Best of Tollywood movies 2024: A strong year for small and moderate budget movies

The year 2024 has mostly belonged to stories with interesting storylines rather than the big star vehicles. A very good example of this is Venky Atluri’s Lucky Baskhar.

Venky Atluri started as a romantic director with the likes of Varun Tej’s Tholi Prema (2018) and Nithin’s Rang De (2021). But Dhanush’s Vaathi (2023) marked a significant shift in his career.

With Lucky Baskhar the director pushed the envelope further with the financial thriller/drama. The tight writing coupled with Dulquer Salmaan’s fantastic act made it a major winner.

Prashanth Varma’s Hanu-Man starring young hero Teja Sajja like the film’s storyline was an underdog movie with fewer expectations. The film clashed with big star vehicles but it ended up being hugely profitable for everyone concerned. Hanu-Man is a perfect example of how sometimes an engaging script can transform an actor into a star.

35 Chinna Katha Kadu directed by Nanda Kishore Emani and presented by Rana Dagubbati also deserves a special mention. It was a small movie with a big heart.

Among the big-scale action films, Naga Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD managed to sail through mainly because of two aspects. The first one is the merging of a dystopian world with the events of Mahabharata, second, is Amitabh Bachchan’s towering act as Ashwatthama.

Sukumar’s Pushpa 2: The Rise on the other hand rode majorly on Allu Arjun’s histrionics and some well-crafted moments. A major highlight is Allu Arjun’s dance in a saree during a very moving jathara sequence, the film has seen extremely polarizing reviews still the movie managed to make big numbers.

Following are some of the most impactful Telugu movies of this year

Lucky Baskhar

A still from the film Lucky Baskhar
A still from the film ‘Lucky Baskhar’. (X)

Lucky Baskhar directed by Venky Atluri is a refreshingly different story for mainstream Telugu cinema. The theme of financial crimes in the backdrop of a bank is an extremely challenging subject given the intricate details. But Venky Atluri made sure that the movie didn’t become overly complicated.

The functioning of stock markets and the banking system was handled in such a way that even a layman could understand.

What also worked majorly for Lucky Baskhar was the layered characterization of the central character coupled with Dulquer Salmaan’s brilliant performance.

The journey of Baskhar from an honest employee to becoming a scamster and the subsequent changes took the viewers on a roller coaster ride. Apart from Dulqer’s solid act the film also had some impactful dialogues particularly the ones related to success, failure and greed.

35 Chinna Katha Kadu

Nivetha Thomas in 35 Chinna Katha Kadhu
Nivetha Thomas in ’35 Chinna Katha Kadhu’. (X)

35 Chinna Katha Kadu was a much-needed slice of drama amidst the ultra-masculine heroes. Director Nanda Kishore Emani created an authentic atmosphere whether it was the school portions or the husband and wife relationship going through many ups and downs.

The film made some pertinent points on the necessity of encouraging a child’s curiosity. The second half of 35 Chinna Katha Kadu was more engaging.

The portions of Nivetha Thomas Sarswati battling her own demons while making sure that her son gets passing marks in mathematics had many heart-warming moments. Nivetha Thomas delivered a breakthrough act getting into the skin of a traditional housewife who has to rise against all odds. Newcomer Vishwadev Rachkonda also shined bright.

Priyadarshi as the snooty teacher Chanakya does border on being a caricature but in the context of the story it completely works. Priyadarshi was majorly successful in making the audience hate him.

In spite of the slow pace and predictable scenarios, it was a heartwarming film exploring how parents and educators should explain concepts in an interesting manner rather than dismissing a child’s curiosity.

Hanu-Man

Teja Sajja in Hanu-Man
Teja Sajja in ‘Hanu-Man’. (X)

On the surface Hanu- Man is a typical good versus evil plot but what made the movie work was the perfect amalgamation of devotional, superhero and pop culture elements. The character graph of Teja Sajja’s Hanumanthu was another big plus for the movie.

He goes from being a carefree guy to eventually realising his powers and most importantly using them for the greater good, this was wonderfully written and enacted.

Apart from Teja Sajja Varalakshmi Sarathkumar as the strong elder sister also had a pivotal role, the brother and sister bond gave the movie an emotional gravitas.

Varalakshmi Sarathkumar also got her own delightful mass moment. The film’s budget is nowhere close to the likes of Adipurush but the special effects were far superior.

