Author: Chiranjeevi Reddy

Pushpa: The Rise is a high-octane action-drama set in the Rayalaseema region, revolving around the illegal trade of red sandalwood.
Pushpa Raj (Allu Arjun) is a rugged, ambitious laborer who starts off as a small-time smuggler but dreams of dominating the red sandalwood trade. His rise, however, is challenged by the local don Mangalam Seenu (Sunil) and the strict forest officer Shikawat (Fahadh Faasil).

The story follows Pushpa’s journey from a nobody to the undisputed leader of the smuggling mafia, his struggles with rivals, police, and internal politics, and sets the stage for a bigger conflict in the upcoming second part.

Movie	Pushpa: The Rise
Release Date	December 17, 2021
Director	Sukumar
Cast	Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagapathi Babu, Prakash Raj, Dhananjay, Sunil, Vennela Kishore, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Sritej
Production	Mythri Movie Makers, Muttamsetty Media
Music Director	Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography	Miroslaw Kuba Brozek
Editor	Karthika Srinivas & Ruben
Producers	Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar

Highlights

Allu Arjun’s commanding performance and transformation.
Realistic action scenes and impressive stunt work.
Stunning cinematography highlighting forests and rugged locales.
Strong first half with engaging dialogues and hero-centric drama.
Rashmika-Allu Arjun chemistry in romance sequences.

Drawbacks

Excessive runtime (~3 hours) with dragged sequences in the second half.
Slow pace in the latter half due to setup for the sequel.
Hero-villain confrontations are underdeveloped.
Fahadh Faasil and Rashmika Mandanna’s roles are underutilized.
Predictable storyline with heavy reliance on hero-centric narrative.

Verdict

On the whole, Pushpa: The Rise is Allu Arjun’s show from start to finish. With a solid first half, breathtaking action, and his larger-than-life performance, the film satisfies fans but falters with a slow second half and a forced ending. It lays the groundwork for the sequel, which promises more high-voltage clashes.

Bottom Line: An engaging hero-centric action-drama with style, grit, and punchy dialogues, but loses steam before the climax.

Shyam Singha Roy is a supernatural romantic drama exploring reincarnation, love, and social reform.

Vasudev “Vasu” Ghanta (Nani) is a passionate short-film maker dreaming of making it big. During his debut film shoot with Keerthi (Krithi Shetty), he starts experiencing blackouts and vivid memories from a past life. Things take a dramatic turn when a Bengali company files a copyright case against him, claiming he plagiarized famous books from West Bengal.

The film slowly unravels the story of Shyam Singha Roy, a 1970s social reformer and poet, whose ideals and life suddenly connect with Vasu’s present. The narrative beautifully intertwines past and present, revealing love, justice, and artistic expression across two lifetimes.

Movie	Shyam Singha Roy
Release Date	December 24, 2021
Director	Rahul Sankrityan
Cast	Nani, Sai Pallavi, Krithi Shetty, Madonna Sebastian, Jisshu Sengupta, Murali Sharma, Rahul Ravindran, Abhinav Gomatam, Manish Wadhwa
Production	Niharika Entertainment
Music Director	Mickey J Meyer
Cinematography	Sanu John Varghese
Editor	Naveen Nooli
Producers	Venkat Boyanapalli

Highlights

Nani’s dual-role performance is compelling and career-defining.
Sai Pallavi’s portrayal as a Devadasi is elegant and emotional.
Strong technical finesse in cinematography, art direction, and costumes.
Thoughtful handling of reincarnation and social reform themes.
Background score and festival sequences enhance the cinematic experience.

Drawbacks

Slower second half, particularly the romance between Shyam and Maitreyi.
Predictable climax inspired by previous rebirth dramas.
Krithi Shetty’s character is underutilized.
Lacks the high-octane entertainment value; not a typical mass entertainer.

Verdict

On the whole, Shyam Singha Roy is a classy reincarnation drama with emotional gravitas, strong performances, and technical brilliance. Nani delivers his career-best performance, Sai Pallavi impresses in a soulful role, and the film’s art, music, and cinematography elevate the storytelling. While it slows down in the second half and ends predictably, the film is worth watching for its heartfelt narrative and period charm.

