Tag: Adavi Sesh

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Mrunal Thakur’s emergence in Telugu cinema

An overview into how the actress has got meatier parts down south and has made complete use of it, starting from the romantic blockbuster Sita Ramam to the latest Dacoit with a muti layered character

In the success meet of Mrunal’s new movie Dacoit director and producer Nag Ashwin made a big statement about Mrunal’s acting abilities. He compared her to some legendary actresses saying that she should be wiser in choosing films. One of the things he talked about was her ability to portray characters with emotional intensity. Nag Ashwin’s statement feels very much true especially given her work in Telugu cinema.

Before getting into Mrunal’s Telugu films it’s important to give a background into her early career. Before making her Hindi debut Mrunal has been part of TV shows. A very notable stint is Kumkum Bhagya. As the vivacious younger sister, the actress made her presence amply felt, the actress particularly shined in the intense scenes showing her dramatic chops at an early stage. Love Sonia released in 2018 was her first Hindi movie; the movie was a gritty take on sex trade and prostitution.

Mrunal’s role has heavy emotional bits as well as scenes of graphic violence. Mrunal made a knock out debut capturing the quiet inner strength, as a viewer you root for her mission of finding the sister who is sold off by her debt-ridden father. Love Sonia had its screening at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. It is here that Mrunal’s paths crossed with Nag Ashwin. His second movie Mahanati was part of the film festival too. Cut to the year 2022 Mrunal was leading lady in Hanu Raghavapudi’s Sita Ramam. The movie was produced under the banner of Vyjayanthi movies and Swapna cinema.

Sita Ramam is by no means a novel story. It has shades of both Hollywood and Hindi cinema. Having said that the film is a well-made poetic love story with a good mix of romance and intense moments. As Sita Mrunal was both stunning as well delivering a solid act. Whether it’s the flirtation scenes or portions showing emotional intensity the actress was simply top notch, she more than held her own opposite the magnetic Dulquer Salman. It was a fantastic Telugu debut by all means. And it got ever better with the second one Hi Nanna.

In this Shouryuv directorial Mrunal was seen in the role of Yashna. The character of Yashna comes with multiple shades both in the flashback portions establishing the love story as well as the present timeline. The character goes through numerous emotional upheavals, she has major anxiety problems and this stems from growing up in a broken home. More than Nani Mrunal stole the show conveying the various feelings with just her expressive eyes. After two solid acts a speed breaker came in the form of The Family Star. 

The Family Star directed by Geeta Govindam fame Parasuram was a convoluted romantic drama especially the second half portions of US. In the Family Star Mrunal’s character comes with two shades. In the beginning the viewers see her as a girl next door and then a CEO with a tough exterior while having a compassionate nature. In spite of Parasuram’s subpar writing Mrunal was very effective in portraying both the shades.

Mrunal’s lastest Telugu movie is the recent Dacoit. Keeping aside whatever the final numbers of this Shaniel Deo’s directorial would be, there is no denying that Mrunal has won lots of hearts with her fabulous performance. The multi-faceted Adavi Sesh deserves utmost praise for writing a strong character like Sarswati. Though Adavi Sesh is the leading man Mrunal is the main pillar of the movie. The actress did a fantastic job in portraying the resilience of Sarswati. The gradual unraveling of different layers was brought out superbly by both Adavi Sesh in his writing, and of course Mrunal Thakur who was an absolute knock out capturing both the vulnerability and a fighting spirit. A special mention must be made of Mrunal in the climatic portions post a crucial reveal.

No wonder Mrunal has received praise from many quarters, whether its Rahul Ravindran, Nandini Reddy and Allu Aravind. She has truly become a Telugu heroine with a separate fan base. As Nag Ashwin said in the event it’s necessary that the actress avoids random stuff as much as possible, keeping aside the comparisons to legendary actresses, Mrunal is an extremely capable performer who can go a long way. Here’s hoping that Hindi cinema also taps more into Mrunal’s talent giving her parts that she deserves

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Dacoit (a love story): A gritty cocktail of love and crime

Shaniel Deo who has co-written the story with Adavi Sesh makes a promising debut especially the second half. The post interval portions have some solid thrills with trademark Adavi Sesh twists. The track of hospital mafia with the backdrop of COVID has been smartly integrated. However, the films biggest strength is Mrunal Thakur as Juilet/Sarswati. She stands shoulder to shoulder with Adavi Sesh coming with a brilliant act

