Author: Chiranjeevi Reddy

Check is a Telugu thriller drama that combines crime, sports, and courtroom drama in a single narrative. The story revolves around Aditya (Nithin), a man sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in a terrorist attack. Desperate to prove his innocence, Aditya hires Manasa (Rakul Preet Singh), a lawyer determined to fight for him despite obstacles in the judicial system.

While serving time in jail, Aditya befriends Srimannarayana (Sai Chand), a fellow inmate and chess expert. Under his guidance, Aditya discovers a talent for chess and uses it as a strategy to garner public support, hope, and a way to appeal his death sentence. The narrative intertwines Aditya’s journey with jail life, chess competitions, courtroom drama, and his past love story with Yathra (Priya Prakash Varrier).

Movie	Check
Release Date	February 26, 2021
Director	Chandra Sekhar Yeleti
Cast	Nithin, Rakul Preet Singh, Priya Prakash Varrier, Sampath Raj, Sai Chand, Murali Sharma
Producer	V. Anand Prasad
Music	Kalyani Malik
Cinematography	Rahul Shrivatsav
Editor	Sanal Anirudhan
Production Banner	Bhavya Creations
Genre	Thriller, Drama, Crime

Highlights
Strong first-half setup with authentic prison atmosphere
Nithin’s departure from routine roles
Rakul Preet Singh’s compelling courtroom performance
Unique concept of using chess as a means to prove innocence
Sai Chand’s mentorship sequences

Drawbacks
Slow-paced second half
Forced and logic-defying climax
Chess sequences lack excitement for general audiences
Underutilized roles for Priya Prakash Varrier and other supporting actors
Emotional grip is inconsistent

Verdict
On the whole, Check is an ambitious prison drama with an inventive premise but inconsistent execution. Fans of Nithin and viewers interested in crime thrillers may find it watchable, but it fails to fully capitalize on its potential. If you lower expectations and focus on the performances and unique concept, Check serves as a passable weekend watch.

A (Ad Infinitum) is a Telugu-language medical thriller that blends science, suspense, and emotional drama. The film follows Sanjiv (Nithin Prasanna), a man suffering from amnesia who is rescued by an NGO and begins a new life. He falls in love with Pallavi (Preethi Asrani), a dedicated nurse, and they marry, raising a daughter, Amrutha (Baby Deevena).

Despite leading a seemingly normal life, Sanjiv is haunted by recurring dreams of his forgotten past. As he digs deeper with the help of his journalist friend, he uncovers connections to a long-running scientific experiment related to brain ageing. Meanwhile, police officer Vishnu (Rangadam) investigates a series of child abductions, which eventually tie into Sanjiv’s mysterious history. The film explores his struggle to reconcile past and present while questioning the ethical implications of science.

Movie	A (Ad Infinitum)
Release Date	February 26, 2021
Director	Ugandhar Muni
Cast	Nithin Prasanna, Preethi Asrani, Baby Deevena, Rangadam, Krishna Veni, Bharadwaj
Producer	Geetha Minsala
Music	Vijay Kurakula
Cinematography	Praveen K. Bangari
Editors	Anand Pawan & Manikandan.A
Production Banner	Avanthika Productions
Genre	Medical Thriller

Highlights
Unique premise exploring brain ageing and memory loss
Suspenseful investigation and thriller elements
Strong performances by Nithin Prasanna and Preethi Asrani
Compelling background score enhances tension

Drawbacks
Slow and overlong first half
Occasional scientific inaccuracies and illogical sequences
Overcrowded narrative with too many subplots
Requires patience to follow due to extended runtime (~153 minutes)

Verdict
A (Ad Infinitum) is a slow-burn medical thriller that blends science, suspense, and family drama. While the concept is intriguing and the performances are solid, the film suffers from uneven pacing, a draggy first half, and occasional lapses in logic. For viewers who enjoy concept-driven thrillers and don’t mind a measured narrative, A (Ad Infinitum) offers a decent watch.

Kapatadhaari is a Telugu remake of the Kannada hit Kavaludaari and revolves around a traffic sub-inspector named Gautham (Sumanth), whose dream is to work in the crime branch. His mundane routine takes a sudden turn when skeletal remains of three individuals are unearthed during a metro construction project. While his colleagues dismiss the discovery, Gautham takes it upon himself to investigate.

With the help of retired police officer Ranjith Kumar (Nasser) and journalist GK (Jayaprakash), Gautham uncovers a conspiracy dating back 40 years. The story follows their pursuit to reveal the truth behind these mysterious deaths and confront the hidden villains. The investigation also touches on an archaeological connection and a powerful politician, adding layers to the narrative.

