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Gaayapadda-Simham

Review: Gaayapadda Simham – Promising Premise, Underwhelming Payoff

by narendhar

Gaayapadda-Simham

Movie Name : Gaayapadda Simham

Release Date : May 1, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Sree Vishnu, Tharun Bhascker,J.D.Chakravarthy,Faria Abdullah,Maanasa Choudhary,Kasyap Sreenivas,
Vishnu Oi, Harshavardhan, Subhalekha Sudhakar
Director : Kasyap Sreenivas
Producers : Kalyana Chakravarthy Manthina, Bhanu Kiran Pratapa, Vijay Krishna Lingamaneni, Umesh Kumar Bansal
Music Director : Sweekar Agasthi
Cinematographer : Vidya Sagar Chinta
Editor :  Viplav Nyshadam
Related Links : Trailer

Tharun Bhascker has now come up with the comedy drama Gaayapadda Simham. The movie marks the directorial debut of Kashyap Sreenivas. The film has been promoted quite well, and let’s see how it is.

Story:

Darahas (Tharun Bhascker) and YouTuber Shalini (Faria Abdullah) meet through a matchmaking setup, and soon they decide to get married. However, Shalini gets to know that Darahas and her father IG Vijayakanth (Subhaleka Sudhakar) have known each other for a long time. When asked about the same, Vijayakanth starts narrating about Darahas’ past and his connection to gangster Brutal Dharma (JD Chakravarthy).

Plus Points:

Gayapadda Simham features one of the most bizarre and crazy plotlines from Tollywood, and this initially draws our attention into the film’s world. To be able to think something different is definitely appreciable.

Tharun Bhascker is good as Darahas, a youngster who aims to take revenge on POTUS, Donald Trump. Director Kasyap Sreenivas plays a full-length role as the hero’s friend, and he did well. Some scenes evoke decent laughs here and there.

Minus Points:

Gaayapadda Simham aims to be a wacky and eccentric entertainer, but the narrative doesn’t quite pack a punch. Apart from a handful of gags, nothing really works much.

The first half moves at a slow pace, and this part introduces the key characters and their goals, acting as a setup for the chaos and madness that we expect to come. But the way the film ends is disappointing and dull. With such a crazy idea, we expect the goofiness and quirkiness to explode in the second half, but the movie doesn’t fully tap into its potential.

Initially, Sree Vishnu’s role shows promise, and the scenes depicting his peculiar family work to an extent, but the way the character is wrapped up is very underwhelming. The ending fails to live up to the setup established at the beginning. The same goes for JD Chakravarthy’s character. The actor got very less moments to shine, and that’s about it.

The final act mostly relies on spoof comedy, and it doesn’t land as intended. Attempts to generate fun through KGF’s narrative style, and the digs at Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe don’t quite hit the mark. Female leads Manasa Choudhary and Faria Abdullah have very little to do in the narrative.

Technical Aspects:

Sweekar Agasthi’s music is okay, while cinematography by Vidya Sagar Chinta is neat. The production values are good, and editing needed more fine-tuning.

Director Kasyap Sreenivas has come up with a whimsical idea, but the presentation isn’t up to the mark to leave an impact. Very few moments click, and perhaps he should have gone ahead with wacky comedy instead of the parody approach towards the end.

Verdict:

On the whole, Gaayapadda Simham features a very interesting idea, but the execution is underwhelming, with only some scenes generating laughs. The movie promises a wacky ride initially, but the way it concludes lacks the desired impact. Tharun Bhascker did a fine job, and the second half starts well, but the film falls flat as it moves into the parody zone. Had the narrative been handled with more care, the movie would have realized its full potential.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

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Review : Raja Shivaji – Grand Visuals Ruined by Slow Pacing

by narendhar

Movie Name : Raja Shivaji

Release Date : May 1, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Bhagyashree, Vidya Balan
Director : Riteish Deshmukh
Producers : Genelia Deshmukh, Jyoti Deshpande
Music Director : Ajay-Atul
Cinematographer : Santosh Sivan
Editor :  Urvashi Saxena

Related Links : Trailer

Riteish Deshmukh’s highly anticipated directorial venture, Raja Shivaji, hit the screens today. Based on the life of the legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the film features a massive star cast. Let’s see how this grand historical action drama holds up.

Story:

The film traces Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s (Riteish Deshmukh) relentless fight to establish Swarajya. It focuses on the guerrilla warfare tactics he used to counter the Mughal Empire and the Adil Shahi forces. Later, the narrative builds toward the legendary battle against Afzal Khan (Sanjay Dutt), which forms the core of the drama.

Plus Points:

Riteish Deshmukh breathes life into the role of Shivaji Maharaj. His commanding screen presence and strong dialogue delivery drive the movie forward. At the same time, Sanjay Dutt brings a terrifying edge to the cruel Afzal Khan. Bhagyashree also leaves a mark with her dignified performance as Jijabai.

Santosh Sivan’s cinematography is a major asset. Every frame looks stunning, elevating the massive scale of the production. Ajay-Atul’s background score hits the right notes, especially during the war scenes, where it gives you goosebumps. The action sequences look incredibly real, and the highly anticipated Afzal Khan episode stands out as the best part of the second half.

Minus Points:

The biggest hurdle for the film is its lengthy runtime. Clocking in at over three hours, the movie feels a bit heavy to sit through.

While the first half moves at a good pace, the second half slows down significantly, breaking the emotional flow.

Since the movie was originally shot in Marathi, the dubbing issues are clearly visible in other languages. Some scenes retain Marathi dialogues, which might disconnect regular viewers who aren’t familiar with the language.