Starcast: Adavi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, Anurag Kashyap, Sunil, etc

Genre: Action drama/romance

Director and writer: Shaniel Deo

Additional writer: Adavi Sesh

Dialogues: Abburi Ravi

Producer: Supriya Yarlagadda

Production Companies: SS Creations and Sunil Narg productions

Music: Bheems Cecriroleo

Cinematographer: Danush Bhaskar

Running time: 2 hours and 32 minutes

Actor, writer and director Adavi Sesh has created a string niche for himself with stories of action and thrillers. There is a credibility attached to his name. Adavi Sesh’s latest Dacoit has some of his trademark elements like the gritty action combined with twists. At the same time the movie also presents a different facet of Adavi Sesh, a rustic role with a specific dialect. Right throughout the movie’s promotions Adavi Sesh has insisted on how Daciot is a two-hero movie and this indeed turns out true. But more on that later.

The story of Dacoit in brief is about two star crossed lovers. Advasi Sesh’s Hari comes from the downtrodden section. Mrunal Thakur’s Sarswati on the hand belongs to a more affluent household. The situation takes a dramatic turn with Hari going to jail and Sarswati marrying someone else. Hari is in deep hurt with plans of revenge. How their paths once again intertwine forms the core of Daciot.

A strong aspect of Dacoit are the dynamics between Hari and Sarswati. The love-hate relationship with Hari’s simmering anger gives the movie some of its best moments. The action sequences amidst the two dodging the police have been solidly staged. There is a sense of them racing against time. The vulnerabilities of the two leads as they are fighting with their own inner demons makes these scenes more interesting. Mention must also be made of the technical department especially the production design and cinematography. Much like last week’s Biker this movie also benefits from the use of real-life locations.

The rugged landscape with the different moods becomes a major character in itself. Danush Bhaskar’s cinematography is first rate, his work in the chase sequences especially stands out.

Bheems Cecrileo’s songs particularly Rubaroo makes an impact. The background score of Gyaani is of a good order too especially in the action sequences.

Coming to the social commentary the movie is successful in taking the viewers back to the harrowing pre-COVID area. The exploitation of corporate hospitals with mounting hospital bills have an authentic feel. Yes, Prakash Raj as a corporate hospital head is underutilized still the subplot works. The dialogues of Abburi Ravi significantly help too in both the halves.

A special mention must be made of the ones questioning caste. The social undercurrents makes Dacoit more than just an action drama with a love story. For an intense film like this it’s important that both the leads deliver, Adavi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur don’t miss a single beat. As Hari Adavi Sesh gets the angst spot on pulling off the grey shades with finesse. He also raises chuckles in scenes of understated humor. A perfect example of humor is the portion of Hari escaping and a punchline with the popular song ‘Kannepettarao from Hello Brother playing in the background. Mrunal Thakur too matches step to step in a multi shaded role. The emotional vulnerability and resilience of Saraswati has been excellently brought out by the actress. A specific mention must be made of the climactic portion when she gives it back to the husband showing that she is no docile wife. The dubbing has been done by Chinmayi Sripada, and this elevates the performance further. It’s great to see Mrunal getting some solid roles in Telugu and she making complete use of it.

Among the rest Anurag Kashyap as the cop on hunt make his presence amply felt too. He brings in the required authority as well as a humanness. The second one can be especially seen in films final stages. Sunil in a grey shaded role is solid as well. But Atul Kulkarni much like Prakash Raj is underutilized.

Coming to the flaws the first half of Dacoit could have been much crisper. An item song especially sticks out like a sore thumb. Also, the love Dovey scenes could have done with better writing.

Final word: Dacoit is a solid addition to Adavi Sesh’s filmography, and definitely worth watching for fans of gritty action dramas as well as Mrunal admirers.

