Category: Movies

Cycle tells a charming and unconventional story of two petty thieves whose lives take an unexpected turn after a bizarre incident. Mangya (Priyadarshan Jadhav) and Gajya (Bhau Kadam) break into the house of a village head but, while fleeing, are chased by dogs and end up stealing the bicycle of Keshav (Hrishikesh Joshi), a revered astrologer.

Keshav’s life revolves around his cycle, a family heirloom he credits for his astrological insight. When the thieves unwittingly take it, chaos ensues—but instead of facing punishment, they are welcomed by the village due to Keshav’s goodwill. Over time, both the thieves and Keshav undergo journeys of self-realization, showing how empathy, trust, and human connections can transform lives. The story beautifully blends comedy, drama, and heartwarming moments, making it more than a typical rom-com or crime caper.

Movie	Cycle
Release Date	January 15, 2021
Director	Aatla Arjun Reddy
Cast	Punarnavi Bhupalam, Mahat Raghavendra, Sudarshan, Swetha Varma, Annapoorna
Producers	P. Ram Prasad, V. Balaji Raju
Production Banner	Overseas Entertainment Network
Music	G. M. Satish
Cinematography	Sidham Manohar

Highlights
Hrishikesh Joshi’s standout performance
Strong character arcs for the two thieves
Heartwarming and unique storyline
Naturalistic performances and realistic humor
Emotional yet light-hearted narrative

Drawbacks
Minor logical gaps in plot
Limited scope for action or thrill seekers
Music and technical aspects are understated

Verdict
Cycle is a heartwarming, feel-good film that celebrates human connections and personal growth. It is a refreshing change from formulaic Telugu cinema, offering humor, emotion, and life lessons in equal measure. While it may not appeal to viewers seeking high-octane action or intense drama, it is perfect for those looking for a simple, wholesome story with memorable performances.

Alludu Adhurs revolves around Sreenu (Bellamkonda Sreenivas), a man with firm beliefs in relationships, values, and emotions. A childhood heartbreak makes him wary of love, but adulthood brings Kaumudi (Nabha Natesh), the daughter of the influential Jayapal Reddy (Prakash Raj), into his life. Sreenu falls for her instantly, setting off a chain of chaotic events. He must not only win over Kaumudi but also face the menacing Gaja (Sonu Sood) who has his eyes on the same girl.

The narrative juggles multiple subplots: romance, action, comedy, and even horror sequences. Sreenu’s journey to convince Kaumudi’s father and outwit his rival forms the central storyline. Despite the potential for a fun romantic comedy, the film fails to maintain coherence or originality, turning into a predictable mass entertainer.

Movie	Alludu Adhurs
Release Date	January 14, 2021
Director	Santhosh Srinivas
Cast	Bellamkonda Sreenivas, Nabha Natesh, Anu Emmanuel, Sonu Sood, Prakash Raj, Vennela Kishore
Producer	Gorrela Subrahmanyam
Banner	Sumanth Movie Productions
Music	Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography	Chota K Naidu
Editing	Thammiraju
Action Choreography	Ram-Laxman, Stun Siva
Art Direction	Avinash Kolla

Highlights
Prakash Raj’s performance
Cinematography by Chota K Naidu
Occasional slapstick comedy scenes
Grand visuals and production design

Drawbacks
Outdated, predictable story
Weak screenplay and editing
Forced comedy and horror sequences
Underutilization of female leads
Formulaic action and romance

Verdict
Alludu Adhurs is a high-budget commercial entertainer that tries to be a multi-genre film but ends up as a disjointed, formulaic mess. Bellamkonda Sreenivas’ earnest efforts, Prakash Raj’s performance, and the vibrant visuals are the only saving factors. For audiences looking for novelty, the film is a disappointment. It may appeal to viewers who enjoy mindless, over-the-top action-comedies without expectations.

Red is a high-concept Telugu thriller revolving around identical twins Aditya and Siddharth, both portrayed by Ram Pothineni. Siddharth is a responsible construction engineer, leading a disciplined life, while Aditya is his polar opposite – a carefree gambler and conman.

The story kicks off with a gruesome murder of a wealthy young man, Akash. Siddharth becomes the prime suspect due to a personal vendetta of a corrupt Circle Inspector (Sampath Raj). Enter Aditya, whose arrival at the police station creates confusion among the authorities about which twin is the actual culprit. The narrative then unfolds through a series of flashbacks and investigations, revealing a conspiracy involving powerful individuals in business and government.

Alongside the thriller element, the film weaves in romantic subplots – Siddharth’s relationship with Mahima (Malvika Sharma) and Aditya’s budding romance with Gayatri (Amritha Aiyer). The climax delivers a high-stakes resolution, tying together the murder mystery, twin dynamics, and the corrupt police investigation.

