Category: Movies

Sreekaram tells the story of Karthik (Sharwanand), a talented software engineer from a humble farmer’s family in a village near Tirupati. Despite a flourishing career in Hyderabad, Karthik becomes deeply concerned about the plight of farmers, including his own father Keshavulu (Rao Ramesh), who struggles with debts. Motivated by the decline of agriculture and migration of villagers to cities as daily wage laborers, Karthik quits his high-paying IT job and returns home with a mission: to revive farming in his village and make it a profitable profession.

The film follows his journey as he convinces reluctant villagers to embrace community farming, overcomes the challenges posed by a greedy moneylender (Sai Kumar), and navigates personal dynamics, including his father’s skepticism and his colleague-turned-love-interest Chaitra (Priyanka Arul Mohan). Along the way, Karthik blends modern agricultural techniques with social media marketing to transform the village economy.

Movie	Sreekaram
Release Date	March 11, 2021
Director	Kishore Reddy
Cast	Sharwanand, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Rao Ramesh, Sai Kumar, Murali Sharma, Naresh, Aamani, Satya, Sapthagiri
Producer	Ram Achanta, Gopi Achanta
Production Banner	14 Reels Plus
Music	Mickey J Meyer
Cinematography	J Yuvaraj
Editor	Marthand K Venkatesh
Dialogues	Sai Madhav Burra
Runtime	2h 12m
Censor Rating	U

Highlights
Emotional core rooted in father-son and community bonds
Introduction of modern community farming as a concept
Sharwanand’s committed performance
Effective background score enhancing key sequences
Honest portrayal of rural struggles

Drawbacks
Overstretched love track between Karthik and Chaitra
Weak antagonist and minimal conflict
Predictable narrative and formulaic storytelling
Simplistic depiction of farming triumph; lacks deeper exploration of institutional and market challenges

Verdict
Sreekaram is an honest, heartfelt drama with its heart in the right place. While it may not achieve cinematic brilliance due to a predictable storyline and commercial compromises, it succeeds in bringing attention to the plight of farmers, emphasizing dignity in agriculture, and inspiring younger generations to consider farming as a viable profession.

Gaali Sampath tells the story of Sampath (Rajendra Prasad), a mute man living in a scenic village in Araku with his son Soori (Sree Vishnu). Sampath earns the nickname “Gaali” because he can only produce air-like sounds due to a past accident. Despite his limitations, Sampath is passionate about acting and dreams of performing in stage dramas.

Soori, on the other hand, is a responsible young man with aspirations of owning a truck and leading a settled life with his girlfriend (Lovely Singh). The father-son duo shares a deep bond, but Sampath’s relentless pursuit of his dreams often sabotages Soori’s life, including his love story and ambitions.

A turning point comes when Sampath, in a moment of despair, falls into an uncovered well. The film then shifts from a family comedy-drama to a survival story as Sampath struggles to escape, testing both his courage and resilience. The central question is whether father and son can reconcile amidst life’s unexpected challenges.

Movie	Gaali Sampath
Release Date	March 11, 2021
Director	Anish Krishna
Producers	S. Krishna, Harish Peddi, Sahu Garapati
Production Banner	Imagespark Entertainment & Shine Screens
Cast	Rajendra Prasad, Sree Vishnu, Lovely Singh, Tanikella Bharani, Sathya, Srikanth Aiyangar, Raghu Babu, Mirchi Kiran, Karate Kalyani, Anish Kuruvilla, Rajitha
Music Director	Achu Rajamani
Cinematography	Sai Sriram
Editor	Tammiraju
Genre	Comedy-Drama, Survival Drama
Duration	116 minutes

Highlights
Rajendra Prasad’s performance is outstanding and worth the ticket price.
A strong father-son dynamic adds emotional weight to the film.
Certain comedic sequences, especially those involving Sampath and his translator, land effectively.
The survival segment, while poorly executed, attempts a new genre in Telugu cinema.

Drawbacks
Outdated 90s-style comedy and emotions fail to resonate with contemporary audiences.
The first half of the comedy is stale and predictable; the romantic subplot is weak.
Survival sequences lack realism, making critical moments unintentionally humorous.
Supporting characters are underdeveloped, and the story lacks narrative depth.
The USP of Gaali Sampath’s ‘air sounds’ grows irritating after a few scenes.

