Play Back is a Telugu horror-thriller that experiments with a cross-time communication concept. Karthik (Dinesh Tej), a crime reporter in 2019, moves into a rented house with a peculiar old landline telephone. Soon, he starts receiving mysterious calls from Sujatha (Ananya Nagalla), a woman from 1993.

As the story unfolds, Karthik tries to uncover who Sujatha is, why she is contacting him, and the connection between their lives across decades. The plot thickens with a murder subplot and hidden secrets tied to the house and the people in it. The narrative flips between 1993 and 2019, blending suspense, mystery, and a hint of supernatural intrigue.

Highlights
Unique cross-time concept connecting 1993 and 2019 via a telephone.
Ananya Nagalla’s natural and expressive performance.
Decent suspense and horror sequences in the first half.
No songs, which keeps the focus on the thriller narrative.

Drawbacks
Overcomplicated second half with confusing time jumps.
Murder subplot underdeveloped and weakly integrated.
Background score and editing inconsistent in sustaining suspense.
Technical limitations slightly undermine the ambitious concept.

Verdict
Play Back is a commendable attempt at delivering a fresh Telugu thriller with a time-travel twist. The cross-time telephone concept is intriguing, and the first half maintains curiosity. Ananya Nagalla shines as the female lead, and the eerie atmosphere holds promise.However, frequent jumps across timelines, an undercooked murder subplot, and uneven technical execution prevent the film from becoming truly engaging.