing beautiful women meets them alone makes them naked and slits their throat using his painting knife after making them laugh loudly. One of his victim's body is found in a vegetable lorry spearheading an investigation by Special branch Inspector Naveen who is clueless regarding the killer's motives. His second victim is one of his models' ,Priya, whom he met recently in a fashion show. Meanwhile, Sunitha, a young woman meets him and develops a friendly relation with him. Rajesh treats her differently and believes her to beautiful in saree. He later kills Kalpana, Sunita's friend, after the three of them have dinner together and provides a hint to Naveen. Upon reaching his dwelling he realises that he has left his knife behind and after brief episodes of suspense and tension he manages to retrieve it and escape without Naveen noticing him. The pressure of the case mounts on the police department who gives Naveen an ultimatum of ten days to catch the killer. A man is shown stalking Rajesh. Rajesh targets his friend, Manoj's wife and proceeds to kill her when she is left alone in her home. However, Praveen, the murdered Priya's boyfriend and Anil, Sunitha's boyfriend, happens to discover a stranger breaking into the house while indulging in voyeurism. While Praveen goes to inform Naveen Anil tries to save the woman but gets attacked by Manoj's dog. By the time, Naveen arrives Anil is left heavily injured while Manoj's