&nbsp;&nbsp;Telusa Telusa from Thella Kagitham released. Harsh Roshan is starring in a film titled Thella Kagitham. Ramesh Bandredii is directing the film which is releasing on 2 Oct 2026. The film's promotions are exciting all and today the makers released the song Telusa Telusa.Rowdy Star Vijay Devarakonda released the song and wished the makers all the best. Suresh Banisetti penned heartfelt lyrics while Anudeep Dev and Lipsika sang the song in a beautiful manner. Vijay Bulganin came up with a melodious tune to connect chords with the listeners.<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cDlTp9TZMc"></oembed></figure>Harsh Roshan and Nakshatra's chemistry is highlighted in the song and it is shot in the beautiful locations. &nbsp;The film is produced by Krishna Kommalapati, under Arunachala Creations banner.Nandu Savirigana has also written the screenplay and dialogues, ensuring a cohesive narrative filled with engaging moments and emotional depth. The film also stars Deepak and Ajay in key roles. K.V. Guhan and Karthika Srinivas are handling the cinematography and editing departments.- Pramod Nandivada

Movie News

Thella Kagitham: Telusa Telusa mesmerise melodiously 

Telusa Telusa from Thella Kagitham released

A fresh social media controversy has sparked speculation about a possible Suriya - Sivakarthikeyan cold war. Sivakarthikeyan recently congratulated Soori on Mandaadi and highlighted its positive response. His remark that “good content always wins big” immediately caught attention, with some Suriya fans interpreting it as an indirect reference to the actor.The speculation stems from an old 2022 tweet by Suriya. When Karthi’s Sardar and Sivakarthikeyan’s Prince released on same day during the Diwali period, Suriya congratulated Sardar and wrote that good content always wins big. Sardar received stronger reviews and performed better than Prince, adding context to the latest social media comparisons.Four years later, Sardar 2 and Mandaadi have arrived in theatres around the same period, creating an interesting parallel. Sivakarthikeyan wished both films success, but his enthusiastic praise for Soori’s Mandaadi and the repeated “good content always wins big” phrase triggered fan theories about a possible response to Suriya’s earlier post.However, there is no confirmation that Sivakarthikeyan intended his post as a dig at Suriya. His message could simply be genuine appreciation for Soori’s performance and the film’s response. While Mandaadi has received positive reactions from sections of audiences, Sardar 2 has generated mixed responses, further intensifying the online comparisons between the two releases. - Veda&nbsp;

Silent Tweet War Between Suriya And SK

Sardar 2 vs Mandaadi Fuels Old Tweet Debate Between Suriya And Sivakarthikeyan 

Devotional cinema is witnessing a strong resurgence in India, with mythological stories increasingly attracting audiences and generating significant theatrical interest. Riding this wave comes Shrimad Bhagavatam, an ambitious seven part live action franchise inspired by Indian spiritual traditions. The first instalment, Vishnurata, has now unveiled its first look, immediately creating curiosity around the project.The film carries a prestigious legacy as it comes from the family of legendary filmmaker Ramanand Sagar, whose iconic television adaptations Ramayan and Shri Krishna remain culturally significant. His grandsons Akash Sagar Chopra and Amrit Sagar are spearheading the new franchise, aiming to present the Bhagavatam on a scale suited to contemporary audiences.Akash Sagar Chopra and Amrit Sagar are directing the seven part saga, bringing extensive television and filmmaking experience to the ambitious project. Amrit Sagar previously directed 1971, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The makers are reportedly planning major production work at Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City.Vishnurata is being developed with elaborate sets, large scale production design and extensive visual effects, with the makers opting for a live action approach. Internationally experienced technicians are reportedly joining the project, as the team aims to create a visually spectacular mythological experience. The newly released first look offers an early glimpse into those ambitions. - Veda&nbsp;

First Look Of Vishnurata From Seven Part Mythological Epic Srimad Bhagavatam Creates Buzz

From The Legendary TV Production House Seven Part Epic Saga Unfolded

Ajith is busy with car racing and recently he participated in the Le Mans race. Fans are surprised to see CM Vijay flag the race.Ajith was asked about Vijay attending the race by the press, and he said, “I am extremely thankful to the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay, to have taken time off from his busy schedule to come and visit us at Silverstone. We’ve been colleagues in the film industry for the last 34 years, and I’m very happy for him that he’s now the Chief Minister-elect.”He added “They have been doing a lot to promote sports from every discipline, not just motorsport. They’re looking at motorsport as well. I’m glad he accepted the invitation to come and look at what are the logistic-wise, infrastructure-wise, it would take for India, Chennai to host events like the Le Mans series in India. And my wish is to see these events come to India and all of us race in India, you know?”---- Pramod Nandivada &nbsp;

Political News

CM Vijay flags Ajith race

Fans surprises as CM Vijay flags Ajith race

Alia Bhatt is bankrolling her new project, a hilarious entertainer titled Don't Be Shy. &nbsp;Aarushi Bajaj, Ansh Duggal, Bianca Arora and Piyush Khati are making debut with the film which is helmed by a newcomer Sreeti Mukerji, who also wrote the screenplay.Alia Bhatt says "This is a very big moment for us. Fourteen years ago I made my debut as an actor. And 14 years later, I am today introducing four new actors and a debutante director. And I'm way more nervous than they are right now,"She added "I really have butterflies in my stomach because I love being an actor and I love being in front of the camera. But it gives me another level of joy because we've been involved in building the world and story from the word go,"She said "It's really a story very close to my heart and I feel everyone will resonate with it because we all love what comes with growing up,"---- Pramod Nandivada&nbsp;

Alia Bhatt on new production venture

Alia Bhatt on producing Don't Be Shy

Dhruv Vikram is set to collaborate with filmmaker Ramesh Varma for a new Telugu - Tamil bilingual project, tentatively titled DV4. The film is backed by Sri Neeladri Productions with Pen Movies and RV Studios, while Jayantilal Gada presents it. The makers are planning a commercial entertainer targeting audiences across both industries.The collaboration brings together Dhruv Vikram’s growing popularity and Ramesh Varma’s experience in commercial cinema. Ramesh Varma previously directed films including Rakshasudu and Khiladi, while Dhruv earned recognition through Adithya Varma, Mahaan and Bison Kaalamaadan. The upcoming project is expected to showcase the actor in a high energy, commercially appealing role.The makers are reportedly moving ahead with pre production, with shooting planned to commence in October. The project is expected to be mounted on a sizeable scale, although the complete cast, technical crew, final title and storyline are yet to be officially revealed. Further announcements are expected as production preparations progress.Interestingly, DV4 has also created confusion because Dhruv Vikram’s Mythri Movie Makers project with debutant director Karan Arvind Kumar was announced under the same working title. Reports have highlighted a commitment dispute involving the earlier Ramesh Varma project, with producers approaching the Tamil Film Producers Council over the matter. - Veda

Dhruv Vikram And Ramesh Varma Team Up For DV4

Dhruv Vikram With Ramesh Varma Project Announced

Allu Arjun and Atlee’s much awaited Raaka has become one of Indian cinema’s biggest upcoming projects. Formerly known as AA22xA6, the sci-fi action epic is produced by Sun Pictures and has been mounted on a massive scale. However, fresh reports suggest that its previously discussed 2027 release window could now change.Raaka was earlier expected to arrive during the Christmas season of 2027, but production delays have reportedly forced the team to reconsider the timeline. According to a recent industry report, filming may continue until March or April 2027, leaving Atlee additional time for extensive post production and visual effects work before the theatrical release.The film stars Deepika Padukone, Mrunal Thakur, Rashmika Mandanna and Janhvi Kapoor in important roles, while Allu Arjun is reportedly playing multiple characters. Hollywood star Will Smith has also been linked to the project, with reports suggesting discussions for a key antagonist role, although his participation has not been officially confirmed by the makers.The latest reports indicate that Raaka could now target Republic Day 2028 or, if production schedules require more time, a summer 2028 release. The makers are yet to announce an official date. With leading international VFX studios reportedly involved and Atlee seeking extensive post production time, the delay could ultimately help deliver the ambitious visual spectacle. - Veda &nbsp;

