Latest Telugu Movie Review

Review: Mohanlal’s Drishyam 3 – Falls Short of the Franchise Magic

by narendhar May 22, 2026

Movie Name : Drishyam 3

Release Date : May 21, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Mohanlal, Meena, Siddique, Asha Sharath, Murali Gopy, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil and others
Director : Jeethu Joseph
Producer : Antony Perumbavoor
Music Director : Anil Johnson
Cinematographer : Satheesh Kurup
Editor : Vinayak VS
Related Links : Trailer

The widely acclaimed crime thriller franchise Drishyam headlined by Mohanlal and created by Jeethu Joseph has returned with the third part. Amidst solid hype, the movie hit the big screens today. Let’s see how it is.

Story:

Georgekutty (Mohanlal) finally makes the film Drishyam, which he had been planning to produce for a long time. Superstar Arun Kumar (Biju Menon) plays the lead role in it, and the movie becomes a box office blockbuster. As a result, media attention shifts towards Georgekutty and his family. Two media reporters closely follow Georgekutty’s movements, hoping to find clues about Varun’s (Roshan Basheer) mortal remains and gain mileage in the industry. This also happens to be the time George plans to marry off his daughter Anju George (Ansiba Hassan) into a good family. What happens next forms the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

The Complete Actor Mohanlal has portrayed many fantastic and challenging roles in his career, and playing Georgekutty once again is just a walk in the park for him. The subtle expressions he gives during tense moments show how great an actor he is. As a person trying to save his family from a haunted past, Mohanlal is flawless.

The second half is where the film gets going with neat momentum, and there are some interesting portions that hold attention. Georgekutty lands in trouble as the cops manage to find some clues about his past actions, and the tension is maintained for a while in the second half, making the experience mildly engaging. Others did a satisfactory job. Fun moments featuring Esther Anil click decently.

Minus Points:

Every good franchise will have a saturation point if the conflicts get repetitive. When a new dimension or story is explored, it offers something fresh for the audience, and the franchise’s popularity helps the film commercially. But when the same problem is explored time and again, one may experience fatigue. The climax of Drishyam 3 leaves exactly a similar impression.

The screenplay pattern of Drishyam 3 is largely identical to the second installment. The first half is used as the primary set-up for the threats the protagonist faces in the second half. The second half in Drishyam 3 does manage to engage to an extent, but the climax lacks the wow factor and magic that the previous films delivered.

We know Georgekutty will somehow get away using his tricks, and hence we get a been-there-seen-that feeling. Neither do the twists take us by surprise, nor is the emotional part strong. These twists might have worked better in another film, but with each Drishyam installment, Jeethu Joseph has raised the benchmark for the genre to such a level that Drishyam 3 doesn’t meet the gold standard he himself set.

Since the first half is slow-paced and doesn’t have much to offer, a viewer expects a lot from the second half, especially the climax. The finale is not only less impactful, but it is also portrayed in a slightly confusing manner.

Technical Aspects:

The Telugu dubbing is decent. Anil Johnson’s background score is in sync with the film’s tone. The cinematography by Satheesh Kurup is good, and so are the production values. The editing could have been sharper in the first half.

Jeethu Joseph doesn’t quite meet expectations this time around, as the film works only in parts and doesn’t leave a lasting impression like its predecessors. The emotional depth is clearly missing in the threequel. It may not be a wise option to continue the franchise further, as it could affect the reputation it has built over the years.

Verdict:

On the whole, Drishyam 3 doesn’t match the brilliance of the first and second installments of the franchise and works only in bits and pieces. The first half starts slow, the interval is decent, and the second half initially engages, but as the film moves towards the climax, the impact drops considerably due to the similar screenplay structure experienced before. The twists aren’t solid, and the emotions aren’t presented well. Drishyam 3 is not a bad film, but it doesn’t entirely meet expectations due to the standard that Jeethu Joseph himself set with the past two films.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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May 22, 2026

Review: Godari Gattupaina – Works in parts

by narendhar May 9, 2026

Movie Name : Godari Gattupaina

Release Date : May 08, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Sumanth Prabhas, Nidhi Pradeep and others
Director : Subash Chandra
Producer : Abhinav Rao
Music Director : Naga Vamshi
Cinematographer : Saai Santosh
Editor : Anil Pasala
Related Links : Trailer

Sumanth Prabhas has now come up with the romantic drama Godari Gattupaina. Let’s see how the film is.