Bottom Line: A visually stunning and emotionally rich reincarnation drama anchored by Nani’s stellar performance.

WWW: Who Where Why is a Telugu cybercrime thriller that explores hacking, revenge, and the consequences of online crimes.

Viswa (Adith Arun) is a skilled hacker who uses his talent for illegal gains. During this, he meets Mithra (Shivani Rajasekhar) and gradually falls in love with her. Just as their relationship begins to bloom, a victim of Viswa’s hacking, Sandeep, seeks revenge, putting Viswa and Mithra in grave danger.

The story revolves around how Viswa deals with Sandeep’s threat and safeguards the woman he loves, while simultaneously navigating the moral dilemmas of his cyber activities.

Movie	WWW: Who Where Why
Release Date	December 24, 2021
Director	K.V. Guhan
Cast	Adith Arun, Shivani Rajasekhar, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Riyaz Khan, Harsha Chemudu, Satyam Rajesh, Divya Sripada
Production	Ramantra Creations, SonyLIV Originals
Music Director	Simon K. King
Cinematography	K.V. Guhan
Editor	Tammiraju
Producers	Dr. Ravi Prasad Raju Datla

Highlights

Cybercrime backdrop is novel and relevant.
Thrills in the pre-climax work well to maintain interest.
Adith Arun delivers a committed performance.
Shivani Rajasekhar shows improvement in acting, adding charm and sincerity.
Some twists in the second half keep the viewer engaged.

Drawbacks

The love track between Viswa and Mithra feels forced and loosely connected to the story.
Slow-paced narration and stretched second half.
Psychological elements and some thriller sequences fail to make a strong impact.
The villain’s motives could have been more intense to heighten stakes.

Verdict

On the whole, WWW: Who Where Why is a decent web release thriller with a fresh cybercrime angle but suffers from slow narration, forced romance, and underdeveloped tension. Adith Arun and Shivani Rajasekhar’s performances make it watchable for audiences looking for a light thriller on OTT.

Bottom Line: A cybercrime thriller with promise but weighed down by pacing and storytelling flaws.

Arjuna Phalguna is a Telugu crime-comedy thriller that revolves around five friends navigating life’s challenges in coastal Andhra.

Arjun (Sree Vishnu) is extremely loyal to his friends and willing to go to great lengths for them. When one friend, played by Rangasthalam Mahesh, lands in deep financial trouble, Arjun decides to smuggle drugs to raise quick money. Along with his gang, he transports the contraband to Araku, only to face hurdles in the form of a ruthless cop (Subbaraju). The film chronicles how Arjun and his friends confront danger, navigate unexpected twists, and try to survive the chaos they’ve created.

The plot attempts to balance suspense, comedy, and action but struggles with pacing and coherence, leading to a directionless narrative.

Movie	Arjuna Phalguna
Release Date	December 31, 2021
Director	Teja Marni
Cast	Sree Vishnu, Amritha Aiyer, Senior Naresh, Sivaji Raja, Subbaraju, Devi Prasad, Rangasthalam Mahesh, Raj Kumar Kasireddy, Chaitanya Garikipati
Production	Matinee Entertainment
Producers	Anvesh Reddy, Niranjan Reddy
Music Director	Priyadarshan Balasubramanian
Cinematography	Jagadeesh Cheekati
Editor	Viplav Nyshadam

Highlights

Sree Vishnu’s earnest performance and comic timing.
Some entertaining chase and smuggling sequences in the second half.
Background score and music have moments of appeal.
Scenic visuals of Araku and rural Andhra landscapes.

Drawbacks

Directionless screenplay with inconsistent tone.
Weak comedy and romance that fail to engage.
Logical gaps in the narrative and forced plot twists.
Supporting characters underwritten and underutilized.
Slow first half and rushed, over-the-top second half.

Verdict

On the whole, Arjuna Phalguna is a directionless crime-comedy drama that struggles to entertain. Despite Sree Vishnu’s committed performance and a few interesting sequences, the film’s slow pace, illogical storytelling, and weak comedy make it a below-par watch.