Saripodhaa Sanivaaram

Nani in Saripodhaa Sanivaaram
Nani in ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’. (X)

Vivek Athreya’s Saripodhaa Sanivaaram was a quirky tale of two hot-headed men, presented in a commercial format. In many ways, the movie was a modern update of Salim-Javed’s Angry Young Man. What made the film engaging was the strong characterization of both the hero and the villain.

Vivek Athreya also added interesting quirks to the characters of both Nani and SJ Suryah. SJ Suryah’s character, for instance, had shades of sarcastic humour, where he could switch from being serious to jovial in the blink of an eye.

Nani’s character, on the other hand, is someone who suppresses his anger until Saturday, only unleashing it when he feels it is truly justified. These nuances added depth to the characters, and both Nani and SJ Suryah delivered impactful performances.

The dynamics between Nani and his father, played by Sai Kumar, were also a delight to watch. Their scenes were filled with numerous laugh-out-loud moments, while also showcasing warmth.

Ambajipeta Marriage Band

Suhas and Shivani Nagaram play the lead roles in Ambajipeta Marriage Band
Suhas and Shivani Nagaram play the lead roles in ‘Ambajipeta Marriage Band’. (X)

Suhas and Shivani Nagaram play the lead roles in ‘Ambajipeta Marriage Band’. (X)

Dushyant Kathikeni’s Ambajipeta Marriage Band carries a strong influence from Pa Ranjith and Vetrimaaran’s rustic Tamil dramas; nevertheless, the movie remains an engaging watch.

The story of Ambajipeta Marriage Band primarily revolves around the lives of a brother and sister. Suhas plays a barber, while Sharanya Pradeep portrays a government school teacher. The first half shows Suhas in his usual role as an underdog, while in the second half, his aggressive avatar takes the viewers by surprise.

Suhas was particularly impressive in these later portions. Sharanya Pradeep also made a significant impact with her fierce performance in the film.

Tillu Square

Siddhu Jonnalagadda delivered a blockbuster with Tillu Square
Siddhu Jonnalagadda delivered a blockbuster with ‘Tillu Square’. (X)

Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s follow-up to the 2022 popular film DJ Tillu was an entertaining comic thriller. The movie pretty much follows the same template as its predecessor.

A young man getting caught in a fresh tangle leading to various twists and turns, Anupama Parameshwaran played a morally dubious woman called Lily. The character of Lilly starts off as an innocent young woman but as the movie progresses the viewers get to see a different shade of her.

A major strength of Tillu Square was its fun-filled dialogues majorly enhanced by Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s wonderful comic timing. The actor’s energetic persona coupled with his specific style of speaking thoroughly entertained the viewers.

Anupama Parameshwaran was not only sensuous successfully breaking away from her girl-next-door image, but she also did a fine job in portraying Lilly’s grey shades.

Bhamakalapam 2 (AHA)

A still from the film Bhamakalapam 2
A still from the film ‘Bhamakalapam 2’. (X)

Bhamakalapam 2 directed by Abhimanyu Tadimeti was a delicious sequel with an in-form Priyamani. The fresh adventures of Priyamani’s Anupama kept the viewers thoroughly entertained.

The jugulbandi between Priyamani and Sharanya Pradeep playing Anupama’s business partner was a major highlight of the sequel too.

The scenes between them often left the viewers in splits. A particular mention must be made of the portions where the cooking competition and heist take place simultaneously. These scenes have both tension and situational humour in equal measure.

In spite of some lags in the pre-climax, director Abhimanyu Tadimeti did a fine job in setting up a good base for the 3rd part.

(Edited by Sumavarsha)

Ambajipeta Marriage Band

Dushyant Kathikeni’s Ambajipeta Marriage band has a heavy hangover of Tamil rustic dramas reminiscent of PA Ranjith and Vetrimaaran films but still this movie makes for an impressive social drama. Suhas once again plays to his strength as a young man from lower caste. He is a barber by profession but also works as a drummer on certain occasions. The sister Padmavathi (Sharanya Pradeep) is a government school teacher who is fierce in nature and doesn’t take things lying down. Things take a dramatic turn when Padmavathi is humiliated by the landlord Venkat ( Nithin Prasanna) leading to a chain of events where the siblings fight back

The storyline of Ambajipeta Marriage band is as old as hills but what it makes it gripping is the narration particularly in the second half. The first half has some cute moments between Suhas and the sister of the village head but the film becomes more engaging in the second half. The director has done a good job in exploring themes of self respect and honour.