Story:

Raju (Sumanth Prabhas) belonging to Velpuru is an auto driver. He accidentally meets engineering student Maaya (Nidhi Pradeep) and falls in love with her. Initially, Maaya hates Raju, but slowly she develops feelings for him. However, Maaya doesn’t do anything that her father Sam Babu (Jagapathi Babu) dislikes. How Raju wins Maaya’s hand in marriage forms the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

Music is the quintessential aspect of any love story, and Godari Gattupaina gets this element right. The first half almost feels like a musical entertainer with back-to-back songs that are soothing to listen to and pleasant to watch. Music drives the proceedings for most of the first half.

Sumanth Prabhas did a fine job in Godari Gattupaina. His effort to ace the Godavari slang is visible. As Sumanth stated in the interviews, the film tries to portray an auto driver as innocent and a good soul, avoiding the usual mass angle, which adds freshness to the character.

Debutant Nidhi Pradeep is neat in her role. She displayed conviction in her performance and appeared confident throughout the film. The drama during the last half-an-hour is decent. Sudarshan evokes some laughs here and there with his comic timing.

Minus Points:

Apart from the love story, Godari Gattupaina also aims to showcase a father-daughter bond, but the movie doesn’t do proper justice to this aspect. More scenes highlighting the bond could have been included to bring the desired impact at the end. Jagapathi Babu’s screen time should have been increased by reducing some unnecessary scenes.

There isn’t anything fresh or magical about the love story, with the scenes being quite normal in nature. The conflict point between the lead pair comes suddenly and should have had proper establishment beforehand. Given the plot, Godari Gattupaina feels too long, and it could have been easily 20 minutes shorter.

There is a block that revolves around a false rape accusation, and the entire sequence isn’t treated sensibly. A dialogue by the hero’s father casually brushes aside the damage a false accusation can cause to a man while only treating the woman’s reputation as serious. These lines come across as disrespectful, and this portion should have had a more balanced approach.

Technical Aspects:

Naga Vamshi’s music is the heart and soul of Godari Gattupaina, with almost every song striking a chord. The euphonious soundtrack, backed by Saai Santosh’s cinematography depicting the Godavari backdrop, makes the film somewhat work. The editing is below-par.

The production values are neat. Direction by Subash Chandra could have been much better. The culmination happens well, but the scenes leading up to the finale are underwhelming.

Verdict:

On the whole, Godari Gattupaina is a regular love story with only a few moments clicking, but it does have a very good album. Sumanth Prabhas and female lead Nidhi Pradeep did well in their respective roles, and the pre-climax to climax stretch works. However, the routine love scenes, prolonged duration, and some problematic portions work against the film.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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May 9, 2026

Review: Lavanya Tripathi’s Sathi Leelavathi – Promising Idea, Messy Execution

by narendhar May 9, 2026

Movie Name : Sathi Leelavathi

Release Date : May 08, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Lavanya Tripathi Konidela, Dev Mohan, Naresh, VTV Ganesh, Sapthagiri, Motta Rajendran, Jaffer Sadiq, Tagubothu Ramesh, Joshi and others.
Director : Tatineni Satya
Producer : Nagaa Mohan
Music Director : Mickey J Meyer
Cinematographer : Binendra Menon
Editor : Sathish Surya
Related Links : Trailer

Lavanya Tripathi has now come up with the family drama Sathi Leelavathi. Let’s see how the film is.

Story:

Sathi Leelavathi follows Leela (Lavanya Tripathi), a film director who marries Ram Sethu (Dev Mohan), whom she has known since childhood. However, their married life runs into problems, forcing Leela to take a shocking step. What is it? Did the lead pair separate, or did they solve their issues? The rest of the story unfolds around these questions.

Plus Points:

Lavanya Tripathi did a very fine job as Leela. The first half showcases the crazy and eccentric side of the female lead, and these scenes are mildly engaging. The witty face-off scenes between the lead pair work decently.

Comparatively, the first half of the film is bearable, and a few fun scenes work well here. Jaffar Sadiq generates some laughs, and the movie begins on a promising note.

Minus Points:

Sathi Leelavathi attempts to portray the issues in married life, but the film loses steam after the midway mark. The first half revolves largely around the lead pair, but the focus shifts to multiple subplots and comedy tracks in the latter hour, deviating from the primary point.

The fun episodes hardly work in the second half, making the film difficult to sit through. The entire episode featuring Saptagiri fails to create the intended impact, while Motta Rajendran’s track involving adult web shows turns irritating.