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Hit 3: Nani’s mass jathara

Nani as the psycho cop from Hit The Third Case

The rooted texture of the first two Hit movies is absent here. The third part comes across as more of an ultra mass showreel for Nani, nevertheless the actor’s intense performance coupled with his swag as well as Sanu Varghese’s cinematography makes it a delightful watch for fans of violent investigative dramas, for the rest it might feel like an ovedose

Starcast: Nani, Srinidhi Shetty, Samuthrikani, Rao Ramesh and others

Genre: Action

Director and writer: Sailesh Kolanu

Producer: Prashanti Tripirneni

Production Companies: Wall Poster Cinema and Unanimous Productions

Music: Mickey J Meyer

Cinematography: Sanu Varghese

Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Sailesh Kolanu’s directorial debut Hit 1 also called as Hit- The First Case released with minimal expectations but surprised everyone with its taut storytelling. It was a major success for its leading man Vishwak Sen who hasn’t been to capitalize on the strong foundation given by the movie. In spite of the logical loopholes and a weak climax it came across as a fresh of breadth air from the formulaic storytelling. The second part of Hit with Adavi Sesh was an ever bigger success, now you have the third part with Nani. Over the last few years Nani’s stardom has increased significantly thanks to his versatile roles and overall persona. Among the mid budget heroes Nani has made rapid strides establishing himself as a star actor. An outsider who has risen to the top with sheer handwork.

Vishwak Sen, Adavi Sesh and Nani from the first three Hit movies and now Karthi in the upcoming Hit 4

The one line story for all the Hit movies would be police officers belonging to the Homicide intervention team dealing with twisted criminals. The third installment of this growing franchise is no different. Nani plays Arjun Sarkar a psycho cop with his own methods, he treats criminals in an extremely brutal manner often indulging in custodial violence. According to him a criminal who cannot reformed should be buried under the ground. The movie focuses on a series of murders following a similar pattern and how Arjun Sarkar infiltrates a particular psychotic gang.

It goes without saying that Nani’s histrionics is the biggest asset of Hit 3. The actor completely imbibes the intensity of Arjun Sarkar starting from the aggressive and ruthless body language. Arjun Sarkar is someone who comes with a streak of short temperedness making him very volatile and Nani absolutely nails the different nuances. At the same time he also raises ample chuckles even in serious situations. Nani’s use of Hindi language in a scene involving a Kashmiri criminal deserves a specific mention. In the action sequences the actor truly comes across as a one man army with the ferocious attitude.

Nani as the violent cop

However there is also a different side to Arjun Sarkar in the portions with the leading lady Srindhi Shetty. There is a visible softness in the scenes of understated romance and Nani completely turns the charm on.

Apart from Nani’s first rate act Sanu Varghese cinematography is also of a very high order whether it is the Kashmir portions or the second half when the movie moves into a survival drama. The way he has captured the high voltage action sequences of the second half is a delight for action junkies. The location of a dense forest set in Arunachal Pradesh becomes an important character in itself too. Mickey J Myer’s songs are all right but his background music is more impactful in the intense moments.

Srindhi Shetty starts off as a typical love interest but the way Sailesh integrates her track into the main one with a certain twist makes their portions more than just your standard love story. Srindhi Shetty gives a good account of herself. Samuthrikani as Nani’s father gives the movie some much needed light moments. The sequences of banter between Nani and Samuthrikani is fun to watch. Adavi Sesh in an extended special appearance makes his entry at a critical juncture, he reprises his role of KD from the second part. The actor is usual charismatic self.

Nani and Srinidhi Shetty

Talking about the portions of custodial violence on some occasions Arjun Sarkar is questioned about his brutal methods by his boss specifically in the Kashmir segment. A major unrest happens in Kashmir due to Arjun Sarkar’s handling, this eventually leads to him being transferred as well. Sailesh Kolanu doesn’t dig deep into the criticism that Arjun Sarkar faces and on numerous occasions the movie seems to be celebrating the violent attitude of Arjun. However the purpose for which Arjun is fighting makes a huge difference unlike SJ Suryah in Saripodhaa Sanivaaram an unhinged cop who takes out his frustrations on a group of innocent people.

A major problem with Hit 3 is the lack of a strong villain. Pratik Babbar as the leader of a twisted online gang is suitably psychotic but fails to make a major impact due to the weak characterization. Sailesh attempts to make a social comment on the consumption of violence with the scenarios resembling the Korean web show Squid Games but this track needed more texture.

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Emerging stars: Telugu cinema’s new wave of actors takes center stage

An overview of how a handful of Telugu actors broke through the dynastic ‘herodom’ and carved a niche for themselves.
Published in: Southfirst

Many new-age actors from outside the film industry have made their mark as heroes in Telugu cinema in the last few years. Their success augurs well for the industry.

They might not be ‘mass’ heroes but they played roles that resonated with different types of audiences. They also endeared themselves to the audiences with their multiple skills.