Gossips

Rumours About Raaka Release

Allu Arjun Raaka Release Plans Face Fresh Uncertainty

Nithiin’s upcoming Telugu film Alias Rukmini has quietly completed its first shooting schedule. Directed by Dhandoraa fame Murali Kanth Devasoth, the film is written by the filmmaker himself and presented by Natural Star Nani. Produced by Deepthi Ganta under Unanimous Productions, the project promises an unconventional story and intriguing characters.The makers reportedly wrapped a 10 day first schedule featuring Nithiin and key members of the cast, including Sai Kumar and Harsha Vardhan. The film’s intriguing title glimpse introduced Nithiin as Krishna, a mathematics teacher, while creating curiosity around Rukmini, whose identity appears central to the narrative.The title glimpse generated considerable curiosity with its quirky humour and mysterious premise. It begins with a discussion about Krishna before revealing novels written under the name Rukmini. The final reveal, in which Nithiin identifies Rukmini as his wife, has intensified expectations surrounding the film’s romantic and emotional storyline.Alias Rukmini boasts a strong technical crew, with Jomon T. John ISC handling cinematography, Vijai Bulganin composing the music, Avinash Kolla overseeing production design and Srujana Adusumilli editing. Rekha Boggarrapu is the costume designer, while Ramana Madhavaram serves as co-director. The film is currently progressing through its shooting schedules. - Veda

Nithiin Alias Rukmini Completes First Schedule

Nani Film With Nithin Progressing Silently

Lokesh Kanagaraj, Wamiqa Gabbi's DC directed by Arun Matheswaran turned out to be a super hit at the box office. Kalanithi Maran of Sun Pictures, who produced the film, presented BMWs to Arun Matheswaran,Anirudh Ravichander and Lokesh Kanagaraj.However, fans of Wamiqa Gabbi who came with powerpacked performance are furious that she was not rewarded aptly. Fans reacted in the following way.“Wamiqa ku oru scooty achu vangi kuduthurukalam. (They could’ve at least bought a scooty for Wamiqa),” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter), resharing the video. “Appo sanjana ku cycle ahh.. Ellarayum equal ah treat pannanum..(Then should Sanjana receive a cycle..you should treat everyone equally),” wrote another, pointing out that Sanjana Krishnamoorthy also received no gift.“Curious question - gifting car after film’s success is a fashion down south so what these people do with so many cars they keep on getting in gifts? By the way, it’s so disappointing to see that no car for @iWamiqaGabbi | she was the soul of the movie man,” wondered one X user. Another wrote, “There was no mention of #Wamika at all... not even a passing one, despite her being the soul of the film DC. She, too, deserved a car and due acknowledgment.”, “She was the best part of the movie for me.” Another questioned, “Did you forget? This is Kollywood; we don't respect women here.” “I did not see loki in the movie at all , was he there ???? Wamiqa carried this movie for me,” claimed another. ---- Pramod Nandivada &nbsp;

DC producer ignores Wamiqa

Fans furious as DC producer ignores Wamiqa

Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya were initially associated with Chennai Love Story before exiting the project. Kiran Abbavaram and Sri Gouri Priya subsequently took over as the lead pair. Released in July, Chennai Love Story turned into a strong theatrical performer, making the casting change an intriguing talking point.Chennai Love Story opened with ₹5 crore India net and witnessed strong growth over its first weekend. The film eventually completed its theatrical run with around ₹50 crore gross, &nbsp;performance significantly exceeded expectations for its modestly budgeted romantic drama.Meanwhile, Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya reunited for EPIC – First Semester, directed by Aditya Haasan. The film hit theatres on September 11 and recorded around ₹2.5 crore in India on its opening day. The response has been mixed despite their popular Baby combination.The contrasting journeys have naturally sparked discussions about casting and project choices. Chennai Love Story emerged as a surprise success, while EPIC faces the challenge of sustaining momentum. In hindsight, Anand and Vaishnavi’s exit from the former project looks like a missed opportunity, although box office outcomes ultimately depend on execution, audience response and timing.

EPIC vs Chennai Love Story: Anand Deverakonda-Vaishnavi Chaitanya Misses a Blockbuster Opportunity

Baby Pair Anand, Vaishanavi Costly Miss

Mega Star Chiranjeevi's Vishwambhara directed by Mallidi Vasishta of Bimbisara fame are waiting in the wings for a longtime.The film is a socio fantasy entertainer and the makers have been working on CGI and VFX for a longtime.Now, sources share that the makers are planning to release the film on 12 Jan 2027. It is known that Chiranjeevi's another film Kaaka already announced the release date as 13 Jan 2027.Now,the final call will be taken by Chiranjeevi . A source shares “Discussions are underway to release the film on January 12. It is the kind of film that can appeal to audiences from six to 60, making the festival season an ideal window,”"A few key scenes were canned recently, and the entire shooting part is expected to be completed in the next couple of days,” The film stars Trisha as the female lead and &nbsp;Aashika Ranganath, Ramya Pasupuleti, Esha Chawla, and Ashrita Vemuganti Nanduri are playing important roles.---- Pramod Nandivada

Vishwambhara planning Sankranthi release

Vishwambhara locking Sankranthi release

The teaser of Venkatesh Daggubati and Trivikram Srinivas’ Aadarsha Kutumbam House No: 47 is out, offering a lively mix of family humour, emotions and action. Venkatesh plays Chittibabu, a responsible family man, while Srinidhi Shetty appears as Swarna. The teaser hints that this seemingly perfect family hides unexpected secrets.The promotional glimpse highlights Venkatesh’s trademark comic timing and Trivikram’s witty writing. The story revolves around a middle class household, but glimpses of bloodshed and tense situations suggest the film could offer more than a conventional family entertainer. This unusual combination of humour, family drama and action has created strong curiosity.Aadarsha Kutumbam features Nara Rohith, Nivetha Pethuraj, Yuvina Parthavi, Raja Prajwal, Rao Ramesh, Satya, Brahmaji, Udaybir Sandhu, Vennela Kishore and Raghu Babu in important roles. Trivikram has written and directed the film, with Thaman S composing the music and Ravi K. Chandran handling cinematography.Produced by S. Radha Krishna under Haarika &amp; Hassine Creations, Aadarsha Kutumbam marks Venkatesh and Trivikram’s first direct collaboration. The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on October 2, 2026, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. With its ensemble cast, quirky family setup and mysterious action elements, expectations are building rapidly. - Veda

Venkatesh,Trivikram Combo Is Back With Adarsha Kutumbam Releasing On October 2

Adarsha Kutumbam Teaser Promises Humorous Actioner

&nbsp;&nbsp; Superstar Rajinikanth enjoys a huge fan following among all sections of movie lovers. Rajinikanth's fan following is immense even among kids and many throng to watch his films along with their parents on the first day.All eyes are on his upcoming film Jailer2. The film directed by Nelson Dilip Kumar is the cynosure of all eyes as it is the sequel to the hit film Jailer. The film is set for a grand release on 15 October 2026.In the meantime, reports are coming that the film got A certificate from the members of the Censor Board. This comes as a shock to Rajinikanth, as A certificate robs majority section of his fans of watching the film. The makers are trying their best to get U/A certificate from the Censor Board.The film stars Hrithik Roshan and Vijay Sethupathi in cameos while SJ Suryah, Mithun Chakraborty, Vidya Balan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Anna Rajan and Jatin Sarna are joining the cast. The music is tuned by Anirudh Ravichander.- Pramod Nandivada

