Category: Movies

Maha Samudram is set against the bustling coastal city of Vizag and explores themes of friendship, love, betrayal, and revenge. The narrative revolves around two close friends, Arjun (Sharwanand) and Vijay (Siddharth). Vijay, ambitious and carefree, is romantically involved with Maha (Aditi Rao Hydari). However, a sudden entanglement with an underworld forces Vijay to leave Vizag, abandoning Maha while she is pregnant and leaving Arjun to shoulder responsibilities he never signed up for.

Arjun, under pressure from his uncle Chunchu Mama (Jagapathi Babu), reluctantly enters the world of smuggling. As he navigates the treacherous underworld, Vijay unexpectedly returns, seeking vengeance and bringing a storm of conflict. The central question remains: How does Arjun protect Maha, confront Vijay, and navigate the dangerous waters of Vizag’s underworld?

Movie	Maha Samudram
Release Date	October 14, 2021
Director	Ajay Bhupathi
Cast	Sharwanand, Siddharth, Aditi Rao Hydari, Anu Emmanuel, Jagapathi Babu, Rao Ramesh, ‘Garuda’ Ram
Banner	AK Entertainments
Music	Chaitan Bharadwaj
Cinematography	Raj Thota
Editor	Praveen KL

Highlights

Strong performances by Sharwanand and Siddharth
Crisp and immersive cinematography capturing Vizag’s ambiance
Well-conceived characterizations
High production values and authentic set designs

Drawbacks

The story is predictable and convenient in many places
Weak conflict in the second half; dramatic confrontations feel rushed
Songs are forgettable and do not complement the narrative
Anu Emmanuel and Aditi Rao’s characters are underwritten
Clichéd “friends turned foes” storyline with uneven pacing

Verdict

Maha Samudram is a technically competent film with impressive visuals and strong performances, especially from Sharwanand and Siddharth. However, a weak narrative, predictable conflict, and underdeveloped supporting characters prevent it from becoming a truly gripping drama. It is a watchable film if approached with tempered expectations, offering style over substance.

Bottom Line: Maha Samudram has grand ambitions but falters in execution. A cinematic voyage with impressive visuals, yet the tides of drama and emotion never quite rise.

Pelli Sandadi is a romantic family entertainer that attempts to blend nostalgia with contemporary cinema. The story is narrated by Vashishtha (K. Raghavendra Rao), a retired basketball champion, to Rajendra Prasad, as he recalls his youthful love story.

The film flashes back to young Vashishtha (Roshan Meka) falling for Sahasra (Sree Leela) during a wedding celebration. Their romance faces resistance from Sahasra’s father (Prakash Raj), who plans her marriage with his relative, Chintoo (Vennela Kishore). The narrative follows how Vashishtha and Sahasra fight for their love against familial opposition, filled with melodrama, comedy, and lavish song sequences.

Movie	Pelli Sandadi
Release Date	October 15, 2021
Director	Gowri Ronanki
Cast	Roshan Meka, Sree Leela, Rao Ramesh, Rajendra Prasad, Prakash Raj, K. Raghavendra Rao, Vennela Kishore, Shakalaka Shankar, Fish Venkat, Srinivasa Reddy, Posani Krishna Murali
Banner	Arka Media Works
Music	M. M. Keeravani
Cinematography	Sunil Kumar Nama
Editor	Tammiraju

Highlights

Roshan Meka’s confident debut
Sree Leela’s charm and energy
Lavish song picturizations
Nostalgic visual elements inspired by K. Raghavendra Rao’s style

Drawbacks

Outdated story and dialogues
Predictable plot with clichéd romantic tropes
Comedic sequences feel stale and forced
Poorly integrated narrative; flashbacks lack emotional weight
Direction and screenplay fail to engage contemporary audiences

Verdict

Pelli Sandadi is a nostalgic ride that ends up feeling outdated. Roshan and Sree Leela show promise as the new generation of stars, but the film’s clichéd storytelling, dated comedy, and lackluster direction make it a tiresome watch. It might appeal to hardcore fans of Raghavendra Rao’s style or those curious about Roshan’s debut, but otherwise, it is best suited for OTT viewing.

Harsha (Akhil Akkineni) is a successful software professional living in the United States. Though well-settled, he returns to India with a mission—to find the perfect bride within a tight timeline. His parents arrange multiple “Pelli Choopulu” (matchmaking sessions) for him, introducing him to twenty prospective brides.