Actors like Naveen Polishetty and Siddhu Jonnalagadda would never enjoy the mass patronage of an Allu Arjun or a Jr NTR.

The reason is the market dynamics coupled with their backgrounds. So, they have chosen a different path for themselves by playing underdog characters in the case of Suhas. Or doing movies where both comedy and thrills are intermingled.

There is also a certain sense of self-depreciation in the roles. Let’s go one by one:

Naveen Polishetty

Naveen Polishetty’s ‘Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty’ won audiences’ hearts. (X)

Naveen Polishetty started his career with Shekar Kammula’s film Life is Beautiful (2012), where he played a negative role.

This was followed by D for Dopidi (2013) and Sukumar’s 1: Nenokkadine (2014).

However, Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya (2019) gave him a much-needed break in his career. Naveen was the leading man in the film and also the co-writer.

The movie minted money at the box office and also won critical acclaim; a promising new talent was born.

Naveen further consolidated his status as a hero with the nonsensical comedy Jathi Ratnalu (2021).

The flick also featured Rahul Ramakrishna and Priyadarshi, but Naveen was the star of the show. He embraced the tonality of the film with zero inhibitions.

What additionally made Jathi Ratnalu special was the backing of Nag Ashwin, the director of Yevade Subramanyam (2015) and Mahanati (2018). It was a big promotion for Naveen.

Though the film was released at a tricky time, right after COVID-19, it became a huge success.

Naveen Polishetty scored a third consecutive hit with the romedy drama Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty (2023), directed by Mahesh Babu P. His role demonstrated that he was also an emotionally intelligent actor.

Naveen has a striking screen presence and an energy that makes him endearing. He has impeccable comic timing that can lift the most bizarre of situations, as we already witnessed in Jathi Ratnalu.

Siddhu Jonnalagadda

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

Siddhu Jonnalagadda is another new-age Telugu actor who proved himself as a writer and a hero, too.

He wrote both DJ Tillu (2022) and the superhit sequel Tillu Square (2024).

Siddhu thoroughly entertained the viewers with his antics. His comic punches often left the viewers in splits.

But what made DJ Tillu and the sequel a big success was how the actor-writer integrated the elements of comedy and thriller.

Apart from the above-mentioned film, Siddhu Konnalagadda was also the co-writer of Krishna and his Leela (2020). It was a breezy romantic film that dealt with contemporary relationships.

Siddu’s strength as an actor majorly comes from his ease in front of the camera and a certain style with which he delivers his dialogues.

Sure, his dramatic skills have not been tested yet, but characters like Tillu are a perfect fit for him.

Adivi Sesh

Adivi Sesh will next be seen in ‘Goodachari 2’. (X)

Unlike Naveen and Siddhu, Adivi Sesh is someone who comes with the looks of a dashing mainstream hero.

He also has a literary family background. His grand-uncle Adivi Bapiraju is a famous novelist and a playwright. However, that does not mean he had it easy in the industry.

It has taken a while for him to establish his space after playing small roles in big films; a case in point is SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning (2015).

Sesh’s good looks and strong physicality helped him gain a strong base. But, apart from his looks, the actor impressed everyone with his acting and writing skills.

He became a thriller specialist with the likes of Kshanam (2016) and Goodachari (2018).

The actor‘s speciality is strong characterisations. For example, Anasuya Bhardhwaj and Satyam Rajesh in Kshanam or Vennela Kishore in Goodachari.

Adivi Sesh made the well-known story of Sandeep Unnikrishnan a hugely engrossing film both with his acting and writing abilities in Major (2022).

As a director, he has done only one movie — Karma (2010), which unfortunately was a big dud.

Hope he proves himself a good director, too, one day!

Suhas

Suhas is on a film signing spree and has become a bankable actor. (X)

The physical structure of Colour Photo (2020) and Ambajipeta Marriage Band (2024) actor Suhas is very similar to Tamil actor Dhanush.

Of course, the young Telugu actor does not have the mass image of the latter, but still, there are certain similarities in the underdog roles he has chosen.

Suhas also started with supporting roles in Agent Sai Srinivas Athreya and Prathi Roju Pandage (2019), among others.

However, he got his first break as a leading man in Colour Photo.

In the National Award-winning film, he played the role of a milkman’s son and won appreciation for his awe-inspiring performance.