Jailer 2 gets censor shock

Jailer 2 for Adults Only

&nbsp;&nbsp; War between Prabhas and Allu Arjun for Pan India crown. Pan India crown has become the most coveted crown ever since Prabhas created a sensation with his magnum opus Baahubali. From then on Prabhas has been proving his star power despite average flicks.His films after Baahubali, like Aadi Purush, Radhe Shyam, The Raja Saab failed to set the screens on fire , but with Kalki 2898AD and Salaar he proved his stardom. Even the disaster talk films got record openings on the first day.Now, many say war is intensifying with Allu Arjun joining the race. Already he created a sensation with Pushpa franchise and is now busy with Raaka with Atlee and his next is locked with Lokesh Kanagaraj. Prabhas has sequels to Salaar and Kalki 2898AD and also Fauzi with Hanu Raghavapudi and Spirit with Sandeep Vanga.Sandeep Vanga says “Prabhas has Baahubali, Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD behind him. These films established him as a genuine pan-India star and showed that he can command huge numbers across markets. His rise has been remarkable. The fact that he is being compared with the biggest Bollywood stars itself shows how far he has come.”He added “Allu Arjun has connected strongly with the Hindi audience through his performance, attitude and dancing. Pushpa gave him a different kind of following. His next film Raaka, which is being directed by Atlee, is also highly anticipated because of the director’s track record with Jawan. If the film works, Allu Arjun’s market could grow even further.He says “Prabhas has had a setback with The Raja Saab, so Fauzi and Spirit become very important. He needs consecutive successes to maintain his position at the top. Ultimately, box-office performance is the biggest yardstick when it comes to deciding who is truly a pan-India star.”He concluded, "While Prabhas has already achieved massive recognition across India, Allu Arjun has an opportunity to strengthen his position further by choosing the right Bollywood project. His image and popularity give him a strong base, but the script and director will be crucial if he wants to compete directly with the biggest Hindi stars.” &nbsp;

Pan India Star: Prabhas or Allu Arjun

War between Prabhas and Allu Arjun for Pan India crown

&nbsp;Ram Charan and Sukumar are set to reunite for RC17, their second film after the blockbuster Rangasthalam. Announced as a major pan-India project, the film has generated substantial curiosity around its scale, story and technical crew. Mythri Movie Makers is backing the project, while Sukumar is handling direction and screenplay.Rangasthalam became a landmark collaboration, with Devi Sri Prasad’s music and background score adding significantly to its emotional and commercial impact. Naturally, expectations were that DSP would return for RC17. However, recent reports have triggered speculation about a possible change, although the makers have not officially confirmed any replacement yet.Several names have surfaced in industry reports, including Shashwat Sachdev, Harshavardhan Rameshwar and Sai Abhyankar. Contrary to some social-media claims, reports have suggested that Anirudh Ravichander is only among the names discussed, rather than a confirmed choice. Another recent report says DSP could continue his association with Sukumar on RC17.The uncertainty has increased because Sukumar and DSP have worked together extensively, from Arya through Pushpa 2. DSP is also making his acting debut with Yellamma, but reports indicate that schedules may allow him to score RC17. Until an official announcement arrives, claims about Anirudh replacing DSP remain unconfirmed speculation. - Veda

Buzz Around Music Director For RC 17 Intensifies

Who Is Going To Compose Music For Ram Charan Sukumar RC 17

&nbsp;&nbsp; Pranay Reddy Vanga has sparked debate after challenging film critics over their reviews of Romanchakam and daring them to “kill” Spirit. The producer made the remarks while discussing the lukewarm response to his production, suggesting critics should demonstrate their influence when Prabhas and Triptii Dimri’s much awaited action drama reaches theatres.Pranay, who backs films through Bhadrakali Pictures alongside brother Sandeep Reddy Vanga, reportedly questioned the ease of reviewing movies compared with the difficult filmmaking process. His comments have gone viral because Romanchakam, directed by Venu Gopal Reddy and featuring Sumanth Prabhas and Ananthika Sanilkumar, received mixed reactions after its release.Spirit is among the most anticipated upcoming Indian films, marking Prabhas’s first collaboration with Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The film stars Triptii Dimri, with Prakash Raj and Vivek Oberoi also part of the ensemble. The makers are keeping the storyline guarded, while the first look has generated considerable buzz among fans.Spirit is officially scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on March 5, 2027, with production progressing as planned. Sandeep has confirmed that the film will receive an A certificate because of its intense and violent content. The project is planned as a pan-Indian, multi language release, raising expectations for a major opening. - Veda &nbsp;

Spirit Producer Open Challenge

Pranay Reddy Vanga Challenges Critics Over Spirit

&nbsp;Sardar 2, starring Karthi in dual roles, opened worldwide on September 10, 2026, carrying expectations from the successful 2022 original. Directed by P. S. Mithran, the spy action sequel collected ₹7 crore gross worldwide on Day 1, including ₹4.50 crore India net and ₹1.50 crore overseas.The film failed to sustain its opening momentum on Friday. Sardar 2 earned around ₹2.5 crore India net on Day 2, registering a 45.6% decline from Thursday. Its domestic two day net therefore stands near ₹7 crore, taking two days total worldwide gross to 10+ crores, indicating weak theatrical traction despite the franchise’s established popularity.Sardar 2 was mounted on a larger scale, featuring Karthi alongside S. J. Suryah, Malavika Mohanan, Rajisha Vijayan and Ashika Ranganath. Trade reports estimate the production budget around ₹75 crores with theatrical values range around 45 - 50 crores.The recovery challenge is significant, with trade estimates placing the worldwide break even requirement around ₹100 crore gross. Critics have praised Karthi’s performances and select action blocks, but reviews have flagged lengthy runtime, predictable writing and execution issues. With collections falling sharply on Day 2, Sardar 2 remains far from break even. - Veda

Karthi Sardar 2 Faces Major Drop On Day 2

Sardar 2 Two Days Worldwide Boxoffice Collection

&nbsp;&nbsp; Mandaadi, starring Soori and Suhas, opened in theatres on September 10, 2026, as a coastal sports action drama centred on traditional sailboat racing. The film recorded a promising opening and gained momentum on Friday, with worldwide gross reportedly reaching ₹15.85 crore after two days.The film reportedly collected around ₹5.55 crore gross in India on Day 1, while overseas markets contributed further revenue. On Day 2, Mandaadi registered a significant 35.1% growth, earning ₹6.55 crore net in India and taking its worldwide gross to approximately ₹15.85 crore, according to emerging trade reports.Directed by Mathimaran Pugazhendhi, Mandaadi features Mahima Nambiar, Sathyaraj, Ravindra Vijay and Mithun Jai Sankar alongside Soori and Suhas. Reviews have praised the performances, boat racing sequences and coastal atmosphere, while some critics found the narrative predictable. Its distinctive sporting backdrop remains a major theatrical attraction.Trade estimates place Mandaadi’s budget around ₹50 crore, though the figure is not officially confirmed. One trade tracker estimates a ₹70+ crore gross break even target. With ₹15.85 crore worldwide gross after two days, the film is not yet at break even, but strong Saturday and Sunday collections could significantly improve its recovery prospects. - Veda

Mandaadi Showed Significant Jump On Day 2

Mandaadi Two Days Worldwide Box Office Collection

&nbsp;&nbsp; Another twist in Aadarsha Kutumbam. Venkatesh and Trivikram's Aadarsha Kutumbam has been the cynosure of all eyes. The film is racing for a grand release on 2 October 2026 as Gandhi Jayanthi special.The makers are gearing up to release the teaser at 12 noon today. In the meantime, shocking twist is emerging and this is worrying all the fans. It is known that the project underwent many changes of technicians.The project started with Harshavardhan Rameshwar.However he was replaced by Thaman. He worked for quite sometime. But what surprised all is , in the teaser update, Thaman'sname went missing. Even Thaman who usually gives updates about the teasers of his films, remained silent.Many are of the opinion that Thaman was replaced by GV.Prakash Kumar of Irumudi and Vishwanath &amp; Sons fame. More clarity will come in couple of hours. The film stars Srinidhi Shetty as the female lead while Nivetha Pethuraj, Yuvina, Raj Prajwal, Rao Ramesh, Satya and Brahmaji are playing important roles. Ravi K Chandran is the cinematographer. Sreekar Prasad is the editor.- Pramod Nandivada