During this whirlwind of matrimonial meetings, Harsha encounters Vibha (Pooja Hegde), an independent, no-nonsense stand-up comedian with a practical outlook on life and relationships. Harsha is drawn to her charm, wit, and unconventional approach to marriage.

However, their budding romance is tested by misunderstandings and a minor family feud, which escalates dramatically. The rest of the film explores how Harsha navigates these challenges, questions his own ideas about love, and attempts to win Vibha’s heart.

Movie	Most Eligible Bachelor
Release Date	October 15, 2021
Director	Bommarillu Bhaskar
Cast	Akhil Akkineni, Pooja Hegde, Eesha Rebba, Aamani, Murali Sharma, Vennela Kishore, Jayaprakash, Pragathi, Amit Tiwari, Sudigali Sudheer
Producers	Bunny Vasu, Vasu Varma (GA2 Pictures)
Music Director	Gopi Sundar
Cinematography	Pradeesh Varma
Editor	Marthand K. Venkatesh

Highlights

Akhil and Pooja Hegde’s chemistry is believable and engaging.
Gopi Sundar’s music and song picturizations are visually appealing.
Breezy romantic sequences and family drama are watchable for a casual audience.
The film raises subtle questions about modern marriage, compatibility, and expectations.

Drawbacks

Several scenes lack logic, particularly Pelli Choopulu sequences and exaggerated family conflicts.
Comedy tracks by Vennela Kishore and others feel forced at times.
Emotional moments are underdeveloped, reducing audience engagement with key plot points.
Some plot devices, like courtroom drama to resolve trivial misunderstandings, appear contrived.

Verdict

Most Eligible Bachelor is a modern rom-com that tackles themes of love, compatibility, and familial expectations. While the story is simple and occasionally illogical, the film’s charm lies in its lead performances, music, and visual grandeur. It is a watchable, breezy entertainer for those seeking light-hearted romance with a sprinkle of family drama.

Bottom Line: A passable rom-com with good music, lavish visuals, and engaging lead performances, but marred by logical gaps and inconsistent storytelling.

Asalem Jarigindi is set in a rural Telangana village, rooted in real‑life incidents from the 1970s–80s. Sriram plays a man who returns or stays in his native village and begins to unravel a disturbing mystery: on every Amavasya (new moon) night villagers reportedly die or face supernatural troubles. Rumours of curses and unseen forces swirl around. Sanchita Padukone plays the female lead. The hero decides to dig deeper into the evil forces at play, confront latent black‑magic or supernatural villains, and attempt to save the village and his loved one. The film’s central question is: “What really happened?” — or in Telugu: Asalem jarigindi?

Movie	Asalem Jarigindi
Release Date	October 22, 2021
Director	Nuleti Veera Raghava (NVR)
Cast	Sriram, Sanchita Padukone, Jangaon Ravi Kumar
Production Banner	Exodus Media
Genre	Telugu-language Suspense Thriller

Highlights

A relatively fresh backdrop for Telugu cinema: supernatural suspense set in a village with mythic overtones.
Sriram’s attempt at a different role pays off in many sequences.
Occasional genuine scares, atmospheric nights, and credible village milieu.

Weaknesses

Lack of strong dramatic conflict in the latter half — once the mystery is exposed, the stakes don’t ramp up convincingly.
Several sequences feel formulaic: romance, some jump scares, predictable “villain explosion” moments.
Character arcs (especially the female lead) are underdeveloped. Viewers may desire more emotional depth.
Some technical aspects (VFX of paranormal elements, pacing) are uneven.

Verdict

Asalem Jarigindi is an earnest attempt at a rural‑supernatural thriller in Telugu cinema. It scores in mood, setting and a credible lead performance, but falters when it comes to delivering full narrative punch. If you enjoy village‑myth suspenses, you may find it engaging. However, if you expect tight thrills and strong emotional arcs, the film may feel just average.

Bottom Line: A novel concept with decent execution, yet hampered by pacing and narrative shallowness.

Heads and Tales revolves around three women — Alivelu Manga (Divya Sripada), Anisha (Srividya Maharshi), and Shruthi (Chandni Rao) — each navigating their personal challenges in life, mostly revolving around difficult men in their lives.

