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Review: Nayanthara’s Hi –  Stale Drama, No Fresh Magic

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Movie Name : Hi

Release Date : August 28, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : Nayanthara, Kavin, Bhagyaraj, Radhika Sarathkumar and Others
Director : Vishnu Edavan
Producers : Vignesh Shivan, Nayanthara, SS Lalit Kumar
Music Director : Jen Martin
Cinematographer : Rajesh Shukla
Editor : Philomin Raj

Related Links : Trailer

Hi is the latest Tamil film of Nayanthara, who has doubled up as the actress and producer. Kavin shares the screen with her in the film, which was released today in both Tamil and Telugu. Here is the review to know how it fares.

Story:

Subrahmanyam (Kavin), a gentle and timid young man from Rajahmundry, has faced rejection from girls at every stage of his life. When his parents arrange his marriage, he decides to run away from home. Meanwhile, Devasena (Nayanthara), a brave and determined woman from Bhimavaram, escapes from an arranged marriage she never wanted. Their paths cross in Hyderabad, and what unfolds between them forms the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

Nayanthara, following her outing in Toxic, appears in a familiar role and does her best to deliver what the film demands. Kavin, who is quite different from her in terms of his character, also puts in a decent performance.

The lead pair looks okay together, and a few of their scenes work to an extent. Apart from the lead actors, the late legend Bhagyaraj makes an impression in his limited screen time. A few comedy scenes work here and there, while the music remains one of the better aspects of the film.

Minus Points:

The rom-com offers nothing particularly new, as the story closely resembles several movies that audiences have seen before. Even with a predictable plot, the story could have been handled more effectively with better writing and execution.

The film loses steam in the second half. Although there are a few gags, the narrative feels stretched in several places. What could have been a better romantic drama falls short because of the weak writing.

Even veterans like Radhika Sarathkumar, Prabhu, and VTV Ganesh have no substantial roles and are largely underutilised. The runtime feels lengthy for a familiar story like this, making it another drawback.

Technical Aspects:

Vishnu Edavan fails to make Hi an engaging watch. He could have done a better job with his directorial debut. He could have handled the story more effectively with a more engaging screenplay. If the scenes involving the lead pair had been written and presented better, the film could have at least been a passable watch.

The cinematography by Rajesh Shukla and Leon Britto is just about adequate, while Jen Martin’s music is a satisfactory aspect. Editing by Philomin Raj needed sharper editing, as several scenes could have been cut to maintain a better pace. The production values are decent, and the Telugu dubbing is fine.

Verdict:

On the whole, Hi offers a very predictable and outdated romantic drama with decent performances from Nayanthara and Kavin. A few comedy scenes work, but the notable supporting actors are largely underutilised. The film fails to make the most of its genre and does not create the intended emotional impact. Overall, Hi is not a film to add to your watchlist, and you can look for better alternatives.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Toxic Review

Review : Yash’s Toxic – High on Swag, Low on Soul

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Toxic Review

Movie Name : Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups

Release Date : August 26, 2026

123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5

Starring : Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, Huma Qureshi and Others
Director : Geetu Mohandas
Producers : Venkat K. Narayana and Yash
Music Directors : Ravi Basrur, Vishal Mishra, and Others
Cinematographer : Rajeev Ravi
Editor : Ujwal Kulkarni

Related Links : Trailer

Toxic marks Rocking Star Yash’s big-screen return after four years, following KGF 2. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film arrived amid massive expectations and strong advance bookings. Whether it lives up to the hype is what this review explores.

Story:

Set in Goa in 1947, Raya (Yash) continues to dominate the illegal trade alongside his sister Ganga (Nayanthara), working for Salvador. Salvador gets his daughter Rebecca (Tara Sutaria) married to Raya. However, Raya falls in love with Nadia (Kiara Advani), a circus performer, and has a child with her. Circumstances eventually force him to leave Nadia. Later, unexpected events unfold, bringing Raya face-to-face with his son, Ticket (Yash). What happens next forms the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

Expectations are naturally high for Toxic, given that it is Yash’s next film after a string of major successes. As expected, the team has created enormous hype around the movie, and that itself is a big win.