Wajid Baig’s cinematography is another plus for the movie. He captures the rustic surroundings well through his lens. Both Sharanya and Suhas also power the film with their performances. Suhas’s role has two shades. One is the lover boy act already seen in Colour Photo and Writer Padmabhushan. But Suhas scores most when he has to show agression. The anger is palpable. Sharanya Pradeep also leaves a lasting impact successfully showcasing the different shades of her role. Nithin Prasanna makes the viewers hate him thoroughly which is the need of the role

Ambajipeta Marriage band can be watched for those who love movies tackling social issues

Writer Padmabhushan: A Simple Story With A Lot Of Heart

Do not miss!

Writer Padmabhushan (Telugu)

  • Cast: Suhas, Tina Shilparaj, Rohini, Ashish Vidyarthi, Gouri Priya, Goparaju, and Ashok Kumar
  • Writer-director: Shanmukha Prasanth
  • Producers: Anurag Reddy and Sharat Chandra
  • Music: Shekar Chandra and Kalyan Nayak
  • Runtime: 2 hours 23 minutes

A well-made underdog story is always good to watch irrespective of which field it is set in. On the surface, Shanmukha Prasanth’s Writer Padmabhushan may appear to be just another tale of an underdog.

But it packs in some major surprises along the way, particularly the climax which the audiences don’t see coming.

The plot focuses on a middle-class family in Vijayawada. Padmabhushan (Suhas) is an assistant librarian with a huge dream of becoming a famous writer. He has already written and published his first book Tholi Adugu (First Step).

There are scenes where he often daydreams of fans squabbling to get his autograph. However, the reality is different. He gives free copies to those visiting his friend’s salon in the hope that someone will read it.

Padmabhushan’s parents – Madhusudan (Ashish Vidyarthi) and Saraswati (Rohini) – have a firm belief in their son’s abilities. Madhusudan is a clerk in a registrar’s office while his mother is a housewife.

In a turn of events, Padmabhushan suddenly becomes famous with a new book coming out in his name which, apparently, is written by an anonymous person. The person also runs a blog in his name.

Padmabhushan is initially uncomfortable but soon starts revelling in his newfound success. His personal life also undergoes a huge change with his marriage getting fixed.

But then, all these changes suddenly when the blog becomes stagnant and questions are raised about why he stopped writing.

The rest of the story covers multiple aspects. The most important among them is the anonymous person’s actual identity and why he/she is using Padmabhushan’s name.

Relatable & hilarious

Writer Padmabhushan is relatable even for those who are not aspiring writers. At the very outset, the director makes the viewers identify with the protagonist’s love for books.

Whether it is the scenes of him imagining that his book is a massive success or the scenes where he slips in his book to members of the library along with other library books making it look accidental.

The middle-class lifestyle has an authenticity to it. The family portions between Suhas, Ashish Vidyarthi and Rohini have plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

A good example of this is the scene where the entire family switches from auto to cab just to make their presence felt at a wedding.

The romantic angle between Padmabhushan and Sarika (Tina Shilparaj) begins off on an awkward note but becomes better as the story goes along.

A particular mention must be made of the scene where the two visit an almost empty theatre. There is a hilarious bit that raises some chuckles.

However, it has to be said that the love story could have been done with more plausibility in terms of how Sarika agrees to marry Padmabhushan.

The second half becomes even better with the introduction of a new character played by Gouri Priya. There is a different angle that the director brings in with this track.

The best part of Writer Padmabhushan is the climax where an important revelation is made regarding a key character. This revelation is intermixed with the film’s opening scene which takes in a government school.

The performances

Director Shanmukha Prasanth is supremely effective in conveying an important message without making it heavy-handed or preachy.

The climax cannot be revealed here for obvious reasons but it definitely adds more depth to the proceedings.

Suhas essays Padmabhushan with a lot of sincerity and is successful in carrying the film on his shoulders.

The surprise package, though, is Ashish Vidyarthi. He is someone who is generally known for his negative roles. But here, the actor plays an adorable dad which has a good mix of fun and emotions. He makes the character even more adorable with his performance.

Rohini brings a lot of warmth to her part and her performance in the final portions is particularly heartwarming.

Verdict

Despite minor blips, Writer Padmabhushan is worth your time, particularly if you want to take a break from the mega action films which, of late, have become a norm.

It is a simple movie with emotions everyone can relate to.

Hit 2: A Taut Police Procedural That Is More Gripping Than Its Predecessor

Leaves you excited for the third part.