This was followed by Writer Padmabhushan (2023) and Ambajipeta Marriage Band. Both these movies also had Suhas as an underdog.

But, in Ambajipeta Marriage Band, his character is fierier in comparison to Colour Photo, which belongs to the same terrain. In the second half, the actor pulled off scenes of aggression proficiently.

Priyadarshi Pulikonda

Priyadarshi is coming up with ‘Save The Tigers 3’ web series. (X)

Priyadarshi Pulikonda is another bright talent in Telugu cinema who has proved himself beyond comedy.

His performances in Mallesham (2019) and Venu’s Balagam (2022) are solid examples.

The actor also proved his mettle in the digital space with both seasons of Save the Tigers (2023 & 2024). The makers are soon coming up with the third season.

Priyadarshi was seen in the role of a dairy farm owner Ghanta Ravi in this web series. He was spot-on in capturing the nuances of the Telangana dialect.

The second season of Save the Tigers had some good father-and-daughter scenes.

What made the new-age Telugu actor successful is his imbibing the body language of the roles he portrays — in Mallesham or Save the Tigers web series.

Well, this is a brief account of some of the new-age Telugu actors who found success despite not having a filmy background.

There are also the likes of Raj Tarun, who started promisingly but could not sustain due to poor choice of roles.

Let’s hope many more actors outside the dynasties will try their luck in the Telugu film industry!

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/the-rise-of-new-age-telugu-actors

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Year-End Roundup: Best Telugu Movies Of 2022

In 2022, Tollywood saw movies from different genres putting up a great show at the box office.

There are a couple of highest-worldwide grossers, including SS Rajamouli’s star-studded RRR starring Jr NTR-Ram Charan Tej, Mahesh Babu’s Sarkaru Vaari Paata, and Pawan Kalyan-Rana Daggubati’s Bheemla Nayak.

But Nikhil Siddhartha-Anupama Parameswaran’s Karthikey 2 turned out to be the surprise package.

However, there are a few films that tugged at the heartstrings of Telugu audiences with their powerful content and thus deserve to be tagged as the best Telugu movies of 2022. Let’s take a quick look at the list:

Major

In the last few years, Adivi Sesh significantly rose from the ranks, both as a writer and also as an actor. In 2022, he established himself as a formidable force.

Major was based on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an Indian Army officer who was martyred while combating terrorists in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Along with being the protagonist, Adivi Sesh was also the writer of this project.

The story of Major doesn’t have any suspense since the audience is aware of what will happen at the end.

But that didn’t stop the audience from cheering on Sandeep when he combats the terrorists.

Through his writing, Sesh presented Sandeep as a wholesome personality and not just as a military man. As a result, the audience had a better emotional connection when the tragedy happened.

As an actor, Sesh grabbed the role with both hands. He nailed his act both in scenes of physical bravado and also as a caring son.

Hit: The Second Case

It was a sequel to the successful Hit: The First Case. Director Sailesh made sure that there was a proper connection between Hit 1 and Hit 2.

Nevertheless, Hit 2 was ahead of its prequel, both as a solid police procedural and also as a psychopath film. Unlike Major and Gudachari, Adivi Sesh did not write the story for this film.

Hit 2 also had a brief subplot where it critiques extrajudicial killings and their celebration.

It is only a brief mention but it makes the movie a cut above the other films of this genre.

Thrillers aren’t new for Sesh but the actor made sure that there is something novel in his performance.

Sita Ramam

Hanu Raghavapudi’s Sita Ramam can be labelled as a poetic love story.

There is a lot to like about this Dulqer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur-starrer. The two not only shined individually but their chemistry was also top-notch.

As Lieutenant Ram, Dulqer turned on his charm fully and made the audiences fall in love with him.

Mrunal Thakur was the surprise package. She not only looked stunning but also delivered a wonderful performance.

The director smartly combined the love angle with the Indo-Pak conflict. There are ample twists and turns to keep you hooked and it is difficult to be not moved by the ending.

The supporting characters led by Rashmika and Sumanth were also a delight to watch.

Music and cinematography departments also made Sita Ramam an enriching experience.

The film had its share of flaws; the case in point being the comedy track of Vennela Kishore. Also, Mrunal’s character doesn’t de-age even one bit!

But still, Sita Ramam is a feast for those who like intense love stories.