Coming to the film, Yash carries the same swag and style that he displayed in the KGF franchise. His screen presence remains strong, and his dialogue delivery follows a similar tone. However, his other role, Ticket, is different in terms of looks and performance. It is interesting to see Yash explore another side of his performance, and he pulls it off well.

Among the five female leads, Kiara Advani gets one of the more substantial roles to perform. Her eyes speak more than her words, and her scenes with Yash work better than most of the film’s emotional portions. She carries the character well.

Huma Qureshi is adequate in her role, though more could have been explored through her character. Nayanthara, too, delivers a restrained performance. Her character has depth, but the writing could have elevated her role further.

Minus Points:

The biggest problem with Toxic is its story and screenplay. The basic story is quite simple, which is not necessarily a problem by itself, but the makers stretch it across 194 minutes without providing enough narrative or emotional development to justify the runtime.

If a scene is going to be stretched, it should have a purpose, whether it is world-building, character development or emotional progression. Unfortunately, Toxic often prolongs scenes without achieving any of these. The first half spends considerable time on violence, intimacy and preachy dialogues, while the actual story barely moves forward. The second half fares no better, with several prolonged episodes that severely test the audience’s patience. In the process, the message and the twist Geetu Mohandas intends to convey get diluted – and eventually lose much of their impact.

The film is undoubtedly stylish, but its visual grandeur repeatedly comes at the expense of substance. At times, you can also spot parallels with a few major films. There are glimpses of interesting ideas, but they are not developed strongly enough to leave a lasting impact.

The star cast is huge, but only a handful of actors get meaningful material. Nayanthara once again delivers a restrained performance, and her character has depth, but she could have been utilized better. Rukmini Vasanth has very little to contribute, while Tara Sutaria also has limited scope. Sudheev Nair gets a role, but even his character could have been utilised better. The rest of the ensemble barely makes an impact. It feels like a waste of such a large and talented cast.

The dialogues sound preachy and unnecessary for much of the runtime. Instead of allowing the characters and situations to speak for themselves, the writing often spells things out.

The film is also packed with violence and intimacy, but their excessive use doesn’t always add value to the narrative. More importantly, the face-offs between Raya and Ticket fail to develop the emotional weight expected from a father-son conflict. Considering that Yash plays both characters, this relationship had the potential to become one of the film’s biggest strengths, but the writing never gives it enough depth.

Technical Aspects:

Geetu Mohandas attempts to tell a story on a massive canvas, and the ambition is clearly visible. However, the direction needed a firmer hand. The inclusion of excessive violence and several scenes that add little to the story ultimately hurt the film’s pacing and impact.

Music by Ravi Basrur and others feels like heavy metal being played right next to your head. The background score is excessively loud in several places, while the characters often seem to scream as though they are miles apart. The songs are also not particularly impressive. Rajeev Ravi’s cinematography is satisfactory and complements the film’s grand scale. The production design and visuals are among the film’s stronger aspects.

Ujwal Kulkarni’s editing is uneven. At certain places, the editing works well, while at others, the film desperately needed tighter cuts. The prolonged sequences contribute heavily to the feeling that the 194-minute runtime is far longer than necessary.

The production values are fine, and the makers clearly haven’t held back in terms of scale. The massive sets, lavish houses, action sequences and overall production design look rich and grand, reflecting the effort and money invested in the film. Unfortunately, the visual grandeur cannot compensate for the weaknesses in the writing.