Alivelu Manga is a police constable facing domestic tension due to her unemployed and debt-ridden husband.

Anisha is an aspiring actress whose toxic fiancé constantly undermines her ambitions.

Shruthi struggles with commitment and personal conflicts, caught in the dilemmas of family and relationships.

The story unfolds over the course of a single night, where their paths cross in unexpected ways. Sunil plays the role of ‘Almighty,’ narrating the intertwining stories and highlighting the philosophical undertone that destiny shapes the lives of individuals. The film explores how these women find courage, confront their fears, and stand up for themselves.

Movie	Heads and Tales
Release Date	October 22, 2021
Director	Sai Krishna Enreddy
Cast	Sunil, Srividya Maharshi, Divya Sripada, Chandni Rao, Arun Pulavarthi, Kivish Kautilya
Production Banner	S. K. N. Pictures
Music Director	Mani Sharma
Cinematography	Venkat R. Shakamuri
Editor	Kodati Pavan Kalyan
OTT Release	ZEE5

Highlights

Divya Sripada’s compelling performance as Manga.
A concept that focuses on women standing up against adversity.
Crisp runtime and minimalistic narration suitable for OTT audiences.

Weaknesses

The first hour is slow and lacks engagement, leading to a delayed emotional connection with the characters.
The writing is shallow, with hurried resolutions for conflicts, especially the sudden transformation of Manga’s husband and Anisha’s courage.
Shruthi’s storyline is underdeveloped, reducing the impact of the parallel narrative.
Sunil’s God cameo, while novel, lacks consistency in tone and fails to elevate the narrative meaningfully.

Verdict

On the whole, Heads and Tales is an honest attempt at a women-oriented digital feature with philosophical undertones. Its crisp runtime and commendable performances, particularly by Divya Sripada, make it a decent watch on OTT platforms like ZEE5. However, weak writing, lack of twists, and underdeveloped storylines prevent it from being a truly memorable experience.

Bottom Line: Worth a one-time digital watch for performances and concept, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

Romantic is a Telugu romantic thriller set against the gritty backdrop of the Goa drug mafia. Vasco Da Gama (Akash Puri) is a street-smart ruffian whose ambitions are fueled by the desire to fulfill his grandmother’s (Rama Prabha) dream and run a charitable foundation. Alongside his childhood friend Annie, Vasco joins the gang of Rodrigues, Goa’s most notorious drug lord.

As Vasco quickly rises to power, he falls in love with the enchanting local musician Monica (Ketika Sharma). Following a violent confrontation that leaves Rodrigues dead, Vasco becomes the new kingpin of the underworld. However, his criminal actions attract the attention of ACP Ramya Gowarikar (Ramya Krishnan), a determined and ruthless officer transferred from Mumbai to Goa.

The film explores the conflict between Vasco’s criminal rise and his romantic pursuit of Monica, while also highlighting the cat-and-mouse game between him and the law.

Movie	Romantic
Release Date	October 29, 2021
Director	Anil Paduri
Cast	Akash Puri, Ketika Sharma, Ramya Krishnan, Makarand Deshpande, Uttej, Sunayana, Rama Prabha
Production Banner	Puri Connects, Puri Jagannadh Touring Talkies
Music Director	Sunil Kashyap
Cinematography	Naresh Rana
Editor	Junaid Siddiqui

Highlights

Akash Puri’s confident screen presence and action sequences.
Ketika Sharma’s debut performance and screen charm.
Ramya Krishnan’s authoritative portrayal as ACP.
Sunil Kashyap’s engaging music and stylish Goa backdrop.

Drawbacks

Illogical rise of Vasco as a mafia kingpin with minimal hurdles.
The first half focuses heavily on action, with little romance, making the title Romantic feel misaligned.
Romantic sequences are sometimes cheap and unconvincing, especially the objectification of Monica.
Climax is hurried and lacks emotional depth.

Verdict

On the whole, Romantic is an engaging but flawed love thriller. The performances of Akash Puri and Ketika Sharma, combined with Ramya Krishnan’s strong presence and Sunil Kashyap’s music, are the film’s highlights. While the story lacks depth and logic, the visual style, mass appeal, and entertainment factor make it suitable for a weekend watch.

Bottom Line: Love, guns, and a stylish rise in the Goa underworld — Romantic entertains, but don’t expect logic or depth.