Bhamakapalam

Directed by Abhimanyu Tadimeti, Bhamakalapam is an interesting garnishing of elements such as crime, greed and religion.

The plot is centred on a Faberge egg that is worth ₹200 core. At the beginning itself, the audiences understand this egg has been stolen and gets lost again.

Bhamakapalam is not just an engrossing thriller but it also makes an important statement about finding the god within.

The underlying message is not to be misled by someone who uses religion as a weapon. This message isn’t particularly new; nevertheless, it’s relevant.

Anupama Mohan (Priya Mani) is a woman of many talents. She is a homemaker who is also famous for her cooking videos.

There is also an inner Sherlock Holmes in her which comes out early on. She tries to expose the extramarital affair of her neighbour. But all this backfires!

The husband takes a promise that she wouldn’t do her detective work again but fate has other plans.

The best aspect of Bhamakalapam is how the director builds suspense around the egg. Audiences are constantly wondering about what is so special about this Faberge egg that it is worth ₹200 core.

The film also benefits immensely from Priya Mani’s spot-on performance. She imbibed the curiosity of Anupama.

Her scenes with house help Shilpa (Sharanya) are a delight to watch. Sharanya shined both in the comic bits and also where she is required to show tension.

Ante Sundaraniki

In 2022, Actor Nani came up with just one movie: Ante Sudaraniki. Well, it was quite unusual; for, he delivers a film every three-four months.

In Ante Sudaraniki, the actor teamed up with Malayali beauty Nazriya Nazim. This romantic comedy is helmed by young director Vivek Athreya.

Though the reception at the box office for this sensible flick was mixed during its theatrical release, Ante Sundaraniki surely makes it to the list of best Telugu movies of 2022.

Nani rose to stardom with romantic comedies and he carries them with ease. Thus, he comes up with his best for Ante Sundaraniki. Nazriya Nazim joining him makes the proceedings even more interesting.

Nani appears as Sundara Prasad from an orthodox Brahmin family. Nazriya plays Leela Thomas from a Christian family.

They leave no stone unturned in convincing their parents of their interfaith marriage, but only land in bigger problems which, in turn, leave the audience in splits.

In all, the romantic comedy narrates the struggles of an interfaith couple in a comical way.

Besides the lead pair, the film features a strong support cast like Anupama Parameswaran, Nadhiya, Naresh, Rohini, and Azhagam Perumal.

Virata Parvam

Underrated Virata Parvam deserves serious film buffs’ attention

Rana Daggubati and Sai Pallavi-starrer Virata Parvam gained quite a lot of attention even before its release, owing to its storyline and casting.

But it could not sustain its momentum after hitting the theatres, as many considered it to be too serious a film for regular audiences.

Directed by Venu Udugula, Virata Parvam is set in the backdrop of Naxalism and tracks the heart-wrenching story of Vennela (Sai Pallavi). She falls for Naxal leader Ravi Shankar (Rana Daggubati) and gets attracted to the Naxalism ideology, which tragically ends her life.

Telangana was the hotbed for Naxalism in the 1980s and 1990s. Virata Parvam depicts the various facets of the extremist movement, riding on the love story of the lead pair.

Sai Pallavi’s acting prowess and her ability to carry conflicting emotions effortlessly keep the audience engaged throughout the movie.

Film lovers who are interested in serious stuff will find Virata Parvam engaging.

Ammu

Aishwarya Lekshmi’s Ammu takes a new stance on an age-old issue.

This is a low-profile movie which was released without much fanfare but held the audience in thrall with its intensity later.

Starring the talented Aishwarya Lekshmi in the title role, Ammu depicts the story of a naive and hapless married woman who becomes a victim of domestic violence.

Films on domestic violence are not new to the Telugu audience. But the way director Charukesh Sekar dealt with it makes Ammu a special movie.

Aishwarya Lekshmi’s impressive portrayal of a woman stuck in an abusive marriage added to the director’s vision, making it to the list of must-watch movies of 2022.

While this realistic film has its shortcomings, its brilliance and honesty won over the audiences.

Being the queen of Ammu, Aishwarya Lekshmi grabs all the credit. However, Naveen Chandra plays on par with her. He does an excellent job as an abusive husband.

Bobby Simha’s presence further adds to the impact. Interestingly, Ammu is Amazon Prime Video’s first original Telugu film.