Verdict:

On the whole, Toxic is not even the fairy tale for grown-ups it promises to be. Yash does his part and remains the film’s biggest strength, but the simple story is stretched far beyond what it can sustain. The emotional impact is diluted by excessive violence, intimate scenes and prolonged sequences, while the preachy dialogues become tiresome. Several characters and their arcs are underdeveloped, weakening the intended impact, and the father-son conflict never gains the emotional depth needed to make their relationship compelling. Toxic looks stylish and expensive, but beneath all the spectacle lies a screenplay too thin to justify its 194-minute runtime. Yash fans and a section of action-film lovers may find it appealing, but the rest can look for better alternatives.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Review: Ravi Teja’s Irumudi – A Beautiful & Emotionally Charged Ride

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Movie Name : Irumudi

Release Date : August 21, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3.5/5
Starring : Raviteja, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sai Kumar, Baby Nakshathra and Others
Director : Shiva Nirvana
Producers : Naveen Yerneni & Y. Ravi Shankar
Music Director : G. V. Prakash Kumar
Cinematographer : Vishnu Sharma
Editor : Prawin Pudi

Related Links : Trailer

After a while, a film of Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja, Irumudi, arrived with solid expectations. The movie directed by Shiva Nirvana features Priya Bhavani Shankar and Baby Nakshatra in key roles. Let’s see how the film is.

Story:

Trinadh (Ravi Teja), a resident of Polluru and an Ayyappa Swamy devotee, owns a banana plantation and loves his daughter Manemma (Baby Nakshatra) to the core. Whatever happens, Manemma tells her father everything, which sometimes leads Trinadh into tussles with some people. Manemma and the village girls go to a neighbouring village for high school, leading to a series of unexpected events that draw Trinadh into action.

Plus Points:

When was the last time we saw a Telugu film with a screenplay that sticks to the story throughout its runtime without any deviations? Well, if you have felt this issue in our industry films lately, then Irumudi is the remedy.

Kudos to Shiva Nirvana for his honest storytelling without including any commercial elements that are not needed for the plot. Not even one scene feels unnecessary in the whole movie. This happens very rarely, and credit where it’s due.

The father-daughter bond is superbly showcased, and it is the biggest draw of Irumudi without an iota of doubt. The combination scenes of Ravi Teja and Baby Nakshatra are beautifully designed and tug at the heartstrings.

Behind the Mass Maharaja persona, there is an extraordinary actor in Ravi Teja whom we haven’t witnessed in recent times. Irumudi brings out the performer in Ravi Teja in full display, and it’s a delight to watch our childhood hero at his best. We only see Trinadh and not Ravi Teja on the screen. Well, when a great actor gets scope to perform, this will be the kind of output. It’s difficult not to fall in love with Ravi Teja’s performance and his heartwarming moments with the child actress.

Baby Nakshatra did a stupendous job. She is adorable and leaves a solid impact by the time the film concludes. Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sai Kumar, Ramesh Indira, and others did well in their respective roles. The intense moments are brilliantly handled with a raw and natural touch, making them all the more impactful.

Minus Points:

In the initial portions of the film, the pacing is slightly slow, and there are visible lip-sync issues in this part, which could have been taken care of. The second half has a few dips at times.

When we look at the crime angle and the big twists, the writing doesn’t feel great, as we have seen similar themes earlier too. But as mentioned earlier, the film wins us over with its honest storytelling.

Technical Aspects:

GV Prakash Kumar’s songs and background score do complete justice to the film. The devotional touch and the rustic nature of the film are neatly brought to life by the music composer. Vishnu Sharma’s cinematography neatly captures the scenic locations of Sileru, making the film visually strong.

The production values are neat, and the editing is satisfactory. Shiva Nirvana’s storytelling is captivating. His making is influenced by films like Rangasthalam and Naa Peru Shiva. Drawing inspiration from other films isn’t wrong, and what matters the most is delivering a good product. Shiva Nirvana scores distinction in this regard. More Telugu films should take the Irumudi route by avoiding unwanted aspects in the name of commercialization.