Movie	Kapatadhaari
Release Date	February 19, 2021
Director	Pradeep Krishnamoorthy
Cast	Sumanth, Nandita Swetha, Nasser, Jayaprakash, Vennela Kishore, Suman Ranganathan, Sampath Maitreya
Producer	Dr. G. Dhananjayan, Lalitha Dhananjayan
Music	Simon K King
Cinematography	Rasamathi
Editor	KL Praveen
Production Banner	Creative Entertainers
Genre	Crime Thriller

Highlights
Engaging investigative sequences in the second half
Strong performances by Sumanth, Nasser, and Jayaprakash
Background score effectively builds suspense
Faithful adaptation of the Kannada original

Drawbacks
Slow and uneven first half
Convoluted narration with unnecessary subplots
Limited screen space for key characters like Nandita Swetha
Some convenient plot points reduce realism
Predictable sequences post-interval

Verdict
Kapatadhaari attempts to be a gripping whodunit but falls short due to uneven pacing and a bloated first half. The film shines when focusing on the core investigation, with strong performances from Sumanth, Nasser, and Jayaprakash, supported by Simon K King’s atmospheric background score.
While it is worth a watch for crime thriller enthusiasts, casual viewers might find the slow start and predictable sequences taxing. Overall, it’s an okay watch with a decent mystery at its core.

Naandhi is a hard-hitting courtroom drama that follows the story of Surya Prakash (Allari Naresh), a middle-class software engineer who leads a happy life with his parents and fiancée. His life takes a devastating turn when he is falsely accused of murdering a prominent activist, Raja Gopal, and is sentenced to five years in prison.

Inside jail, Surya faces physical abuse, humiliation, and psychological torture, exposing the harsh realities of the justice system. His only hope comes in the form of Aadhya (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar), a determined and principled advocate, who helps him not only secure his release but also fight back against the real culprits using Section 211 of the Indian Penal Code.

The film highlights the flaws in the police and judicial system, explores the plight of under-trial prisoners, and ultimately becomes a story about resilience, justice, and redemption.

Movie	Naandhi
Release Date	February 19, 2021
Director	Vijay Kanakamedala
Cast	Allari Naresh, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Harish Uthaman, Praveen
Producer	Satish Vegesna
Production	SV2 Pictures
Music Director	Sri Charan Pakala
Cinematography	Sid
Genre	Courtroom Drama, Thriller

Highlights
Allari Naresh’s career-best performance
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar’s strong screen presence
Realistic depiction of jail and courtroom atmosphere
Effective use of IPC Section 211 as a plot device
Strong social message about police brutality and justice system flaws

Drawbacks
Second half slows down with predictable elements
Rushed climax with melodramatic overtones
Courtroom drama could have been more gripping and confrontational
Gore and torture visuals may not appeal to everyone

Verdict
Naandhi is a bold and emotional courtroom drama that showcases Allari Naresh in a completely new light. While the first half hooks the audience with raw emotion and intense performances, the second half could have benefited from tighter courtroom sequences and less melodrama.
The film successfully highlights social issues like false accusations, police brutality, and the lesser-known legal recourse available under Section 211. For fans of serious, content-driven Telugu cinema, Naandhi offers an engaging and thought-provoking experience.

Pitta Kathalu marks Netflix India’s maiden Telugu anthology film and brings together four of Tollywood’s acclaimed directors – Nag Ashwin, B.V. Nandini Reddy, Tharun Bhascker, and Sankalp Reddy. The series explores complex relationships, power dynamics, and modern romance across four distinct narratives: Ramula, Meera, X Life, and Pinky.

Ramula (Directed by Tharun Bhascker)
Set in rural Telangana, Ramula follows the story of a young village girl, Ramula (Saanve Megghana), and her boyfriend Ram Chander (Naveen Kumar Betiganti), who are manipulated by a local politician, Swaroop Akka (Lakshmi Manchu), for her political gains. The story effectively captures rural politics, gender dynamics, and the raw humor of everyday life. With a mix of satire and realism, this segment emerges as the strongest in the anthology.

Meera (Directed by B.V. Nandini Reddy)
Meera focuses on a young, married woman (Amala Paul) navigating a complex relationship with her much older husband (Jagapathi Babu). The story delves into jealousy, suspicion, and marital insecurities, with a bold narrative that breaks away from conventional family dramas. Jagapathi Babu’s portrayal of a controlling yet flawed husband is convincing, while Amala Paul adds depth and nuance to her character.