Movie	Red
Release Date	14th January 2021
Director	Kishore Tirumala
Producer	Sravanthi Ravi Kishore (Sri Sravanthi Movies)
Cast	Ram Pothineni, Nivetha Pethuraj, Malvika Sharma, Amritha Aiyer, Sampath Raj, Vennela Kishore, Nassar, Posani Krishna Murali, Sonia Aggarwal, Satya, Pavitra Lokesh, Narra Srinivas, Charandeep
Music Director	Mani Sharma
Cinematography	Sameer Reddy
Editor	Junaid Siddiqui
Genre	Action, Thriller, Suspense
OTT/Box Office	Released theatrically during Sankranthi 2021 after a lockdown delay

Highlights
Ram Pothineni in dual roles
Interval and pre-interval suspense sequences
Emotional flashback sequences
Action climax sequences

Drawbacks
Slow and draggy first half
Weak screenplay and tonal inconsistency
Miscasting of Nivetha Pethuraj and underutilization of supporting cast
Lack of genuine thrills despite being a thriller
Over-reliance on comedy and romance subplots

Verdict
Red is a mixed bag. On paper, the concept of identical twins caught in a murder investigation is exciting, and the film holds potential. Ram Pothineni’s dual performance and the intriguing investigation sequences in the second half keep viewers engaged to an extent.

However, Kishore Tirumala’s screenplay and pacing issues, tonal inconsistencies, weak characterization of the police and female leads, and predictable twists undermine the impact. The thriller fails to maintain sustained tension, and the comedy-romance diversions dilute the core suspense.

Bottom Line: Red is watchable for Ram’s performance and the twin dynamics but is far from the taut thriller it promises to be. Best approached with muted expectations.

Mail is the first chapter in the anthology series Kambalapally Kathalu, set in the early 2000s in a small Telangana village. The story revolves around Ravi Kumar (Harshith Malgireddy), a curious and innocent young man fascinated by computers. Hybath (Priyadarshi Pulikonda), a local photographer, opens the village’s first gaming and computer center, which instantly captures Ravi’s attention.
Eager to explore this new technology, Ravi creates his first email ID. Soon, he receives a seemingly miraculous message claiming he has won a lottery prize of Rs 2 crore. What follows is a humorous, nostalgic, and occasionally suspenseful journey, showing how Ravi’s life spirals into the world of online scams, digital mischief, and unexpected adventures.

Movie	Mail Web Series
Release Date	12th January 2021
Director	Uday Gurrala
Cast	Harshith Malgireddy, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Gouri Priya, Mani Aegurla, Ravinder Bommakanti, Anusha Netha, Yennengee
Production	Swapna Cinema
Music	Sweekar Agasti
Cinematography	Uday Gurrala, Shyam Dupati
Platform	AHA OTT
Genre	Drama, Coming-of-Age, Comedy
Runtime	Approximately 2 hours

 

Highlights
Nostalgic portrayal of early 2000s small-town life
Innocent and relatable protagonist discovering technology
Light comedy delivered effortlessly by Priyadarshi
Subtle and charming romantic subplot
Honest storytelling with grounded performances

Drawbacks
Slow pace, particularly in the first half
Editing could be tighter to avoid dragging scenes
Limited screen time for certain supporting character
Occasional lack of tension in the climax due to restrained background score

Verdict
Mail is a heartwarming, nostalgic web series that combines humor, innocence, and small-town charm with a story about technology and its early impact on rural life. Harshith Malgireddy and Priyadarshi Pulikonda deliver sincere performances, while the earthy setting and honest storytelling make the series enjoyable.
Although the slow pace and minor technical shortcomings may test the patience of some viewers, the series rewards those who appreciate nuanced, slice-of-life drama with humor and nostalgia.

Krack is a high-octane Telugu action thriller that revolves around Veera Shankar (Ravi Teja), a fiery and upright police officer who has zero tolerance for crime and corruption. Shankar’s signature policing style, where he terrorizes even the most influential criminals, brings him into a deadly confrontation with Katari Krishna (Samuthirakani), a ruthless gang leader operating in Ongole.

The film follows Shankar as he takes on Katari and his partner in crime, Jayamma (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar), while balancing his life as a loving husband and father. Shruti Haasan plays Kalyani, a journalist who assists Shankar in his investigations, adding both emotional depth and narrative support. Packed with intense action, clever storytelling, and mass-style heroism, Krack is a cinematic ride designed to entertain the audience with punchy dialogues, thrilling fight sequences, and heroic moments.

Movie Name	Krack
Release Date	9th January 2021
Director	Gopichand Malineni
Cast	Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Samuthirakani, P. Ravi Shankar, Chirag Jani, Devi Prasad, Mouryani
Production	Saraswathi Films Division
Music	Thaman S
Cinematography	G.K. Vishnu
Genre	Action, Thriller
Runtime	153 minutes

Highlights
Ravi Teja’s electrifying mass performance
Samuthirakani vs Ravi Teja action sequences
Stylish fight choreography and visuals
Strong background score by Thaman
Engaging villainous duo with Varalaxmi and Samuthirakani

Drawbacks
Predictable storyline
Slow first half in certain sections
Excessive bloodshed and violence
Underutilized romantic subplot

Verdict
Krack is a full-on masala entertainer, perfect for Sankranti or mass audiences seeking high-octane action. Despite its predictable storyline and minor pacing issues, Ravi Teja’s performance, stylish fight sequences, and Thaman’s background score make it a satisfying theatrical experience.