Verdict:

On the whole, Irumudi is a beautiful emotional ride laced with intense moments and honest storytelling. The Ayyappa Swamy backdrop, father-daughter emotion, Ravi Teja’s spellbinding performance, and, most importantly, the screenplay that stays true to its subject make Irumudi an impactful film. There are a few slow moments, and the themes explored aren’t unique, but the sincere and emotional storytelling overpowers the minor flaws. Ravi Teja is back with a bang. Go for it.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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OTT Review: Pyaar Prema Kalyanam – Telugu-Dubbed Tamil Movie on Netflix

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Movie Name : Pyaar Prema Kalyanam
Streaming Date : August 21, 2026
Streaming Platform : Netflix
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5

Starring : Elan, Saanve Megghana, Radikaa Sarathkumar, and Others
Director : Elan
Producers : Sreenidhi Sagar
Music Directors : Yuvan Shankar
Cinematographer  : Dinesh K. Babu
Editor : Pradeep E. Ragav

Related Links : Trailer

Pyaar Prema Kalyanam is the latest Tamil rom-com now streaming on Netflix. Starring Elan and Saanve Megghana in the lead roles, the film is also available in Telugu. Here’s our review.

Story:

Elan (Elan) is a civil engineer who leaves his job in Dubai and returns home with one goal: to find a girl, fall in love, and get married. He eventually meets social media influencer Pavitra aka Purple Pavi (Saanve Megghana), and the two fall in love and get married. However, Pavi makes a decision that creates a major conflict in their married life. What is her decision? What happens as a result, and how the couple deals with the situation forms the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

Indian marriages come with several traditional expectations. One of the most common is that the bride is expected to leave her home and settle down with the groom’s family. But what happens when the roles are reversed? This forms the basic premise of Pyaar Prema Kalyanam, and the film’s strength lies in handling this idea with humour rather than turning it into a serious social drama.

The comedy in the first half works well, particularly in the portions involving Elan and his playful interactions with the bride’s family. His attempts to irritate his mother-in-law and his antics around his wife are handled well and generate a fair share of laughs.

Saanve Megghana delivers a decent performance and brings the required energy to her character. Radhika Sarathkumar also contributes well to the comedy and delivers a solid performance. The lead pair share decent chemistry, although their relationship could have been developed better.

The idea of a man taking on household responsibilities while his wife goes to work and manages the family is not new. However, the film’s light-hearted treatment of these situations makes them entertaining.

Minus Points:

The premise is interesting, but the story built around it remains fairly simple. Writer-director Elan could have developed the central conflict more effectively, particularly in the second half.

The film does not need to become a serious social drama, but the subject could have been given more emotional depth within its light-hearted framework. The societal pressure and judgement that can arise when traditional gender roles are reversed could have been explored more effectively. This would have added more weight to the story without taking away from its fun quotient.

Saanve Megghana is good in her role, but her character could have been written with more depth. She is an expressive actor, and the film does not fully utilise her potential. MS Bhaskar and Yogi Babu are also underutilised. Both are capable performers with strong comic timing, but the film does not make the most of their presence, which feels like a missed opportunity.

The second half is not as consistent as the first. A few narrative bumps slow the film down, although the later portions manage to recover some of the lost momentum.

Technical Aspects:

Yuvan Shankar Raja’s background score adds energy to the lighter moments, while editor Pradeep E. Ragav keeps the proceedings moving at a reasonable pace. The production design and SFX work are noteworthy. The cinematography is satisfactory, and the overall production values are decent.

The biggest scope for improvement, however, lies in the writing. Elan shows promise as an actor, but the screenplay could have been stronger in developing the characters and the central conflict. The two-hour runtime works well for an OTT viewing experience, keeping the film reasonably crisp. The Telugu dubbing is also handled well.