Ninnila Ninnila is a heartwarming Telugu romantic drama that finds its soul in food, love, and healing. The story revolves around Dev (Ashok Selvan), an insomniac and slightly overweight chef plagued with sporadic muscle spasms, who relocates to London to work under the world-renowned chef Nassar. The high-pressure kitchen becomes the stage for quirky encounters and unexpected friendships.

Tara (Ritu Varma), a fellow chef with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), initially finds Dev’s habits unusual but gradually forms a bond with him. Meanwhile, Dev’s past love Maya (Nithya Menen) adds a nostalgic layer that shapes the emotional depth of the film. Through the preparation of dishes ranging from golden-crusted fish to chicken dum biryani, food acts as a medium to mend broken hearts, forge new relationships, and heal emotional wounds.

Movie	Ninnila Ninnila
Release Date	26th February 2021
Director	Ani I.V. Sasi
Cast	Ashok Selvan, Nithya Menen, Ritu Varma, Nassar, Satya
Production	Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra
OTT Platform	Zee Plex

Highlights
The film’s use of food as a narrative tool is both innovative and heartwarming.
Ashok Selvan’s performance is nuanced and compelling, effortlessly making viewers empathize with Dev.
Nithya Menen’s playful and surreal presence adds a magical charm to the film.
The cinematography and food visuals are captivating, turning the movie into a feast for the eyes.

Drawbacks
The first half is noticeably slow, with long sequences that contribute little to the core story.
Tara’s character arc feels rushed, with her sudden affection for Dev lacking natural buildup.
Some dialogues, particularly Nithya Menen’s dubbing, feel slightly off at times.

Verdict
Ninnila Ninnila is a soulful, heartwarming love story where the magic of food mirrors the emotions of its characters. Though the pacing in the first half may test patience, the film blossoms beautifully in the latter half, delivering endearing performances, mouthwatering visuals, and an emotionally satisfying conclusion.

Akshara is a social drama that dives into the flaws of the modern corporate education system. The film revolves around Akshara (Nandita Swetha), a physics lecturer who joins the prestigious Vidya Vidhaan college. Her mission: to reduce the immense pressure on students striving for top ranks in a system dominated by profit-driven motives.

The college is run by Sanjay Bhargav (Sanjay Swaroop), an ambitious educational entrepreneur who wants his students to top every exam at any cost – even if it leads to tragic outcomes. Amidst this, Sri Teja (Sri Teja), a board director, befriends Akshara and develops feelings for her, eventually proposing. But in a shocking twist, Akshara kills him, leaving the audience questioning her motives. The story unfolds to reveal her hidden connection with Bhargav and her mission against the corrupt corporate educational system.

Alongside the main plot, a comic subplot featuring three colony men – Satya, Shakalaka Shankar, and Madhunandan – adds a light-hearted element, though it often feels forced and detracts from the main narrative.

Movie	Akshara
Release Date	February 26, 2021
Director	B. Chinni Krishna
Cast	Nandita Swetha, Ajay Ghosh, Shakalaka Shankar, K. Sivasankar, Satya, Madhunandan
Producer	Suresh Varma Alluri, Ahiteja Bellamkonda
Music Director	Suresh Bobbili
Cinematography	Nagesh Banell
Editor	Giduturi Satya
Production	Cinema Hall Entertainments
Runtime	2 hours 15 minutes

Highlights
Nandita Swetha’s strong performance
Emotional weight of the second half
Relevant social message on corporate education
Interval twist and flashback execution

Drawbacks
Slow, uneven first half with weak comedy
Predictable screenplay and narrative
Over-the-top sequences (like public shootings) that affect realism
Clunky transitions between comedy, romance, and drama

Verdict
Akshara is a sincere attempt to shed light on the corporate education mafia and the undue pressure on students. While the first half struggles with pacing and unnecessary comedy, the second half brings emotional resonance and highlights the core message effectively. Nandita Swetha’s performance makes the film watchable, and audiences interested in socially relevant dramas may find value in it.