The emotional angle that emerges towards the end lacks both depth and logic. However, the biggest issue with the film is that it is made to appease family audiences, yet several dialogues carry double-meaning humor, defeating the very purpose the film tries to serve.

Dev Mohan looked neat, but his Telugu dubbing feels completely off and ends up affecting his performance. Madonna Sebastian is wasted in a poorly written role. VTV Ganesh and Naresh don’t have much to do.

Technical Aspects:

Micky J Meyer did a decent job, and the wedding song in the first half is good. Cinematography by Binendra Menon is effective, and production values are neat. Some portions could have been shortened in the second half.

Tatineni Satya chose a relevant subject, but his narration is neither entertaining nor engaging. After a point, the film runs out of ideas and drifts into unnecessary portions, taking away from the decent premise.

Verdict:

On the whole, Sathi Leelavathi turns out to be an underwhelming family entertainer. Despite dealing with a relevant subject, the film is weighed down by unnecessary comedy tracks in the second half. Lavanya Tripathi delivers a good performance, and the film starts on a promising note with some fun moments. However, the chaotic second half deviates from the core theme and ultimately weakens the overall impact.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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May 9, 2026

Review: Dhanush’s Kara – Familiar plot, Satisfactory execution

by narendhar April 30, 2026

Movie Name : Kara

Release Date : April 30, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Dhanush, Mamitha Baiju, K.S. Ravikumar, Karunas, Jayaram, Prithvi Pandiarajan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, M.S. Baskar, Sreeja Ravi & Others.
Director : Vignesh Raja
Producer : Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh
Music Director : GV Prakash Kumar
Cinematographer : Theni Eswar ISC
Editor : Sreejith Sarang
Related Links : Trailer

Dhanush has now come up with the rural heist thriller Kara. The film is directed by Vignesh Raja of Por Thozhil fame. Let’s see how the movie is.

Story:

Karasaami (Dhanush), a thief, leaves his family behind and marries Malli (Mamitha Baiju). The duo works at a small hotel in Renigunta, Andhra Pradesh, to make a living. However, Karasaami is not satisfied with his financial situation. He returns to his father, Kandhasaamy (K. S. Ravikumar), seeking financial support. There, he learns that his father is trapped in a debt spiral after taking a bank loan. Karasaami realizes that banks are exploiting innocent farmers and decides to rob them. The rest of the story follows Karasaami’s attempts at robbery.

Plus Points:

The best part about Kara is that it sticks to its core theme from the beginning without deviating from the storyline. Even during the ordinary scenes, we stay glued to the screen since the narrative remains focused.

The heist episodes are designed superbly and are sure to keep us on the edge of our seats. Especially, the interval sequence is brilliantly executed and whistle-worthy. What makes these sequences more engaging is that the film initially portrays the protagonist’s failed attempts and vulnerability rather than presenting him as an unstoppable force, making the character arc feel natural. The cat-and-mouse game between Dhanush and the cops is nicely written and delivered.

To avoid a repetitive feel, Vignesh Raja constantly throws new challenges at the hero, making each theft sequence distinct from the other. Dhanush is a gem of an actor who can never go wrong with his performance. With Kara, he once again proves why he is hailed as an actor par excellence. Be it his intensity in the thrilling robbery scenes or his subtlety in emotional moments, Dhanush delivers his A-game throughout.

The emotional moments between the father and son work well in the first half. GV Prakash Kumar’s background score is scintillating and aligns perfectly with the narrative. His score elevates the impact effectively in several key moments. Suraj Venjaramoodu is stunning as a cop, highly determined to catch the thief. KS Ravi Kumar is solid in the father role, while Jayaram is too good as the regional bank manager. Karunas and others did well, too.

Minus Points:

The heist moments are undoubtedly brilliant, but the driving force behind the robbery scenes is the exploitation by banks through high interest rates and other charges. This theme has been explored multiple times in mainstream cinema, with the recent example being Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan. While the core idea isn’t entirely new and may remind viewers of older films at times, the presentation keeps the proceedings engaging.

The director takes his time establishing the key characters and the central conflict, which makes parts of the first half feel slow-paced. The Telugu dubbing could have been better, as the dialogues occasionally sound a bit odd.

Mamitha Baiju appears convincing as a village belle, but she is underutilized. She gets limited screen time, and the emotional scenes in the latter half needed more impact to elevate the narrative further. In the end, Kara enters a Robin Hood-esque zone, which could have been avoided.