Shocking twist in AK47

Another twist in Aadarsha Kutumbam

&nbsp;EPIC – First Semester, starring Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya, opened in theatres on September 11. The Aditya Hasan directorial recorded a modest opening, with reported India gross around ₹2.5 crore and worldwide collections estimated near ₹4+ crore. The numbers reflect cautious audience interest amid divided initial reactions.The romantic coming of age drama follows Aditya, an aspiring filmmaker who reluctantly travels to London for higher studies and encounters Kadali, played by Vaishnavi. Their relationship develops against financial pressures, family expectations and cultural adjustments. Produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya, the film features music by Hesham Abdul Wahab.EPIC has received mixed responses, with Anand and Vaishnavi’s chemistry emerging as one of its strongest aspects. Reviewers have appreciated its emotional moments, relatable relationship dynamics and overseas student backdrop, while criticism has focused on the slow second half, pacing issues and an intentionally unresolved climax leading into the planned continuation.With the reported break even target around ₹20 crore, EPIC needs substantial growth over the weekend to strengthen its theatrical prospects. The extended festival window could provide additional momentum if family and youth audiences respond positively. The next two days will determine whether improving word of mouth can overcome the film’s mixed opening reception. - Veda

EPIC Begins With Good Opening

EPIC First Semester Day 1 Worldwide Box Office Collections

&nbsp;Haiwaan has opened to a disappointing response at the box office, with trade estimates placing its first day India net around ₹3 crore. The Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan starrer, directed by Priyadarshan, received mixed to negative reviews, with critics pointing to a weak screenplay, lazy filmmaking and remaking a 10 year old Mohanlal starret Malayalam Film Oppam (dubbed as Kanupapa in Telugu).Released on September 11, Haiwaan had considerable expectations because Akshay and Saif returned together after 18 years, while Priyadarshan brought them into an action thriller setting. However, competition from Hanuman Ansh and Mirzapur: The Movie, coupled with limited audience excitement, resulted in low theatrical occupancy and a notably subdued overall start.Haiwaan's opening also invites an uncomfortable comparison with Akshay's post 2010 lows. Selfiee, released in 2023, managed only about ₹2.55 crore net on day one, becoming one of his most disappointing starts. Haiwaan has now landed in similarly troubled territory, although its ₹3 crore opening remains marginally above Selfiee's figure domestically.The contrast is sharper against Akshay's 2026 releases. Bhooth Bangla opened at ₹12.25 crore net, while Welcome To The Jungle collected ₹15 crore on day one, excluding previews, showing significantly stronger audience pull. With Haiwaan struggling despite two established stars and Priyadarshan, its weekend hold currently becomes crucial for recovery. - Veda

Akshay Saif Haiwaan Disastrous Opening

Akshay Kumar Faces Another Setback With Haiwaan

&nbsp;Sai Durgha Tej's action entertainer Sambarala Yeti Gattu has been in the making for quite sometime. The film is directed by newcomer P.Rohit and it is progressing at a brisk pace.According to the latest, it is reported that Sai Tej started dubbing for his role. Sai Tej posted "Dubbing Begins". The film is racing for Sankranti release on 12 Jan 2027.Aishwarya Lekshmi is the female lead in the film which stars &nbsp;Jagapathi Babu, Srikanth, Saikumar, and Ananya Nagalla in important roles. Ajaneesh Lokanath is the music director for the film.The film is bankrolled by Niranjan Reddy and Chaitanya Reddy on Primeshow Entertainment banner in a prestigious manner. Primeshow Entertainment banner earlier produced Hanu-Man which has a mythological touch.Sai Tej is pinning all his hopes on the film to revive himself at the box office with a commercial hit.- Pramod Nandivada

Latest on Sambarala Yeti Gattu

Sai Tej starts dubbing for Sambarala Yeti Gattu

&nbsp;&nbsp;Shah Rukh-Atlee for a Kollywood project. Shah Rukh Khan's market and Bollywood's sagging fortunes at the box office was revived with the action entertainer Jawan. The film directed by Atlee turned out to be a huge hit.From then on the talk of sequel to Jawan did rounds but nothing materialised. Currently Atlee is directing Allu Arjun's Raaka and exciting reports are coming that the film will feature Shah Rukh Khan in a powerful special role.Shah Rukh Khan is currently busy with King. The film directed by Siddharth Anand stars his daughter Suhana Khan in important role with Deepika Padukone being the female lead. The film is releasing on 24 Dec 2026.In the meantime, reports are coming that Shah Rukh Khan asked Atlee to explore a project in Kollywood.Shah Rukh Khan is keen to expand his market down south. The project is expected to go to sets once Atlee completed Raaka. Shah Rukh Khan earlier endeared to all with Chennai Express in which he paid tributes to Super Star Rajinikanth with Lungi Dance.Shah Rukh Khan is also in discussions with star director Prashanth Neel of KGF and Salaar fame.One of the projects is expected to be bankrolled by Mythri Movie Makers and the budget is touted to be over Rs 800-1000crs.- Pramod Nandivada

SRK-Atlee coming together again?

Shah Rukh-Atlee for a Kollywood project

&nbsp;&nbsp;When Samantha feared loss of identity. Samantha speaking to scribes revealed when she feared loss of identity. She said “It’s carefully built, this confidence. But when something like a health issue happens to you, sickness really doesn’t care how confident you look. I felt such a loss of identity when that happened to me. I felt like I had no control. It took me a while that I do have control over how I respond to it. I don’t have to fake confidence, but there are other lessons that I need to learn.”She continued &nbsp;“Which is resilience, faith, hope, and these things are important qualities that sickness taught me. As a result, everything got better. As much as I’d like not to have gone through this. It taught me lessons that have become an invaluable part of my life. I went through that phase of, why me? It took me a while to get to the, there’s something to learn from this.”Samantha recently scored a hit with Maa Inti Bangaaram. Now she is expected her first child with Raj Nidimoru.- Pramod Nandivada

Samantha about loss of identity

When Samantha feared loss of identity

Panchanama(2026) Web Series: What's BehindStar anchor Udaya Bhanu turned producer and came up with a webseries titled interestingly as Panchanama. The six episode webseries started streaming on Zee5 starting from 11 Sep 2026. Let us find out what the webseries offered to viewers.Panchanama(2026) Web Series: Story ReviewPanchanama revolves around police officer investigating an accidental death and the starting revelations he finds out. Jai Ram (Bharath Srinivasan), a sincere police officer starts investigating the death of Aadi (Charan Babu) and few other orphans. What starts as a routine investigation, becomes bigger with shocking turn of events.What are those shocking turn of events, how it is connected to Dharani (Medha Reddy), Hari (Surya Srinivas), Dr. Pushpavalli (Rupa Lakshmi), Murali (Sivaji Raja) and others from the interesting twists.Panchanama(2026) Web Series: Artists ReviewBharath Srinivasan performed well. He suited the role of the cop and apart from showing the seriousness, he also emoted quite well as per the situation. Female lead Medha Reddy is ok in her role. Balagam fame Rupa Lakshmi performed well in a role with different shades. Surya Srinivas is good in his role. Sivaji Raja in the role of father got limited screen presence but he did justice to his role. Charan Babu, Srija and Radhika Preethi performed well according to their roles.Panchanama(2026) Web Series: Technicians ReviewPanchanama story is penned by Mohan Srivatsa. The webseries comes with 6 episodes, each with a duration of around 25-30 minutes. He tried to thrill viewers with the medical mafia storyline. He managed to generate interest at times however the screenplay turned out to be utterly predictable and bereft of twists. Generally crime thrillers have good following in the OTTs and so Mohan Srivatsa also chose the similar topic.He drew inspiration from Malayalam webseries and followed the same template of a cop investigating the mysterious death and then he exposed the medical mafia. He highlighted the nexus between medical mafia, doctors and organ trafficking. Apart from it, he also highlighted the emotions between brothers and sisters.However, the screenplay assumed predictable trope and the narration lacked the exciting and interesting twists and turns. One can easily predict the villains and the next scenes easily. Even the crime investigation scenes are not shown in an interesting manner. With the unraveling of the villain in the final episode, the webseries ends on a tame note.Naresh Kumaran elevated the scenes with his background music. The cinematography of Sandeep Kanth gave the scenes and proceedings a realistic feel. Editing of Srinivas Bynaboina is ok and could have been better as there are scenes that dragged the pace of the narration. Production values are good.Panchanama Web Series: Advantages<ul><li>Plot</li><li>Few Scenes</li></ul>Panchanama Web Series:Disadvantages<ul><li>Predictable Elements</li><li>Lack of Twists</li></ul>Panchanama(2026) Web Series: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Panchanama turns out to be another run of the mill investigative medical thriller. Director Mohan Srivatsa cameup with a thriller in the backdrop of medical mafia and many such films and series' came earlier. Though the plot is interesting, Mohan Srivasta's screenplay turned predictable with investigation scenes failing to excite viewers. To the top of it, with the villain not getting arrested, viewers feel that the series ended in a incomplete manner as the makers thought of coming with season 2. The forced romantic elements, artificial villianisms, etc robbed the viewers of realistic experience. A little finetuning of the script, racy screenplay, doing away with redundant elements and more thrilling twists would have added value to the proceedings. Considering all these aspects, Cinejosh goes with a 1.5 rating for Panchanama.