Technical Aspects:

As a director, Riteish Deshmukh completely succeeds in bringing his grand vision to the big screen. He handles the massive scale without making major mistakes.

Genelia’s production values are top-notch, giving the film a premium feel. However, editor Urvashi Saxena could have chopped off several slow scenes in the second half to keep things crisp. Finally, the background music by Ajay-Atul pushes the entire film to another level.

Verdict:

On the whole, Raja Shivaji is a mildly engaging historical action drama backed by grand visuals. Riteish Deshmukh’s performance and Santosh Sivan’s cinematography stand out. However, the slow narration and excessive runtime weigh the film down. There are some good moments, but ultimately it falls short of being an epic, and ends up as a below-par watch.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

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Patriot

Review: Mammootty’s Patriot – Spy Thriller That Works in Parts

by narendhar

Patriot

Movie Name : Patriot

Release Date : May 01, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Mammootty, Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Nayanthara, Revathi and others
Director : Mahesh Narayanan
Producers : Anto Joseph, K. G. Anil Kumar
Music Director : Sushin Shyam
Cinematographer : Manush Nandan
Editors :  Mahesh Narayanan, Rahul Radhakrishnan
Related Links : Trailer

After nearly 18 years, Mollywood legends Mammootty and Mohanlal reunite for the spy action thriller Patriot. Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the film arrives with high expectations. Here is how it fares.

Story:

Dr. Daniel Joseph (Mammootty), a research scientist at the Defence Research Wing, uncovers a covert spyware network operating through laptops distributed to underprivileged students. The devices, linked to Minister JP Sundaram’s (Rajiv Menon) son Shakti Sundaram (Fahadh Faasil), are embedded with a surveillance program called Periscope that tracks users relentlessly. When a young girl becomes a victim, the stakes escalate. Branded a threat, Daniel escapes to London to expose the truth. Captured and on the run, he navigates a web of deception as deeper layers of the conspiracy unravel. At a crucial juncture, Colonel Rahim Saheb (Mohanlal) enters the narrative, emerging as a key force whose connection to the operation adds weight to Daniel’s mission. The story ultimately follows Daniel’s fight to expose the company behind the spyware and the government backing it.

Plus Points:

The biggest strength of the film is watching Mammootty and Mohanlal share screen space again. Mammootty delivers a composed and authoritative performance, bringing weight to the film’s core theme of privacy and governance. His presence adds credibility and depth to several key moments.

Mohanlal appears in the latter half and makes a noticeable impact, even though his role is limited. The scenes featuring both legends are engaging and carry a certain emotional weight for fans.

Kunchacko Boban plays a significant role and leaves a good impression. Zarin Shihab is effective in her part. Fahadh Faasil, as the antagonist, brings a controlled performance, though the character itself lacks depth.

The film raises relevant and unsettling questions about digital surveillance. It effectively conveys how everyday devices can intrude into personal lives, and how systems meant for public welfare can be misused for control and political advantage. These portions feel grounded and thought provoking.

Minus Points:

Despite a strong premise, the film struggles with consistency. It opens well but loses grip midway, briefly regains momentum, and then falls into a similar uneven rhythm in the second half. This fluctuation affects immersion.

The narrative needed sharper writing and tighter execution. A more focused approach could have sustained the tension throughout.

The emotional layer remains underdeveloped, which limits the film’s impact. Nayanthara’s role feels underwritten and does not contribute meaningfully to the story. Fahadh Faasil’s character, while effective in parts, deserved a stronger arc to elevate the conflict.

Technical Aspects:

Mahesh Narayanan deserves credit for choosing a relevant subject and presenting it with intent. However, the screenplay could have been more refined and cohesive. More shared screen time between Mammootty and Mohanlal would have enhanced the experience.

Manush Nandan’s cinematography is functional. Sushin Shyam’s background score stands out and adds intensity to several sequences. Editing is serviceable but could have been tighter to avoid the dragging portions. Production values are solid and reflect the scale of the project.

Verdict:

On the whole, Patriot is a concept driven thriller that works in parts. Mammootty anchors the film with a strong performance, while Mohanlal adds value in a brief but effective role. The film’s take on privacy and surveillance is relevant, but uneven pacing and underwritten characters hold it back from being consistently engaging. It ends up as just an okay watch that might appeal more to those interested in its theme than its storytelling.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

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Official: Ram Charan’s most-anticipated Peddi locks June 4 release, stunning poster dropped

by narendhar

A few days ago, at the pre-release event of Dhanush’s Kara, Peddi director Buchi Babu Sana stated that the Ram Charan starrer will hit the big screens on June 25. The sudden revelation surprised fans, but they expressed their disappointment about the release date. The plans have now changed, and Peddi will grace cinemas on June 4, 2026.

The team scheduled a grand press meet in Hyderabad to reveal the new date, and the announcement was made with a terrific poster of Charan with blood smeared across his face. His intense expression hints at a strong emotional arc. The shift in the release date comes as a strategic move, with the June 4 slot becoming vacant after Toxic’s postponement.

For the last three days, Ram Charan fans demanded a June 4 release, and now they have got what they precisely wanted. June 4 is an ideal date for the sports action drama, both in the domestic market and international markets.

The first week business of the film will be aided by summer holidays for schools and colleges. Also, there are no Hollywood biggies slated for release during the same time.

Janhvi Kapoor plays the female lead, while Shruti Haasan will be seen in a special song. Shiva Rajkumar, Divvyendu Sharma, Boman Irani, Jagapathi Babu, and Saikumar play vital roles.

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