Verdict
Gaali Sampath is a film that rests heavily on Rajendra Prasad’s performance. Despite his best efforts, the outdated humor, weak second half, and poorly executed survival sequences make the movie an underwhelming experience. The film can be watched mainly for Rajendra Prasad and a few moments of nostalgia, but audiences seeking engaging storytelling or emotional depth may leave disappointed.

Jathi Ratnalu is a full-fledged comedy entertainer that thrives on slapstick humor, quirky characters, and a storyline that takes a backseat to pure entertainment. Set initially in the small town of Jogipet, the film revolves around three lazy yet lovable friends – Srikanth (Naveen Polishetty), Sekhar (Priyadarshi), and Ravi (Rahul Ramakrishna) – whose aimless lives take a hilarious turn when they move to Hyderabad for better opportunities.

They manage to rent a posh apartment in Banjara Hills, only to inadvertently land in trouble with a powerful politician, MLA Chanakya (Murali Sharma), after being framed in a crime they didn’t commit. What follows is a series of outrageous events, courtroom antics, and slapstick situations as the trio tries to clear their names while navigating city life. The film’s comedy is rapid-fire, and its story, though thin, is just a vehicle for the laughs.

Movie	Jathi Ratnalu
Release Date	March 11, 2021
Director	Anudeep K V
Producer	Nag Ashwin
Banner	Swapna Cinema
Cast	Naveen Polishetty, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Rahul Ramakrishna, Faria Abdullah, Brahmaji, Tanikella Bharani, Vennela Kishore, Murali Sharma, Brahmanandam
Music	Radhan
Cinematography	Siddam Manohar
Editor	Abhinav Danda

Highlights
Nonstop Comedy: The film delivers constant laughs with witty one-liners, situational comedy, and visual gags.
Lead Actor Performances: Naveen Polishetty steals the show, supported ably by Priyadarshi and Rahul Ramakrishna.
Debut of Faria Abdullah: Adds freshness and charm to the film.
Breezy First Half: Keeps audiences engaged from the very beginning.

Drawbacks
Thin Storyline: The plot is extremely minimal and serves only as a vehicle for comedy.
Prolonged Second Half: Some courtroom and city sequences feel repetitive and forced.
Logic Takes a Backseat: Investigation and crime sequences are exaggerated for humor, which may not appeal to everyone.

Verdict
Jathi Ratnalu is an unapologetic comedy entertainer. It does not pretend to be anything else. The film thrives on absurd situations, over-the-top humor, and the brilliant performances of Naveen Polishetty, Priyadarshi, and Rahul Ramakrishna. Logic is thrown out of the window, but the relentless comedy and memorable one-liners make it a fun theatrical watch.
If you’re looking for a weekend full of laughs, Jathi Ratnalu delivers – just leave your expectations of logic and narrative sophistication at the door.

Love Life and Pakodi is a contemporary romantic drama that explores modern relationships, commitment, and urban love dilemmas. The story is set in Bangalore and follows Arun (Bimal Kartheek Rebba) and Rheya (Sanchitha Poonacha), two millennials who meet by chance after Rheya breaks up with her boyfriend. A casual friendship develops into a no-strings-attached affair.

The conflict arises when Arun, having fallen in love, proposes marriage to Rheya, only to be rejected. While Rheya reciprocates his feelings, she is not ready for the institution of marriage. The film delves into how the couple navigates their differing outlooks on love, relationships, and commitment, while also exploring the influence of family dynamics and past experiences on their decisions.

Movie	Love Life and Pakodi
Release Date	March 12, 2021
Director	Jayanth Gali
Producer	Jayanth Gali
Banner	Color of My Ink Films
Cast	Bimal Kartheek Rebba, Sanchitha Poonacha, Krishna Hebbale, Anuradha Mallikarjun, Akarsh Raj Bagavatula
Music	Pavan
Cinematography	Sagar YVV, Jithin Mohan
Editor	Shravan Katikaneni

Highlights
Bold and contemporary depiction of urban relationships
Strong performance by Sanchitha Poonacha
Realistic portrayal of family influence on modern love
Pre-climax and climax sequences are engaging

Drawbacks
Overly long and dialogue-heavy first half
Slow pacing reduces engagement
Emotion between leads lacks intensity in parts
Heavy reliance on English dialogues may alienate some audiences
Music and editing are adequate but not memorable

Verdict
Love Life and Pakodi is a thoughtful take on modern relationships, exploring themes of love, freedom, and commitment. The film succeeds in presenting a contemporary story with relatable characters, especially through the excellent performances of its lead actors. However, a lack of pace, repetitive dialogue, and muted emotional intensity hold the film back from being fully engaging.