Panchanama Web Series Review

Mahendragiri Varahi (2026) Movie: What's BehindSumanth who is known for starring in different genre entertainers is coming to thrill movie lovers with Mahendragiri Varahi. The film directed by Santhosh Jagarlapudi is releasing on 11 September. Excitement is on as the film stars Star Boy Siddhu Jonnalagadda in an important role. The film's OTT rights have been bagged by Amazon Prime and streaming will be after the completion of its theatrical run. Let us see how Mahendragiri Varahi thrilled movie lovers.Mahendragiri Varahi (2026) Movie: Story ReviewMahendragiri Varahi story revolves around the mystic happenings and even more mysterious deaths attributed to the Goddess Varahi and how an atheist tries to find out the real cause. Siddharth (Sumanth), an atheist, tries to expose unscrupulous elements that try to take innocent people for a ride playing on their beliefs and superstitions. He , with his friend Satyam (Vennela Kishore) lands in Mahendragiri region along with his parents and brother (Kamal Kamaraju) to perform a ritual.At that time, they get a huge shock and where this leads to, how it is connected to Aadya (Meenakshi Goswami), Rajendra Varma (Sidhu Jonnalagadda), Malavika Nair (Sujatha), Narendra Varma (Vamsee Chaganti), Vaishnavi (Aishwarya Rajesh) , Doctor (Rajeev Kanakala), temple priest (Brahmanandam) and others and what role &nbsp;Goddess Varahi plays form rest of the developments.Mahendragiri Varahi (2026) Movie: Artists ReviewSumanth came up with a subtle performance. He slipped into the role effortlessly and did what is required of him as it is tailormade for him. He impressed with his expressions and emotions and is good with his dialogue delivery.Vennela Kishore played the role of his friend and he is ok and his role comes with a surprise element. Rajeev Kanakala played the role of the doctor and Brahmanandam is ok in the role of a temple priest. Even Brahmanandam's role comes with a surprise twist like Vennela Kishore role. Meenakshi Gowami is ok in the role of Aadya. She got limited screen presence. Manju Bhargavi is ok and so did Kamal Kamaraju and Vamsee Chaganti in their roles.Siddhu Jonnalagadda, with his cameo, made a powerful presence on the screen. He helped in taking the narration forward and with his dialogue delivery and expressions made an impact. Malavika Nair played a key role of Sidhu's wife and she is ok. Aishwarya Rajesh made her presence felt during the climax.Mahendragiri Varahi (2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewMahendragiri Varahi story is penned by Santossh Jagarlapudi. He tried to thrill viewers with mysterious deaths in the backdrop of a temple and its Goddess. Many such films came earlier and Santossh seems to have drawn inspiration from films like Murari, Karthikeya, Virupaksha and others.He starts the narration on a interesting note but the first half turns out to be roller coaster with the story moving no where after a point of time. But the decent end to the first half, despite the flaws sets the tone for the second half. However second half ends up testing the patience of the viewers the moment flashback episode appears. The scenes turns repetitive as the core point turns out to be simple and seems director lost steam after a point of time. Finally, the film ends in a predictable manner. Screenplay and direction turned out to be pretty average.Junaid Siddique's editing left a lot to be desired. While the first half had few lags but still it turned out to be a decent watch, the second half ended up testing the patience of the viewers with scenes dragging to eternity and the flashback episode making everyone fall asleep. Pratap R Krishna's cinematography is good. He showed the scenes in a natural and realistic way but the CGI ad VFX looked below standard. Anup Rubens background score is in sync with the story. There is nothing much out of box he got to do but he just moved along with the tide. Dialogues are ok. Production values are decent.Mahendragiri Varahi Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Sumanth</li><li>Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Aishwarya Rajesh cameos</li><li>Few Scenes</li></ul>Mahendragiri Varahi Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Monotonous Elements</li><li>Lack of Thrills</li></ul>Mahendragiri Varahi (2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Mahendragiri Varahi turns out to be routine spiritual thriller. Sumanth came up with decent performance but he was not required to do anything extraordinary. Director Santossh Jagarlapudi's story assumed similarities to earlier hit films and this robbed viewers of a new experience. However, few scenes surprise viewers and the cameos generate interest. However, weak script and just average screenplay and direction turned spoiled all the good intentions. Little finetuning of the script and racy screenplay would have added value to the final output. Considering all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 1.5 rating for Mahendragiri Varahi.

Mahendragiri Varahi Review

Epic First Semester(2026) Movie: What's BehindAnand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya are back together after their impressive combination in Baby. This time, they are paired in Epic First Semester, directed by Aditya Haasan. The film carries the curiosity of exploring the journey of a young man who lands in the UK and experiences love, relationships and life away from home. Let us see what surprises Epic First Semester has in store.Epic First Semester(2026) Movie: Story ReviewThe story revolves around Aditya, an aspiring filmmaker who lands in the UK against his wishes because of his parents Chandrashekhar and Rani.An introvert who has hardly interacted with girls suddenly finds himself in a completely new environment. His meeting with Kadali changes his world, and their relationship gradually moves through love, live-in life, emotional confusion, and the realities of a serious relationship.The situations they face and where their relationship finally heads form the rest of the story.Epic First Semester(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewAnand Deverakonda performs well as Aditya. He brings innocence and vulnerability to the character and is particularly good in scenes involving his introverted nature and discomfort in a new environment.Vaishnavi Chaitanya gets a contrasting character and does justice to the role. Her mood swings and emotional changes are handled reasonably well. The chemistry between Anand and Vaishnavi works in several portions, although it does not reach the intensity of their Baby combination.Sivaji and Vasuki have limited scope as Anand's parents but make their presence felt. Srinivas Gavi Reddy gets a few laughs as Manoj. Kalyan Shankar is decent in his role as Sinjith. The remaining actors perform according to their roles.Epic First Semester(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewAditya Haasan starts the film on an interesting note by taking the character of Aditya into a new phase of his life. The idea of showing what happens when an innocent youngster grows up and lands in a foreign country has potential.The first half has enough lively moments to keep the proceedings moving. The relationship between Aditya and Kadali develops naturally in parts, and the film becomes more engaging once their equation takes a serious turn.The second half is where the film loses some momentum. The relationship discussions, pregnancy fears, marriage and practical problems provide the central conflict, but the film does not always create enough tension around them.Still, unlike a completely routine romantic drama, the film has a few emotionally relatable situations. The conflict may be small, but some of the characters and conversations manage to hold attention. The climax could have been stronger. The open ending is clearly designed to leave scope for the next chapter, but it does not deliver the expected emotional punch.Hesham Abdul Wahab's music is one of the film's positives. The songs are melodious and suit the mood of the story. His background score is also decent. Azeem Mohammad's cinematography gives the film a pleasant look. The UK locations are captured beautifully and add freshness to the proceedings.Navin Nooli's editing is adequate, though some portions could have been trimmed. The dialogues are mostly natural, with a few bold conversations adding flavour. Production values are good.Epic Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Anand Deverakonda's performance</li><li>Vaishnavi Chaitanya's performance</li><li>Music And BGM</li><li>Cinematography</li><li>Some relatable relationship moments</li><li>First half</li></ul>Epic Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Slow second half</li><li>Limited conflict</li><li>Repetitive conversations</li><li>Climax</li><li>Emotional impact could have been stronger</li></ul>Epic First Semester(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisEpic First Semester is a decent attempt at presenting the emotional journey of an introvert youngster experiencing love and relationships in a foreign country.The biggest advantage is that the film does not completely depend on artificial twists or forced drama. Anand and Vaishnavi bring a certain naturalness to their characters, and their chemistry works in several scenes.At the same time, the simple conflict becomes both the strength and weakness of the film. The situations are relatable, but the screenplay sometimes takes too long to move forward. A tighter edit could have made the film considerably more engaging.The film also misses some of the entertainment and emotional intensity that made Baby such a talking point. However, Epic First Semester has enough good moments, decent performances and soothing music to make it a one-time watch for viewers who enjoy relationship dramas.Considering these elements, CineJosh goes with a 2.25 rating for Epic First Semester.