Verdict:

On the whole, Pyaar Prema Kalyanam is a watchable rom-com that finds humour in the reversal of traditional marital roles. Elan makes a promising debut as an actor, while Saanve Megghana delivers a decent performance. The comedy works well, particularly in the first half, but the simple storyline, slightly uneven second half, and underdeveloped emotional conflict hold the film back. The underutilisation of a few supporting actors is another drawback. Overall, Pyaar Prema Kalyanam is a fun one-time watch for its comedy and light-hearted take on a familiar social idea.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

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Review: Hushar Pittalu – Good Intentions, Limited Impact

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Movie Name : Hushar Pittalu

Release Date : August 15, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Vasavi Ganesan, Ansh, Govardhan Reddy, Ramesh Nakirekanti, Anji, and others
Director : Bhikshu
Producer : Venkat Yadav
Music Director : Charan Arjun
Cinematographer : Rudra Sai
Editor : Marthand K Venkatesh

Related Links : Trailer

Hushar Pittalu, a youthful romantic drama centered on teenage relationships, has hit the screens this week. Let’s see how it fares.

Story:

Set in a small village, Ravi (Ansh) completes his tenth standard and moves into intermediate, while Chitti (Vasavi Ganesan) is still in school. The two teenagers are attracted to each other and soon cross their boundaries.

Meanwhile, their parents place all their hopes on them, dreaming of a bright future for their children. How do Ravi and Chitti handle the consequences of their actions? Do they realize their mistakes and change their ways? What lesson does the story leave behind? The film holds the answers.

Plus Points:

Director Bhikshu takes up a bold subject and delivers a timely message about how today’s teenagers can lose focus and drift away from their goals. The movie does not shy away from showing these harsh realities while blending in good comedy elements to keep things engaging.

Both the first and second halves offer well-placed comedy scenes along with thought-provoking moments. Debutante Vasavi Ganesan takes on a daring role and plays it with confidence. Lead actor Ansh fits his part well, bringing a natural screen presence and good expressions.

Govardhan Reddy and Ramesh Nakirekanti do a fine job as concerned parents, adding emotional weight to the story. The rest of the supporting cast does justice to their roles.

Minus Points:

While the core message is meaningful, the execution leans too heavily into explicit situations. The romantic track and physical intimacy between the two school-aged teenagers feel overdone in several scenes.

Because of this excessive bold content, the movie will not sit well with family audiences. The makers should have exercised more restraint in these sequences.

Aside from the bold scenes, the plot lacks fresh surprises. Since the core premise is easy to guess, the narrative turns quite predictable. A few scenes also lack basic logic and could have been written better.

Technical Aspects:

Despite featuring mostly newcomers, the production values are decent. Charan Arjun’s music stands out as a major plus, with catchy songs and well-written lyrics that match the rural setting. Rudra Sai’s camera work is neat, and editor Marthand K Venkatesh keeps the runtime crisp.

Director Bhikshu succeeds in getting his core point across. However, in his attempt to make the story hard-hitting, the adult scenes cross the line at times. If you look past the uncomfortable moments, his direction shows promise.

Verdict:

On the whole, Hushar Pittalu works as a message-oriented youth drama, but its heavy dose of bold scenes works against it. Honest performances from the young leads, decent comedy, and touching parental emotions are the main positives. However, the explicit content and predictable screenplay limit its reach, making it a strictly okay watch that is not suited for family viewing.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Review: Pallaburusu – Routine Emotional Drama

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Movie Name : Pallaburusu

Release Date : August 14, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Sudhakar Reddy, Muralidhar Goud, Prajwal, Gomathi Reddy, Ashik Reddy, and others
Director : Uday Chauhan
Producers : Annapurna Studios, Aditya Pitti, Vivek Krishnani
Music Director : Pawan CH
Cinematographer : Vinod K Bhandari
Editor : Srujana Adusumilli

Related Links : Trailer

Pallaburusu, starring Balagam fame Sudhakar Reddy and Muralidhar Goud in the lead roles, has now hit the big screens. Let’s see how it fares.

Story:

Set in a small village in Telangana, Shambo (Sudhakar Reddy) suffers from a severe toothache. Following a doctor’s advice to use a proper toothbrush (palla burusu), he asks his son Tirupati (Muralidhar Goud) to buy one along with his medicines. Things quickly go south between the two.