Chaavu Kaburu Challaga takes viewers into the life of Basti Balaraju (Kartikeya Gummakonda), a hearse driver who ferries dead bodies to burial grounds. During one of his routine trips, he encounters Mallika (Lavanya Tripathi) at her husband’s funeral and falls instantly in love. Unfazed by social norms, Balaraju begins to woo the grieving widow, much to the discomfort of Mallika, her father-in-law (Murali Sharma), and everyone present.

Meanwhile, Balaraju’s mother (Aamani), who has had a hard life raising her son, starts finding companionship with a television mechanic (Srikanth Iyengar), leading to a tension-filled subplot. The story revolves around how Balaraju navigates these delicate relationships while trying to win Mallika’s heart and support his mother’s happiness.

Movie	Chaavu Kaburu Challaga
Release Date	March 19, 2021
Director	Koushik Pegallapati
Producer	Allu Aravind, Bunny Vasu
Banner	GA2 Pictures
Cast	Kartikeya Gummakonda, Lavanya Tripathi, Aamani, Murali Sharma, Srikanth Iyengar
Music	Jakes Bejoy
Cinematography	Karm Chawla
Editor	G. Satya

Highlights
Kartikeya’s commanding performance
Emotional sequences, especially mother-son moments
Subtle, restrained performance by Lavanya Tripathi
Unique premise that stands out in Telugu cinema
Solid production values and cinematography

Drawbacks
Premise may feel awkward for some audiences (hero wooing a widow at a funeral)
Love story between the lead pair lacks depth and gradual development
First half is slow and predictable
Comedy sequences occasionally fall flat
Music and BGM are average, not adding much to the story

Verdict
Chaavu Kaburu Challaga is a bold attempt at an unconventional love story. It excels in emotional sequences, particularly with Balaraju and his mother, and benefits from strong performances by Kartikeya, Lavanya, and Aamani. However, the romance at the heart of the film often feels forced and underdeveloped, and the narration is uneven with a slow first half.

Mosagallu is inspired by the infamous $300 million call center scam that originated from Mumbai and shook the United States. The film revolves around Arjun (Vishnu Manchu) and Anu (Kajal Aggarwal), siblings from a middle-class family in Hyderabad. Dissatisfied with their mundane lives, they team up with Arjun’s boss Vijay (Navdeep) and run a shady call center, Gemini Tech, where they pose as IRS officials to defraud unsuspecting Americans of millions of dollars.

As the scam grows, it attracts the attention of the Washington DC Federal Trade Commission, which seeks the help of Hyderabad ACP Kumar (Suniel Shetty) to track down the criminals. The narrative then unfolds into a cat-and-mouse game between the law and the ambitious siblings, exploring how far they can go before reality catches up.

Movie	Mosagallu
Release Date	March 19, 2021
Director	Jeffrey Gee Chin
Producer	Vishnu Manchu
Banner	24 Frames Factory
Cast	Vishnu Manchu, Kajal Aggarwal, Suniel Shetty, Ruhi Singh, Navdeep, Naveen Chandra, Karma McCain
Music	Sam CS
Cinematography	Sheldon Chau
Editor	Goutham Raju
Action	Stun Siva
Art	Kiran Kumar M

Highlights
Unique story inspired by a real-life $300 million call center scam
Vishnu Manchu and Kajal Aggarwal’s performances are engaging
Slick cinematography in US sequences
Background score heightens tension during key sequences
Fresh premise for Telugu audiences

Drawbacks
Narrative is clumsy and superficial in explaining the scam
Overemphasis on partying and lifestyle rather than the con mechanics
Slow pace in the first half
Suniel Shetty and other supporting characters are underutilized
Logic and believability of the scam are questionable
Lacks the edge-of-the-seat thrill expected from a con thriller

Verdict
Mosagallu had the potential to be a gripping con thriller inspired by one of the biggest real-life scams. While Vishnu Manchu and Kajal Aggarwal deliver credible performances, the film falters due to uneven storytelling, superficial treatment of the scam, and a lack of engaging character arcs.