HIT: The Second Case (Telugu)

  • Cast: Adivi Sesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Suhas, Rao Ramesh, Tanikella Bharani, Posani Krishnamurali, Komalle Prasad, Srikanth Iyengar, and Maganti Srikanth
  • Director: Sailesh Kolanu
  • Producers: Prashanti Tipirneni and Nani
  • Music: MM Srilkeha, Suresh Bobbili, and John Stewart Eduri
  • Runtime: 2 hours

Not much was expected when Hit (The First Case) hit the theatres. However, the film surprised many thanks to its arresting screenplay. Vishwak Sen was also applauded for his performance as the officer battling with post traumatic stress.

There were certain issues with the storytelling. The climax was a downer and some of the investigation scenes lacked cohesiveness, but still the film was appreciated for its novelty.

The sequel has Adavi Sesh taking over the reins from Vishwak Sen, but the characterisations of both the heroes are as different as chalk and cheese. Expectations from the sequel are far more thanks to the well-received trailer and its leading man.

The setting of Hit (The Second Case) is Visakhapatnam. Before we are introduced to SP Krishna Dev (Adavi Sesh) there is an important incident that sets the tone of the story.

It is about a man who accidently stumbles upon his wife’s extramarital affair. Expectedly he gets angry and orders her to go away.

The wife goes to a women’s organization and paints a picture of her husband mentally harassing her. This leads to the husband’s humiliation and subsequently he loses his job as well. Later on we also find out that he had committed suicide.

Enter Adavi Sesh

After this prologue the scene shifts to the introduction of Adavi Sesh. Unlike the brooding Vishwak Sen’s Vikram Rudraraju, Adavi Sesh’s KD is more relaxed in the way he conducts his investigations. KD is also a chai addict. For him visiting a crime scene can wait, but not chai.

KD has a live-in relationship with his girlfriend Aarya (Meenakshi Chaudhary). Rao Ramesh plays KD’s superior. KD is someone who is also known for his wit and sarcasm and this adds a different dimension to the character. Maganti Srinath reprises her role from the first part.

A tonal shift in the film happens when a woman is found dead in a gruesome manner. This brings to the fore questions of women’s safety. From here on the film moves to into the zone of an SP versus a psychopath. Two more gruesome murders follow, and the pressure mounts on the police to catch this serial killer.

What is common between the murders is that all three women were part of a women’s organization. At one point it appears that everything has been solved, but soon a big twist comes. And this twist jolts the audiences.

The rest of the story is about why the serial killer is specifically targeting this section. And, most importantly, whether KD is able to put a stop to all this.

The many pluses of Hit2

Hit2 is a film which works on many counts, starting from the technical team. John Stewart Eduri’s background score has the required tension. The effectiveness of his background score can be particularly felt when KD has to race against time.

Cinematographer Manikandan is effective in showcasing Vizag in a different light. The production design also deserves a special mention.

Meenakshi Chaudary in Hit2 has more to do than Ruhani Sharma in Hit1, and the actress does a good job. Both Adavi Sesh and Meenakshi have a good chemistry. Director Sailesh Kolanu treats their live-in relationship in a matter of fact way without making it a big thing.

KD’s scenes with Aarya’s mother (Geetha Bhascker) bring a certain fun element in an otherwise tense ridden film. The audiences miss seeing more of Geeta Bhascker.

The film also briefly touches upon extra-judicial killings and police encounters being celebrated. It is just a brief subplot but nevertheless Sailesh Kolanu makes some valid points.

Creating the back-story

The major area where Hit2 scores over its first part is in the motivation of the killer. The back-story of the villain and why he does what he does has been brought out superbly. Moreover, the actor playing the villain is somebody that the audiences would never have thought of.

Portions of the climax aren’t easy to digest, but as an audience you nevertheless come out satisfied.

Hit2 majorly rests on the shoulders of Adavi Sesh and the actor doesn’t disappoint. KD is a character with various shades and he plays it with a finesse that we have come to associate with him. He has been part of thrillers previously too but Hit2 showcases the actor in a different light.

Of the rest, Suhas and Maganti Srinath hold their own. Some of the senior actors haven’t been properly used by the director. And these include Rao Ramesh and Tanikella Bharani.

Another minor complaint: The scenes of Adavi Sesh with Posani Krishna Murali — they don’t add much weight to the film.

The music by MM Srilekha and Suresh Bobbili is functional. However, there is one romantic song which is both good to watch and hear.

Hit (The Second Case) leaves you excited for the third part, and also a possible crossover between the three heroes in the future.