Upset over being ignored, Shambo files a police complaint against his son for refusing to buy him a toothbrush and a few other reasons. Meanwhile, Tirupati plans to sell an acre of his father’s land to clear his debts. How does this conflict between father and son get resolved? Did Shambo file the case just for a toothbrush, or is there a deeper reason? The film holds the answers.

Plus Points:

The film touches upon the theme of what aging parents expect from their grown-up children and how modern lifestyle shifts have increased the emotional distance between family members, which is appreciable. Sudhakar Reddy shines once again in the lead role. After Balagam, he delivers another strong performance as a vulnerable father longing for his son’s care.

Muralidhar Goud complements him well as the hard-hearted son who later realizes his mistakes. Shambo’s friend circle brings a few light laughs and leads smoothly into a well-executed emotional climax. Young actors Prajwal and Gomathi Reddy share good on-screen chemistry and provide decent light-hearted moments. The rest of the supporting cast does justice to their roles.

Minus Points:

The narrative runs on a flat note until it reaches the climax. Since Telugu cinema has seen similar rural family dramas like Balagam in recent times, the storyline lacks freshness.

A few crucial scenes could have been handled much better. The initial conflict between the father and son isn’t established strongly enough, which takes away the emotional weight from the early portions.

As a result, the entire first half feels quite slow and barely keeps the viewers engaged. The intent is sincere, but that alone doesn’t suffice to provide a good experience.

Technical Aspects:

The production values are decent and capture the rustic Telangana backdrop naturally. Pawan CH’s music is good, especially the emotional song in the climax, which has meaningful lyrics. Vinod K Bhandari’s camera work is neat, while Srujana Adusumilli’s editing is passable.

Director Uday Chauhan handles the emotional scenes in the climax decently, but fails to make the overall film compelling. The first half is dragged out, and the familiar treatment makes it feel like an ordinary take on a known concept.

Verdict:

On the whole, Pallaburusu has good intentions, but the presentation is not impressive. While Sudhakar Reddy and Muralidhar Goud deliver honest performances and the climax has decent emotional moments, the flat narrative, weak first half, and routine storyline pull it down.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Vishwanath And Sons Review

Review: Vishwanath And Sons – A Light-Hearted Family Drama

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Vishwanath And Sons Review

Movie Name : Vishwanath And Sons

Release Date : August 14, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Suriya Sivakumar, Mamitha Baiju, Raveena Tandon, Radhika Sarathkumar and Others
Director : Venky Atluri
Producer : Suryadevara Naga Vamsi
Music Director : G. V. Prakash Kumar
Cinematographer : Nimish Ravi
Editor : Navin Nooli

Related Links : Trailer

After blockbuster Karuppu, Suriya has come up with the family drama Vishwanath And Sons. The movie is directed by Venky Atluri and features Mamitha Baiju as the female lead. Amidst good hype, the movie hit the big screens today. Let’s see how the movie is.

Story:

Sanjay Vishwanath (Suriya) is a prominent industrialist who is also a professional pistol shooter. His mother (Radhika) wants him to get married, but Sanjay doesn’t have a good opinion of marriage. This is when Maddy (Mamitha Baiju) enters his life and gets closer to him. The rest of the film revolves around the family drama and the emotional dynamic between the lead pair.

Plus Points:

The first half is thoroughly captivating, with lively moments and fun portions. The story is set up well, the bond between Radhika and Suriya is established neatly, and the female lead enters the frame at the right moment.

After Mamitha’s entry, the comedy is offered in plenty. Radhika, who plays Suriya’s mother, and Sunil Reddy, who plays Suriya’s brother-in-law, add more fun to the proceedings alongside the lead pair. The portions featuring these four help maintain a pleasant smile throughout the first half.

Suriya brings his charm to the character of Sanjay Vishwanath and amuses with his effortless screen presence and style. He is a delight to watch in the lighter portions. The emotional segment where he breaks down showcases the performer in him.