X Life (Directed by Nag Ashwin)
A futuristic tale of technology and control, X Life follows Sanjith Hegde as the ambitious creator of a virtual world with billions of users. Shruti Haasan plays Divya, a worker in his universe, who becomes the object of his affection. While technically impressive with sleek VFX, this segment suffers from a convoluted narrative that struggles to engage the viewer fully, despite its ambitious themes.

Pinky (Directed by Sankalp Reddy)
This relationship drama revolves around two couples entangled in past love and present conflicts. While the premise is intriguing, the execution feels disjointed, with abrupt narrative choices that leave the story incomplete. Performances by Eesha Rebba, Ashima Narwal, Satyadev, and Srinivas Avasarala are adequate, but the lack of clarity in storytelling diminishes the impact.

Movie	Pitta Kathalu
Release Date	February 19, 2021
Director(s)	Nag Ashwin, B.V. Nandini Reddy, Tharun Bhascker, Sankalp Reddy
Cast	Shruti Haasan, Eesha Rebba, Amala Paul, Lakshmi Manchu, Jagapathi Babu, Saanve Megghana, Sanjith Hegde, Ashwin Kakumanu, Satyadev Kancharana, Srinivas Avasarala, Ashima Narwal, Thanmayi
Producer(s)	Ronnie Screwvala, Ashi Dua
Production	RSVP Movies
Music	Vivek Sagar
Editor	Upendra Varma
Streaming on	Netflix

Highlights
Ramula – an engaging rural tale with stellar performances.
Meera – bold exploration of marital insecurity and female agency.
Vivek Sagar’s music and authentic production design.
Strong social commentary on relationships, power, and gender.

Drawbacks
X Life – ambitious but confusing; lacks clarity.
Pinky – underdeveloped and abrupt ending.
Mixed execution; only two stories truly resonate.
Not the Telugu equivalent of Lust Stories, despite initial hype.

Verdict
Pitta Kathalu is a bold attempt at Telugu anthology storytelling on a global platform. While the series has flashes of brilliance in Ramula and Meera, the remaining segments fail to impress due to convoluted narratives and incomplete storytelling. The anthology is visually appealing, technically sound, and features strong performances, but inconsistent execution keeps it from achieving greatness.

FCUK, short for Father Chitti Umaa Kaarthik, is an adult comedy-drama that attempts a bold narrative rarely seen in Telugu cinema. The story revolves around Karthik (Ram Karthik), his love interest Umaa (Ammu Abhirami), his eccentric father Faneendra Bhoopati (Jagapathi Babu), and the toddler Chitti (Baby Sahashritha).

Faneendra is a 60-year-old Casanova and a wealthy condom business owner, living life on his own terms. Karthik, in contrast, is young, idealistic, and in love with Umaa, a pediatrician who initially hesitates to date him. The arrival of Chitti, who Faneendra claims is his daughter from a past fling, turns Karthik’s life upside down. The film explores the unusual dynamics between these characters and the ripple effect Chitti has on their relationships.

Movie	FCUK: Father Chitti Umaa Kaarthik
Release Date	February 12, 2021
Director	Vidya Sagar Raju
Producer	KL Damodar Prasad
Banner	Sri Ranjith Movies
Cast	Jagapathi Babu, Ram Karthik, Ammu Abhirami, Baby Sahashritha, Ali, Rajitha, Krishna Bhagavaan, Brahmaji, Raja Ram Prasad
Music	Bheems Ceciroleo
Cinematography	Shiva G
Editor	Kishore Maddali

Highlights
Unique and bold story concept for Telugu cinema.
Jagapathi Babu’s performance stands out amidst the weak screenplay.
The film attempts to discuss relevant social issues, albeit unsuccessfully.

Drawbacks
Sluggish pacing, especially in the first half.
Weak execution of a bold concept.
Outdated and clichéd comedy tracks.
Underutilization of lead actors’ potential.
Confusing and convoluted narrative.

Verdict
FCUK: Father Chitti Umaa Kaarthik had the ingredients for a refreshing, bold adult comedy. Unfortunately, poor writing, weak direction, and inconsistent performances turn it into a tedious experience. Jagapathi Babu’s efforts to elevate the story partially work, but the film fails to engage or entertain.
Bottom line: A daring concept marred by lackluster execution. Keep expectations low if you plan to watch this in theaters.