Epic - First Semester Review

Maremma (2026) Movie: What's BehindMaremma directed by Manchala Nagaraj is generating immense interest among movie lovers as it marks the debut of Mass Raja Ravi Teja's nephew Maadhav on the screen. The film is reieasing on 10 Sep 2026. Let us see what impact Maadhav made on debut with Maremma on movie lovers.Maremma (2026) Movie: Story ReviewMaremma story revolves around a youngster who develops a strong bonding with a bison and the surprising happenings involving both of them. Karni (Maadhav Bhupathiraju) raises a calf which becomes a bison(Maari) and he has to perform a ritual. But just before the ritual, startling developments happen. Where this leads to and how it is connected to Manju (Deepa Balu), Jalandhar (Vikas Vasishta), Uttam (Maneesh), occult practitioner (Rupa Lakshmi), form the exciting part.Maremma (2026) Movie: Artists ReviewMaadhav got the tall physique and looks. However on debut despite his best efforts he failed to get his basics right. He failed with his expressions and emotions and looked a complete mismatch. He should hone his skills rigorously and seriously to sustain in the industry.Deepa Balu fared better than him. But her characterisation turned out to be weak and did not offer much scope to show her acting talent. Vinod Kumar as a villager got limited and inconsequential role.Vikas Vasishta is good on the screen. Rupa Lakshmi made an impact with her performance. Others performed according to their roles.Maremma (2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewMaremma story is penned by Manchala Nagaraj. He tried to attract all with an impactful story in the rustic Telangana backdrop. Many films with Telangana backdrop and accent came earlier and Maremma completely failed on all fronts as the story turned out to be weak and script became spineless. The writing and screenplay did not inspire any confidence and direction failed to justice in any manner.With routine and outdated story and despite the claims of based on real life incidents, the film failed to generate interest. There is not a single scene in the film that generated interest among movie lovers. Everything turned out to be a tedious watch. Even the so called comedy scenes looked forced and senseless. The romantic track turned out to be another weak point and the entire second half which revolves around finding the missing bison, is redundant with repetitive scenes testing the patience of the viewers. The pre climax and climax are stretched to the core and finally when the film ended, viewers heave a sigh of relief.Prashanth R. Vihari, Bipradeep Dutta's tunes are just ok. The background score is fine but the substandard story couldn't be elevated by their efforts. The cinematography of Prasanth Ankireddy is below standard, disappointing all. Editing of Sai Babu Talari offered nothing much and he left many scenes unattended. Dialogues are nothing new and production values are below standard.Maremma Movie: Advantages<ul><li>None</li></ul>Maremma Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Casting</li><li>Lack of Exciting Elements</li><li>Writing</li></ul>Maremma (2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Maremma turns out to be a disappointing drama in Telangana backdrop. Maadhav's weak performance and director Manchala Nagraj's senseless story, spineless screenplay and outdated script turned the film into a woeful one. No amount of rework would have changed the fate of Maremma. Considering all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 1.5 rating for Maremma.

Maremma Review

Mandaadi(2026) Movie: What's BehindSoori is coming to entertain movie lovers with his upcoming film Mandaadi helmed by Mathimaran Pugazhendhi. The film is generating interest as Suhaas is making his entry into Kollywood. Mandaadi OTT rights have been bagged by Netflix and streaming will be after the completion of its theatrical run. Let us see what Mandaadi offered to movie lovers.Mandaadi(2026) Movie: Story ReviewMandaadi story revolves around the happenings in the lives of the people of the coastal region who takes it as a prestige on winning in the boat race competition.Muthukaali (Soori) who makes his livelihood working as a lifeguard at a resort in Hyderabad is forced to return to the coastal region of Kalingapatnam. Why he is forced to return to the Kalingapatnam, what is his connection to the boat races and what roles Sattapuli(Suhas), Angel (Mahima Nambiar), Mahesh ( Mithun Jai Shankar), Angel's husband ( Ravindra Vijay), Munayya (Sathyaraj) and others form the interesting developments.Mandaadi(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewSoori performed well in his role. He showed good emotions and body language. He is impressive with his screen presence. He expressed with his eyes at times. Suhas is impactful in his role and he showed fear in a silent manner. He with his body language showed that height does not matter when it comes to performance. Mahima Nambiar is ok in her role. Satyaraj is good in a role pivotal to the film. Ravindra Vijay performed decently in his role. Others performed as per their roles.Mandaadi(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewMandaadi story is penned by Mathimaran Pugazhendi. He tried to attract viewers with the love, friendship, and betrayal plot in the rustic village backdrop along with the boat racing competitions. The story is interesting to an extent, but the narration and screenplay assumes predictable flavor. The first half treads in a similar manner and second half continues in the same way. This time, Mathimaran elevated the emotions in a more powerful manner.The story turns out to be predictable except for the boat racing episodes. Everything looked routine and the conflict point is not established in a convincing and more powerful way. Drama also did not work and most of the scenes paled on the screen. Even the romantic track did not appeal to all. He left many unanswered questions in the film.GV. Prakash Kumar's music is ok. His background score is good. He elevated the scenes, especially in the boat races with his background music. SR. Kathir's cinematography is good. He showed the rustic village atmosphere quite well on the screen. He also showed the boat races sequences in an effective way. Pradeep Raghav's editing could have been better as there are few scenes that slowed the pace of the narration. Dialogues are ok. Production values are good.Mandaadi Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Performances</li><li>Cinematography</li><li>Boat Races</li></ul>Mandaadi Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Predictable Elements</li><li>Missing Conflict</li><li>VFX, CG</li></ul>Mandaadi(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Mandaadi turns out to be average emotional drama. Soori and Suhaas came up with spirited performances and director Mathimaaran Pugazhendi came up with an interesting plot in the backdrop of boat racing. However, he failed to take it to the next level, turning the scenes into predictable, routine and monotonous. A little finetuning of the script, including more interesting and exciting elements and racy screenplay would have added more fire power. Considering all these aspects, Cinejosh goes with a 2 rating to Mandaadi.