Technical Aspects:

GV Prakash Kumar’s songs may not have worked well as standalone tracks, but they fit the narrative effectively. As mentioned earlier, the background score is one of the main highlights. Theni Eswar’s cinematography is impactful, as he neatly captures the rustic setting of the film. The editing is in sync with the director’s vision. The production design is impressive, showcasing the 90s vibes.

Director Vignesh Raja delivers on the screenplay front, even though the chosen premise isn’t unique. The rural setup and the consistent storytelling throughout the film keep us engaged for the most part.

Verdict:

On the whole, Kara is a satisfactory period heist thriller set against a rural backdrop. The subject isn’t fresh and has been explored several times before, but Vignesh Raja’s grounded narration and well-executed heist episodes keep the proceedings engaging. Dhanush is extraordinary and is well supported by Jayaram and Suraj Venjaramoodu. Mamitha Baiju has a limited scope, and the emotional moments in the second half needed more punch. If you like watching heist thrillers, this film can be given a try.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

April 30, 2026

Review: Adivi Sesh’s Dacoit – Gripping action drama

by narendhar April 11, 2026

Movie Name : Dacoit

Release Date : April 10, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, Anurag Kashyap, Prakash Raj, Sunil, Atul Kulkarni, Zayn Marie Khan, Kamakshi Bhaskarla
Director : Shaneil Deo
Producer : Supriya Yarlagadda
Music Director : Bheems Ceciroleo
Cinematographer : Danush Bhaskar
Editor : Kodati Pavan Kalyan

Related Links : Trailer

Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur’s romantic action drama Dacoit has now hit the big screens. The film marks the directorial debut of Shaneil Deo. Amidst good expectations, the film hit the big screens and let’s see how it is.

Story:

Haridas a.k.a Hari (Adivi Sesh) and Juliet a.k.a Saraswati (Mrunal Thakur) are lovers who wish to stand by each other through thick and thin. However, destiny has other plans for them. Hari lands in jail, while Saraswati marries someone else. How the two cross paths again and become important in each other’s lives forms the crux of Dacoit.

Plus Points:

Unlike Adivi Sesh’s usual thrillers, this one doesn’t rely on a complicated plot. Dacoit is straightforward in that sense, but the screenplay sprinkles arresting moments across both halves, keeping the narrative engaging.

There are two solid twists in the second half that will genuinely catch you off guard. They arrive just when the story seems to be heading in a simple, predictable direction, making the film more impactful.

The second half features well-designed action blocks with engaging chase sequences, good emotions, and twists that work fairly well. The Kannepettaro song remix, coupled with the title card sequence, delivers goosebumps.

Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur carry the film almost entirely. It’s their chemistry, confrontations, and actions that drive most of the narrative. Adivi Sesh shows noticeable improvement in emotional scenes, while he continues to impress with his trademark style.

Mrunal Thakur delivers a very good performance in a role that changes paths in different situations. With Dacoit, she once again proves she’s not just a beauty but a good performer with strong acting talent. Among the supporting cast, Anurag Kashyap and Kamakshi Bhaskarla leave an impact.

Minus Points:

There are twists in Dacoit for which Sesh is synonymous, but the kind of newness he brings to his films through stories is missing here. If you are looking for an out-of-the-box concept, then you might be a bit disappointed, as Dacoit is all about two estranged lovers who reunite to achieve a common goal.

There are certain slow moments here and there which diminish the overall feel. The first half takes more time to establish the characters and the conflict point, and here the editing could have been better.

The special song featuring Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh and singer Jonita Gandhi was much-hyped, but it doesn’t land as effectively as the makers intended. The Rayalaseema slang by Sesh isn’t impressive and has scope for improvement. Certain dialogues were not conveyed properly.

Technical Aspects:

Songs by Bheems Ceciroleo are decent, while the background score by Gyaan is appealing in the action part. Danush Bhaskar’s cinematography is splendid. The way the chase and action sequences are designed is excellent. The production values are first rate.

Debut director Shaneil Deo did a satisfactory job with Dacoit. He along with Sesh worked on the screenplay part, and this aspect makes the film engaging despite the regular nature of the plot. Some scenes needed more clarity as they feel incomplete.

Verdict:

On the whole, Dacoit is a compelling romantic action drama that has a fair share of good moments. Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur shoulder the film with their impressive performances. The story isn’t fresh, but the screenplay hooks us for the most part, and the twists work in the film’s favour. There are certain slow moments here and there, and dubbing issues at times reduce the overall impact. If you are looking for an intense action drama, Dacoit will work for you.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

April 11, 2026