Category: Movies

Uppena is a romantic drama set in 2002, in the coastal town of Uppada, Andhra Pradesh. The story revolves around Aasi (Vaisshnav Tej), a humble fisherman’s son, who has been in love with Sangeetha (Krithi Shetty), fondly called Bebamma, since childhood. Sangeetha is the daughter of a wealthy landlord, Rayanam (Vijay Sethupathi), whose ambitions and rigid adherence to family honor clash with the young couple’s love.

As the two fall deeper in love, their relationship faces societal and caste-based obstacles. In a bold move, Aasi and Bebamma elope, which triggers a series of tense and dramatic events. The film follows their struggle against Rayanam’s authority and the societal pressures that threaten to tear them apart.

Movie	Uppena
Release Date	12th February 2021
Director	Buchi Babu Sana
Producer	Naveen Yerneni, Y Ravi Shankar (Mythri Movie Makers)
Cast	Panja Vaisshnav Tej, Krithi Shetty, Vijay Sethupathi, Sai Chand
Music	Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography	Shamdat Sainudeen
Editor	Naveen Nooli
Art & Production Design	Mounika Ramakrishna
Genre	Romantic Drama, Thriller
Certification	UA
Runtime	147 minutes

Highlights
Beautiful debut performances by Krithi Shetty and Vaisshnav Tej.
Devi Sri Prasad’s music is soulful and engaging.
Stunning cinematography highlighting coastal Andhra’s beauty.
Thoughtful exploration of caste, honor, and masculinity.
Emotional and hard-hitting climax.

Drawbacks
Second half becomes predictable with routine melodrama.
Some characters, including Rayanam, lack clarity in motivations at times.
Pace dips post-interval, and certain romantic sequences feel prolonged.
Supporting characters like the mother and bava are underutilized.

Verdict
Uppena is a moving romantic drama with strong debut performances, soulful music, and visually striking cinematography. While the storyline is familiar and parts of the second half predictable, the film manages to leave an emotional impact, particularly through its climax and the chemistry between the lead pair.

For lovers of heartfelt romance and coastal village dramas, Uppena offers a compelling theatrical experience, blending music, emotion, and societal themes effectively.

G-Zombie attempts to introduce the zombie genre to Telugu audiences with a story centered around Sara (Divya Pandey), a dedicated medical student striving to develop an immunity booster to protect humanity. Together with her college peers and under the guidance of Dr. Rudra (Aryan Gowra), Sara conducts human trials on a criminal sentenced to death.

However, the experimental vaccine fails catastrophically, transforming the criminal into a zombie. Chaos ensues as the zombie begins attacking the medical team, and it falls on Rudra to save everyone. The narrative explores survival amidst a zombie outbreak, with horror and thriller elements gradually taking over in the second half.

Movie	G-Zombie
Release Date	5th February 2021
Director	Aryan Deepu
Producer	Surya (Sai Surya Productions)
Cast	Aryan Gowra, Divya Pandey
Music	Vinod Kumar (Vinnu)
Cinematography	S R Sekhar
Editor	Pavan Kumar V
Genre	Horror, Thriller, Drama
Certification	UA (CBFC)
Running Time	Approx. 1h 50m

Highlights
Aryan Gowra has decent screen presence.
Divya Pandey’s glamorous look will appeal to younger audiences.
Certain zombie attack sequences generate mild thrill.
Cinematography effectively handles night-time scenes.

Drawbacks
Weak story and poorly executed screenplay.
Illogical sequences, particularly regarding the vaccine trial.
Horror elements fail to generate real suspense or fear.
Romantic subplot feels unnecessary and disrupts pacing.
Repetitive zombie sequences and bland supporting characters.

Verdict
G-Zombie is a bold attempt at bringing the zombie genre to Telugu cinema, but it falls short due to poor writing, inconsistent performances, and weak execution. While the concept of a medical experiment gone wrong could have been intriguing, the narrative fails to engage or scare effectively.
For audiences hoping for a thrilling zombie drama, this film may test your patience. Only minor glimpses of tension and visual style save it from being completely unwatchable.

Pranavum is a love-infused investigative thriller that delves into the life of Karthik (Sree Mangam) and his wife Janu (Avantika Hari). The couple appears to be living a blissful married life until a mysterious girl enters their lives, creating tension and suspense. Soon, Janu mysteriously disappears, and Karthik becomes the prime suspect in her missing case.

The narrative follows Karthik’s desperate attempts to clear his name and uncover the truth behind Janu’s disappearance. What role does the stranger play? Who is really behind the mystery? The film slowly unravels these questions, combining elements of romance, suspense, and intrigue.

Movie	Pranavum
Release Date	5th February 2021
Director	Kumar G
Producer	Thanu S (CG Charitha and Gowtham Productions)
Cast	Sree Mangam, Avantika Hari, Gayatri Iyer, Gemini Suresh, Shashank, Jabardasth Dorababu
Music	Padmanav Bharadwaj
Cinematography	Santhosh
Editor	Santhosh
Fight Choreography	Devaraj
Genre	Romance, Thriller
Certification	UA (CBFC)
Running Time	2h 2m

Highlights
Balanced mix of romance and thriller elements.
Strong performances by Sree Mangam, Avantika Hari, and Gemini Suresh.
Engaging investigative narrative that keeps audiences hooked.
High-quality technical aspects—cinematography, music, and editing.

Drawbacks
The first half, while necessary for character setup, may feel slow to viewers seeking immediate suspense.
Minor predictability in certain plot points, though offset by strong performances and twists in the second half.