The casting of Mamitha Baiju is the best thing to have happened to the movie. She, as a spirited, energetic, and cheerful girl, does a phenomenal job. It won’t be an overstatement to say that the actress dominates the proceedings when the focus is on comedy. Radhika and Sunil Reddy are splendid in their respective roles.

Minus Points:

The graph drops in the second half with formulaic writing kicking in. The intent seems to be keeping the goings-on light-hearted with simple family moments and conflict resolutions. However, some portions feel artificial and lack depth. These conflicts are not shown in detail and are also resolved too quickly.

From the time the narrative shifts to Ooty, the focus becomes less on the lead pair. The emotional dynamic between Suriya and Mamitha Baiju should have been explored better. The climax is neat and simple, but the scenes leading up to it should have been more effective.

The dialogue about relationships uttered by Raveena Tandon is questionable. The lyrics in the Telugu version are decent, but they could have been still better.

Technical Aspects:

GV Prakash Kumar’s music is neat and in sync with the film’s light-hearted mood. Nimish Ravi’s cinematography is elegant. The house portions are neatly shot. The production values are solid. Some scenes could have been trimmed in the second half.

Coming to director Venky Atluri, he handled the first half quite effectively, but the second half is not as good as the first. Since this is coming right after Lucky Baskhar, expectations are high, as that film set a gold standard. Writing-wise, there are some issues.

Verdict :

On the whole, Vishwanath And Sons is a light-hearted family entertainer with a good amount of fun moments and decent emotions. Suriya is charming playing his age, while Mamitha takes the cake with her lively performance. The first half is highly entertaining, but the writing stumbles a bit in the latter half with some slow-paced and formulaic moments. However, the proceedings are kept breezy, making it a neat family watch. Given the film’s style, it will likely appeal more to Telugu audiences than Tamil audiences.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Makutam Review

Review: Vishal’s Makutam – A Disappointing Action Drama

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Makutam Review

Movie Name : Makutam

Release Date : August 14, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2/5
Starring : Vishal, Anjali, Dushara Vijayan, John Vijay, Jeya prakash, Ajay, Vamsi Krishna, Abu Salim, Arjai, Vj Jhansi, Padam Kumar, Sabhumon
Director : Vishal
Producers : B.Suresh, R.B.Jeevan Choudary, Jithan Ramesh, Jiiva
Music Director : G.V Prakash Kumar
Cinematographers : Richard.M. Nathan & Abinandhan Ramanujam
Editor : N.B Srikanth

Related Links : Trailer

Makutam marks the directorial debut of hero Vishal. The movie, also starring Anjali and Dushara Vijayan, hit the big screens today. Let’s see how it is.

Story:

Krupa (Vishal) falls in love with Jamuna (Dushara Vijayan) and marries her. He leads a simple life with his wife and their two children. On the other hand, he struggles in his job as a medical representative, earning a meagre salary. Krupa buys a BMW car because of a lie he tells his father-in-law. Following a few dramatic developments, Krupa travels to Ooty with his family in the newly purchased car. They are attacked there, and his wife and daughter are killed.

Why would someone earning just Rs. 25,000 a month be targeted? What is the reason behind the attack? Who are Linga (Vishal) and Annapoorna (Anjali), and what is their connection with Krupa? What twists and turns does the story take eventually? The film answers these questions.

Plus Points:

As always, Vishal delivers a strong performance. His acting in the key action, emotional, and dramatic sequences is one of the major highlights of the film. Vishal showcases different variations in his character neatly.

Dushara Vijayan fits well into her role, and her performance is particularly good in a few scenes. Anjali is effective in her role, and the depth in her character is impressive. Her screen presence is also very good. Thambi Ramaiah and Jayaprakash are fine in their respective roles, while the rest of the cast also does well.

Minus Points:

The film relies heavily on a routine template. Makutam unfolds with predictable emotions and boring action sequences. Many scenes in the narrative feel dull. Vishal, who is also the director, fails to come up with an engaging treatment for the film. In particular, he fails to design the narrative in an interesting manner. Several portions feel very slow-paced.