Mandaadi Review

Sardar 2(2026) Movie: What's BehindKarthi's Sardar2 directed by PS.Mithran is releasing today on 10 September amidst huge expectations as the film is the sequel to the hit film Sardar. Let's see whether Sardar2 lived up to the expectations or not.Sardar 2(2026) Movie: Story ReviewSardar2 story continues from where Sardar ended going into the flashback of the spy even as his son tries to unravel the secrets. Inspector Vijay Prakash (Karthi) goes into the further details of his tainted father Sardar Chandra &nbsp;Bose (Karthi) who was branded as a traitor. Where this leads to and how Black Dagger (SJ.Suryah), Indrani (Rajisha Vijayan), and others are connected form the interesting part of the developments.Sardar 2(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewKarthi is impressive with his performance. He did full justice to the dual roles of father and son in his own way. He got the right expressions and emotions and made his presence felt on the screen. However much he tried to elevate the scenes, the writing and characterization didn't offer him much scope to showcase his acting talent.Ashika Ranganath got an inconsequential role. She even failed to come with a decent performance. SJ.Suryah played the role of the antagonist. However he turned extremely loud and irritated the movie lovers. His role also looked extremely outdated.Others like Malavika Mohanan, Rajisha Vijayan, Nassar, Yogi Babu, Nizhagal Ravi didn't get roles that have chance to perform.Sardar 2(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewSardar2 story is penned by PS. Mithran. The narration starts in an interesting manner and continued in the same way. The narration is good and the screenplay is intact without any deviations.However, the problem lied in the execution. There are many scenes and stunts choreographed looked silly and ridiculous to the core. This turned the spy drama and serious scenes into laughable ones.Things doesn't change even when the director tried to connect chords with the viewers with emotional scenes and the flashback episodes. All the interesting elements in The entire first half failed in the execution and everything turned bland.Many expected the second half to be better and save the day. However much to the disappointment , it turned even worse. The unraveling of the twists in the complex mission looked illogical and are bereft of interesting twists and thrills.The pre climax and climax are stretched to the maximum and it became a painful watch on the screen. None of the scenes excite viewers turning the entire experience into a disappointing affair.Sam.CS has tuned music. The film has no songs and the background music didn't add value to the narration. The background music left a lot to be desired. In fact it looked out of sync and outdated. Altogether it ended up testing the patience of the viewers. The cinematography of George C Williams is good. It turned the scenes appealing on the screen. He however didn't get chance to show his creative talent. Vijay Velukutty failed with his editing. There are many inconsequential scenes that impacted the pace of the narration and ended up testing the patience of the movie lovers. Graphics and CGI, VFX are sub standard. Production values are good.Sardar 2 Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Nothing</li></ul>Sardar 2 Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Illogical Scenes</li><li>Outdated Elements</li></ul>Sardar 2(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Sardar 2 turns out to be illogical sequel to the spy thriller. Karthi came up with sincere performance but director PS.Mithran though came with an interesting story, he failed with his screenplay and direction. He in the name of action elements turned everything into laughable and silly. Emotions turned artificial and the weak characterizations, lack of logical scenes in the spy thriller disappointed everyone. The lack of seriousness in the script undid all the good intentions. Over the top, ridiculous action sequences played the spoil sport. No amount of changes to the script could have changed the result. Considering all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 1.5 rating for Sardar 2.

 Sardar 2 Review

Sahaa What's BehindSmall film Sahaa-Life of Sanju starring Shiva Kumar Kasaram, Swetha Lakshman, directed by Nishanth Doti, is releasing on 4 Sep 2026. Let us find out what Sahaa-Life of Sanju offers to movie lovers.Sahaa Story ReviewSahaa-Life of Sanju's story revolves around a person and the happenings in his life and how he deals with them. Sanju (Shiva Kumar Kasaram) goes all out to woo a beautiful girl, Sahaa (Swetha Lakshman), ever since his childhood. What are the happenings in their lives, how it impacted their career and future, whether they fell in love, got married, and the other developments, and what role their near and dear ones played should be found out on the screen.Sahaa Artists ReviewShiva Kumar Kasaram played the lead role of Sanju, which is pivotal to the film and the entire story. He did full justice to the role. He showed variations in his body language, mannerisms, and screen presence through different timelines. He carried the film on his shoulders, taking viewers along with him into the narration with his expressions and emotions and captivating dialogue delivery.Swetha Lakhman played the female lead of Sahaa, and she was effective with impactful expressions and emotions. She looked good on the screen and made an impression with her presence. However, at times, she should have come up with a more intense performance.Vrajana Pandya also played a key role in the film, and she helped in carrying the film forward. Others who played key roles also did justice to them, adding value to the narration.Sahaa Technicians ReviewSahaa-Life of Sanju story is penned by Nishanth Doti. He came up with a story to connect chords with the viewers with a romantic emotional entertainer. He got the good concept but failed completely in his execution. He tried to generate interest among viewers by following a non-linear screenplay and narration, showing different timelines to and fro, but interest levels disappear as the entire idea becomes predictable with the passage of time.Despite that, the first half turns out decent, with a few interesting scenes setting the tone for the second half. The second half turns out to be even more routine and most of the scenes get a dragged feeling as the so-called emotions fail to make an impact even in the climax.The editing of Dinesh Peddi lacked crispness. He should have used the editing scissors more effectively. Sehkar Chandra's music is ok but the songs fail to make an impact on the viewers. He however came up with a perfect background score to elevate the scenes and emotions to another level. K.Karunakar's cinematography made the film look good on screen. Production values are good.Sahaa Advantages<ul><li>Shiva Kumar's performance</li><li>Few Scenes&nbsp;</li><li>BGM</li></ul>Sahaa Disadvantages<ul><li>Screenplay</li><li>Missing Emotions</li></ul>Sahaa Rating AnalysisAltogether, Sahaa-Life of Sanju turns out to be another routine emotional entertainer. Director Nishanth got good performances from Shiva Kumar Kasaram and Swetha Lakshman but he failed to do justice to the romantic emotional concept and idea with his screenplay and direction. The slow pace, predictable elements and missing emotions, undid all the good intentions. Considering all these aspects, Cinejosh goes with a 1.25 rating for Sahaa-Life of Sanju.

Sahaa - Life of Sanju Review

What's BehindDulqer Salmaan created a niche for himself doing different genre entertainers. He is now coming to thrill movie lovers with his upcoming film I'M Game. The film is directed by Nahas Hidhayath and teaser and trailer got good response. Dulqer is making his return to Malayalam industry after King of Kotha. Let us see how Dulqer Salmaan thrilled viewers saying I'M Game.Story ReviewI'm Game story revolves around a fearless man who is into gambling believing that he cracked its code and how he reacts in the aftermath of the turbulent things that impact his life.An impulsive gambler Dan John (Dulqer Salmaan) flourishes taking high risks riding on his lady luck. However this comes with shocking and startling happenings in his life. What are those startling happenings and how it is connected to Isha (Kayadu Lohar),Vignesh Vicky Das (Antony Varghese),David (Mysskin) and others from the exciting twists and turns.Artists ReviewI'm Game Hero Dulqer Salmaan is known for his riveting and captivating performances. However this time his performance turned out to be a roller coaster ride. At times he looked terrific on the screen and at other times he looked like a novice. His dialogues had an anglical accent and this may not go well with all viewers. He is good on screen with his body language, dialogue delivery and emotions.Kayadu Lohar is ok in her role. She looked good on the screen but got limited scope to show her acting talent. Antony Varghese Pepe steals the show with his impactful performance. So did Samyukta Viswanathan in her role. Mysskin played the role of the antagonist and his role is too predictable. To over come that he tried to bring in eccentricity but it impacted in a negative way. Vinay Forrt and Kathir were minimised on the screen. Others performed as per their roles.Technicians ReviewI'm Game story is penned by Nihas Hidayath. He came up with an interesting and exciting plot. However the narration and screenplay shifts completely turning the entire thing into a disjointed one. Nihas Hidayath narrated so many things and this makes viewers get accustomed to the happenings and the characters. But Nihas regained his composure and once he dealt with the main story, the narration turns interesting. But there are many scenes and characters that looked forced and out of sync to the story.While the first half after the initial confusion, turns interesting in the run up to the interval and brings an end setting to the exciting second half, the second half sinks even further. There are many unnecessary characters and the flat narration and uninspiring execution played the spoil sport. The flashback episodes undoes all the good intentions. Everything ended up irritating and testing the patience of the viewers.The music and background tuned by Jakes Bejoy turned out to be a disappointing affair. He tried to elevate the scenes that offered nothing new. Jimshi Khalid's cinematography got nothing much to excite . &nbsp;The editing of Chaman Chakko could have been far better as there are scenes that impacted the flow of the narration. Dialogues are ok and production values are grand.Advantages<ul><li>Unique Concept</li></ul>Disadvantages<ul><li>Screenplay</li><li>Confusing Narration&nbsp;</li><li>Cliched Elements&nbsp;</li><li>Listless Characterizations</li></ul>Rating AnalysisAltogether, I'm Game turns out to be average thriller. Dulqer Salmaan should be credited for selecting a different story and Nihas Hidayath came up with a unique plot. However, Nihas completely failed with his screenplay and direction. In trying to include more twists and turns, he introduced numerous characters ending up confusing the viewers. Everything turned flat and he failed to do justice with disappointing execution. A little finetuning of the script, racy screenplay, doing away with predictability could have added more spice to the proceedings. Considering all these aspects, Cinejosh goes with a 1.75 rating for I'm Game.