Verdict
Pranavum successfully combines love, suspense, and mystery into a compelling thriller. Sree Mangam impresses with his nuanced performance, and Gemini Suresh’s portrayal of a police officer adds depth to the narrative. With engaging music, solid cinematography, and a suspenseful second half, the film is worth a watch for fans of investigative thrillers and romantic dramas alike.

Zombie Reddy introduces Telugu audiences to the zombie genre for the first time, blending horror, comedy, and faction drama. The story follows Mario (Teja Sajja), a young game developer, whose viral game faces a critical bug. To fix it, he and his friends head to Kurnool to meet their programmer Kalyan (Mirchi Hemanth), who is busy with his wedding.

On the way, a freak incident leads to Kalyan being bitten by a mysterious man, triggering a zombie outbreak in the village. As the infection spreads, Mario and his group must navigate factional rivalries, survive the zombie menace, and escape the town. Along the way, the audience meets Nandini Reddy (Anandhi) and a colorful set of characters, each adding comedy, tension, and drama to the unfolding chaos.

Movie	Zombie Reddy
Release Date	5th February 2021
Director	Prasanth Varma
Producer	Raj Sekhar Varma (Apple Trees Studios)
Cast	Teja Sajja, Anandhi, Daksha Nagarkar, Raghu Babu, Prudhvi Raj, Mirchi Hemanth, Getup Srinu, Harsha Vardhan, Kireeti Damaraju, Annapoorna, Vitta Mahesh
Music	Mark K Robin
Cinematography	Anith
Editor	Sai Babu
Production Design	Nagendra Tangala
Genre	Zombie Comedy, Masala

Highlights
Introduction of zombie genre to Telugu cinema.
Second-half zombie action and comedy sequences.
Strong performances by Teja Sajja, Anandhi, and supporting cast.
Music, background score, and production design enhance the atmosphere.

Drawbacks
Slow first half with heavy focus on faction politics.
Comedy is inconsistent, relying on Tollywood clichés at times.
Climax and zombie sequences could have been more inventive.
The mixing of multiple genres sometimes dilutes the tension.

Verdict
Zombie Reddy is a bold and novel attempt, blending zombies with Rayalaseema faction masala. While the first half tests your patience, the second half delivers engaging thrills, comedy, and inventive action. It is not a flawless horror-comedy, but fans of Tollywood masala and zombie antics will find it a fun weekend watch.

Kalaposhakulu is a romantic action-comedy that revolves around two contrasting individuals brought together by fate. The protagonist, played by Vishva Karthikeya, hails from a middle-class family with aspirations of wealth and a better life. In contrast, the heroine, portrayed by Deepa Umapathy, leads a lavish, spendthrift lifestyle.

The story explores how these two different worlds collide, blending romance, comedy, and action, ultimately asking whether the couple can bridge their differences for a happy ending.

Movie	Kalaposhakulu
Release Date	January 29, 2021
Director	Chalapathy Puvvula
Producer	M Sudhakar Reddy (Sri Vennela Creations)
Cast	Vishva Karthikeya, Deepa Umapathy, Gemini Suresh, Ananth, Krishnaveni
Music	Yelendhar Mahaveer
Cinematography	Kalyaan Borlagada
Genre	Romantic Comedy, Action

Highlights
Effective comedy and situational humor throughout the film.
Strong debut performances from Vishva Karthikeya and Deepa Umapathy.
Entertaining first half with engaging romantic sequences.
Yelendhar Mahaveer’s music and background score enhance the film’s appeal.

Drawbacks
Predictable plot with no major twists.
Limited depth in the second half.
Lack of information about the villain and some technical departments.
May feel routine for audiences seeking intense drama or action.

Verdict
Kalaposhakulu is a lighthearted romantic action-comedy that caters to audiences looking for fun and entertainment. The debutants shine in their roles, and the film’s comedy and music make it a pleasant watch. While it may not offer a gripping narrative or emotional depth, it is perfect for viewers who enjoy a breezy, humorous cinema experience.

Mr & Miss follows the story of Siva (Sailesh Sunny), a young man from Amalapuram who moves to Hyderabad in search of an IT job. Struggling with communication skills, he meets Sashi (Gnaneswari Kandregula), a woman recovering from a recent heartbreak. Their chemistry is instant, and they decide to live together.

Everything seems perfect until Siva’s mobile phone, containing their most intimate moments, goes missing. The rest of the film revolves around the couple’s efforts to recover the lost phone, testing their love, trust, and patience along the way.

Movie	Mr & Miss
Release Date	January 29, 2021
Director	Ashok Reddy
Producer	Ashok Reddy (Crowdfunded under Reading Lamp Creations)
Cast	Sailesh Sunny, Gnaneswari Kandregula, Pawan Ramesh, Bharth Reddy Kuruguntla, Chandini Rao, Rocket Raghava, Laxman Meesala
Music	Yashwanth Nag
Editor	Carthic Cuts
Cinematography	Siddham Manohar
Genre	Romance, Drama

Highlights
Strong chemistry between the lead pair in the first half.
Gnaneswari Kandregula’s performance and screen presence.
Music and background score complement the narrative.
Engaging first 30-40 minutes, relatable for younger audiences.

Drawbacks
Routine and predictable plot.
The second half suffers from a single-track narrative focused on the lost phone.
Lack of emotional depth and logical consistency.
Weak direction and stretched-out sequences.
Limited impact from the supporting cast.

Verdict
Mr & Miss is a romantic drama with a promising start that falters in execution. While the first half successfully establishes chemistry and presents a light-hearted, urban love story, the second half becomes tedious and fails to maintain interest. The film does highlight the risks of intimate recordings, but the message could have been delivered more concisely and effectively.