The second half is stretched out far too much. Except for the climax, the film fails to build curiosity in the proceedings. The track between Vishal and the villains is particularly disappointing.

Some incidents also feel overly cinematic. Even a routine story can be presented well, but this is where Makutam stumbles badly. The hero’s characterisation could have been written more effectively. Overall, both the central theme and storytelling fail to make an impact.

Technical Aspects:

Richard M. Nathan’s cinematography is good. He has captured the key scenes as well as the action sequences effectively, in line with the story and its proceedings. However, the editing is below the mark. The songs composed by GV Prakash Kumar are just okay, while the background score is impressive.

As a writer and director, Vishal fails to do justice to the film. Producer R.B. Choudary has mounted the film without compromising on the production, and the production values are excellent.

Verdict:

On the whole, Makutam is an outdated action and emotional drama that fails to impress. Despite having a decent emotional core and conflict, the film doesn’t establish them effectively enough for the audience to get emotionally invested. The routine template, weak screenplay, and the overly stretched second half with slow pacing make it very difficult to sit through. You can skip this film.

123telugu.com Rating: 2/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Review: MS Raju’s Agadha – Only for a few thrills

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Movie Name : Agadha

Release Date : 14 August, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Shravan Reddy, Ulka Gupta, Jovika Vijay Kumar
Director : M. S. Raju
Producers : Kasi Visalakshi Balusu
Music Director : Rakesh Venkatapuram
Cinematographer : Nani Chamidisetty
Editor : Junaid Siddiqui

Related Links : Trailer

Popular producer MS Raju returned to direction with the mystic horror thriller Agadha. The movie starring Kamakshi Bhaskarla hit the big screens today. Let’s see how it is.

Story:

Mahima (Ulka Gupta) and her family become victims of an evil force named Agadha. One mysterious event after another keeps happening. Mahima’s relative and famous yogini Mahadevi (Kamakshi Bhaskarla) comes to their rescue. Who is Agadha? Why is it so powerful? Did Mahadevi confront Agadha? These questions form the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

The visual aesthetics are neatly handled, giving the vibe of a horror film. The colour palette is in perfect sync with the dark nature of Agadha. The locations look natural, and credit goes to the technical team.

The second half of the film has a couple of good moments. The scene where Kamakshi Bhaskarla tries to control a spirit-possessed person is effective. The key twist revealed in the latter half is decent

This genre has become a walk in the park for Kamakshi Bhaskarla, and the actress does her job quite nicely in Agadha too. Shravan Reddy, Jovika Vijakumar, and Ulka Gupta are fine in their respective parts.

Minus Points:

Agadha had the potential to be an arresting horror thriller, but the execution is where the film doesn’t pack a punch. The screenplay is flat for the most part, with barely any exciting elements.

The much-required thrills are missing big time. The problem isn’t with the jump scares, regarding which the team had already set the right expectations. The tension is missing in the proceedings, making it difficult to stay invested.

The narrative doesn’t have enough meat, as it lacks urgency. The pacing is slow in most parts. The first half, especially, doesn’t offer much apart from introducing the conflict. Even after a key character goes missing, the people close to him don’t seem to bat an eye, which comes across as surprising.

Technical Aspects:

Rakesh Venkatapuram’s background score and Nani Chamidisetty’s visuals are impactful. The editing could have been much better. Production values are fine.

Direction by MS Raju leaves a lot to be desired. The subject looks interesting on paper, but the same wasn’t translated on to the screen effectively. Apart from a few moments, the screenplay isn’t exciting.

Verdict:

On the whole, Agadha is a below-par horror thriller with a decent premise, but the storytelling isn’t up to the mark. Kamakshi Bhaskarla is neat in her role, while the rest of the cast are decent. The thrills are missing, as one would expect in such a film. There are only a few moments that hold our attention, but overall, the movie falls short of being satisfactory.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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