Urvasivo Rakshasivo

The genre of romantic comedy/drama is one of the most overused genres in cinemas across languages. Only two kinds of endings are possible: One happy and the other sad.

But a well-made rom-com is always welcome, like Urvasivo Rakshasivo. It is the remake of the Tamil film Pyaar Prema Kaadhal.

Urvasivo Rakshasivo deals with the conflict between live-in relationships and marriage. The boy wants marriage but the girl wants a live-in.

The most refreshing aspect of this movie is the characterisation of Anu Emanuel’s Sindhu and the wonderful performance of the actress.

There are occasions when Sindhu may come across as both stubborn and spoiled. However, the audience also understands from where Sindhu is coming and the reason for her stubbornness in not wanting to marry.

Director Rakesh Sasi doesn’t tamper with the soul of Sindhu, at any point, even when the lead pair drifts apart.

Most importantly, the happy ending of the story doesn’t come at the cost of squashing Sindhu’s career dreams.

The film also never gets preachy. The scenes depicting the live–in relationship are peppered with much entertainment. Both Sunil and Vennela Kishore brought the house down with their comic timing.

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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.

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Major: Adavi Sesh Anchors This Heart Touching Saga

The attack of 26/11 is a subject that has found a prominent place in both movies and also web series. A good example of this is the Anupam Kher and Dev Patel’s Hotel Mumbai and also the web series Mumbai Dairies. Major directed by Sashi Kiran focuses on the real life major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. Sandeep Unnikrishnan was an NSG Major who sacrificed his life in fighting the terrorists on that fateful day. The beats of the story isn’t unfamiliar in any way. Most of us know how the attacks of 26/11 had played out and as an audience you also know that Sandeep is going to end up as a martyr. So the tricky thing is how you engage the audiences. But director Sashi Kiran keeps the audiences hooked. He is also helped by the mostly tight writing of Adavi Sesh, apart from acting, Adavi Sesh has also written the story and screenplay of this film.

The story of Sandeep is narrated through the parents played by Prakash Raj and Revathy respectively. Sandeep’s fascination with the uniform is established early on by the director. From a young age itself Sandeep is someone who doesn’t think twice before putting himself in harm’s way in order to save someone’s life. His parents aren’t exactly too pleased with his decision of joining the army. But there is nothing that they can do given the firmness of Sandeep’s decision; through the course of the film,  Sandeep is confronted with what it means to be a soldier. Is it putting oneself first on the battlefield, or forgoing being a good husband etc. On that fateful day he had the option of staying back but he instead decided to fight the terrorists.

The biggest triumph of Major is way the character of Sandeep has been etched. The focus is on Sandeep as a complete human being and not just as a martyr. When the inevitable happens you not just mourn for a soldier who has lost his life, but you also think about the life that he could have lived.

Major, starring Adivi Sesh, showcases the fascinating saga of a braveheart | Filmfare.com
Fascinating story of a braveheart

There is a deep emotional connect that the director brings. Sandeep’s interactions with his parents in particular are good. There aren’t many of those scenes but whatever what you get is heart touching. The film also works as a coming- of- age tale and not just as a soldier’s story.

Sandeep’s love story with his childhood sweetheart Isha (Saiee Manjrekar) is also fairly well etched out. Saiee gets a pretty solid role and she delivers a decent performance, but there are times where you feel that a more solid actress would have uplifted the love story.

A majority of Major’s second half plays out as a combat drama. The action set pieces by Naba are very good. You can clearly see that a lot of hard work has gone into it. The dialogues by Abburi Ravi are another standout feature of this film. Lastly, Patchipulusu also deserves credit for his cinematography. He ably captures the different moods of the film through his lens.

Adavi Sesh gets a role of a lifetime and the actor grabs the opportunity with both hands. It is a part which is demanding in both physical and emotional sense, and Adavi Sesh nails it with a terrific performance. He is convincing in all the stages of his character.

Major Opts For Early Premiere Shows All Over The Country - Movie News
It is a film that is going to stay with you for a long time

Prakash Raj and Revati are experienced actors who don’t need any particular validation, as expected both of them bring in their immense experience to the parts. Their performances in the closing moments would move audiences to tears. Murali Sharma and Shobhita Dhulipala are effective in their brief roles.

In a nutshell, Major more than lives up to the promise made by the impactful trailer. It is a film that is going to stay with you for a long time even if the subject of army isn’t your cup of tea.