I'M Game Review

&nbsp;Rambha Oorvasi Menaka(2026) Movie: What's BehindAllari Naresh, on the eve of the Krishnashtami festival, decided to entertain movie lovers with the fictional comedy caper titled Rambha Oorvasi Menaka. The film, directed by Chandra Mohan Chintada, is releasing on 4 September 2026. Amazon Prime has bagged the film's OTT rights. Let us find out how Rambha Oorvasi Menaka entertained movie lovers.Rambha Oorvasi Menaka(2026) Movie: Story ReviewRambha Oorvasi Menaka's story revolves around a youngster who comes into possession of a book with mystical powers and the happenings in his life right after that.Soori ( Allari Naresh) passes time believing that one day he will become a Star Hero with the help of the mystical book, which he believes has powers.Where this leads to, what role Chinni ( Surabhi), SI Appal Naidu ( Shiju), his uncle CEO (Sr Naresh), Parimala ( Srinivas Reddy), and how it is related to Indra ( Vennela Kishore) in heaven, celestial Angels Rambha, Oorvasi, and Menaka form the rest of the narration.Rambha Oorvasi Menaka(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewAllari Naresh is ok with his performance. The role is tailor-made for him, and he needs not do anything unique for the role. His comic timing is intact, and he did well in emotional scenes. Allari Naresh, since his entry, has done silly comedy films and, after a longtime once again did the same.Sr Naresh stole the show with his performance. He made an impact with his dialogue delivery, emotions, and expressions. His screen presence is good, and he entertained with his antics.Vennela Kishore is good in his role as Indra. Vishnu Priya, Prisha Singh, and Rashi Singh are ok in the roles of Rambha, Oorvasi, and Menaka.Rashi Singh got limited screen presence. She didn't get much scope to show her acting talent. Tarak Ponnappa is ok in the role of the antagonist.There are many actors like Kalyani Raj, Shiju, Hari Teja, Goparaju Ramana, Goparaju Vijay, RK.Mama, Rachi Ravi, Ravi Siva Teja, and they got blink-and-miss roles.Rambha Oorvasi Menaka(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewRambha Oorvasi Menaka story is penned by Chandramohan Chitanda. The story is similar to many old films like Yamaleela and others. Though there is scope to generate comedy, he failed to do so. Though there are a few scenes and youthful dialogues, none of them worked due to cliched scenes and outdated narration.Chota K Prasad's editing left a lot to be desired. There are many scenes that are repetitive, and the predictable plot and weak script made the masters worse.Raam Reddy's cinematography and Chaitan Bharadwaj's music and background score are in sync with the story, and they are extremely outdated.Dialogues have an old flavor, and a few are hilarious. Production values are just average.Rambha Oorvasi Menaka Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Allari Naresh, Srinivas Reddy, Sr Naresh</li><li>Few Hilarious Scenes</li></ul>Rambha Oorvasi Menaka Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Predictable Story</li></ul>Rambha Oorvasi Menaka(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Rambha Oorvasi Menaka is cringe to the core. Allari Naresh tried to return back to the comedy genre, and keeping in view director Chandra Mohan readies the story. But the problem is, Allari Naresh is stuck with the same 90s-era comedy, and the director also didn't try to come out of it. This resulted in a weak story, a silly screenplay, and listless direction. No amount of changes in the script and screenplay will change the output of the film. Considering all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 2 rating for Rambha Oorvasi Menaka. &nbsp;

Rambha Oorvasi Menaka Review

Bethlehem Kutumba Unit(2026) Movie: What's BehindMalayalam hit film Bethlehem Kudumba Unit starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju and directed by Girish AD is releasing in Telugu as Bethlehem Kutumba Unit on 4 Sep 2026. The film's OTT rights have been bagged by Jio Hotstar .Let us see how the film entertains movie lovers.Bethlehem Kutumba Unit(2026) Movie: Story ReviewBethlehem Kutumba Unit story revolves around two couple with age gap and how they wade through the difficulties and keep their romantic relationship intact. Twenty year old beautiful girl Ashley (Mamitha Baiju) gets attracted towards Justin Davis(Nivin Pauly), a middle aged man in the 30s, when she comes to a new town.Where this leads to, how did they take their relationship forward and the implications? and what roles their family members and socity play form the interesting developments.Bethlehem Kutumba Unit(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewNivin Pauly came up with a relatable performance. In the role of a 30 year old single person he performed in a subtle manner without overdoing himself. He with his screen presence, dialogue delivery and subtle comedy created lot of humour with his antics. Mamitha Baiju captivated all with her cute looks. She endeared herself to all with her expressive eyes.Roshan Shanavas, Sangeeth Prathap and Suresh Krishna who played the roles of Gixon, Joel Davis, Baiju, came up with commendable performances. Others added value to the proceedings with their performances.Bethlehem Kutumba Unit(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewThe story of Bethlehem Kutumba Unit is penned by Girish A D, Kiran Josey and is directed by Girish AD. Girish AD tried to touch up on the sensitivities of the people in relationship with significant age gap and how the society reacts. The story looks similar to the recent release Viswanath &amp; Sons which featured Suriya under the direction of Venky Atluri.Coincidentally both the films has Mamitha Baiju as the female lead. Girish AD unlike Venky Atluri who dealt with family emotions, decided to narrate the story in a hilarious and entertaining way. In this film, the age gap is reduced to just around 13 years unlike in Vishwanath &amp; Sons where it was more than 20 years.Right from the start till the finish, Girish AD included many scenes and hilarious elements to bring smiles and create a laughing riot in the theatres. The first half sails through smoothly with racy screenplay and sets the stage for the second half. However the second half falls apart with slow narration. He tried to continue in the same vein in the second half but he over did the comedy scenes and made viewers feel that the story is heading nowhere.There are many predictable elements in the second half and once the director's intention is known in the first half, viewers get disconnected . The dragged pre climax and the simple romance diluted the emotional blocks. To the top of it, the climax turned predictable.The music of Vishnu Vijay is beautiful. The songs are well shot and are situational. The songs added value to the narration. His background music elevated the scenes to the next level taking humour to the next level. The cinematography of Ajmal Sabu turned the film into a colorful one and visually appealing on the screen. Akash Joseph Varghese's editing turned out to be a mixed bag. While he turned the proceedings in the first half racy, the second half dragged at a snail's pace testing the patience of the viewers. Dialogues are funny and entertaining. Production values are good.Bethlehem Kutumba Unit Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Nivin Pauly, Mamitha Baiju</li><li>Music</li><li>Hilarious Scenes</li></ul>Bethlehem Kutumba Unit Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Missing Emotions</li><li>Predictable Plot</li><li>Snails Pace</li></ul>Bethlehem Kutumba Unit(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Bethlehem Kutumba Unit is funny and entertaining to the core. Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju came up with captivating performances and director Girish AD, dealt the sensitive topic in an extremely entertaining manner. Though the story simple and predictable and offered nothing new, he ensured that there are many hilarious scenes to keep viewers glued to the screen. He got the optimum out of the cast and crew. The screenplay is racy in the first half and nosedived in the second half. A little finetuning of the script, adding more emotions, doing away with the predictability would have added value to the narration. Considering all these elements Cinejosh goes with a 2.5 rating for Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. &nbsp;

Bethlehem Kutumba Unit Review

Romanchakam(2026) Movie: What's BehindSumanth Prabhas, Avanthika Sanil Kumar's youthful romantic entertainer Romanchakam is releasing on 3 September 2026. The film directed by Venu Gopal Reddy is appealing to all as it is produced by Pranav Reddy Vanga. The film's OTT rights have been bagged by Netflix and streaming will be after the completion of the theatrical run.Let us see what the film offered to move lovers.Romanchakam(2026) Movie: Story ReviewRomanchakam story revolves around a youngster falling in love with a beautiful girl and the happenings in his life right after that.Anvesh ( Sumanth Prabhas) who aspires to be an entrepreneur falls in love with a beautiful girl Mythili( Ananthika Sanil Kumar) , a youtuber. Anvesh 's life takes a startling turn and where this leads to and what role his friends Anil, Tirumal, Sasi &nbsp;Srinu and others,( Mani Aegurela, Narendra Ravi, Sai Sohan, Venkatesh Kakamanu) Mythili 's cousin Radha, Tanmay ,SI Nanjundappa ( Upendra Limaye) form the interesting part.Romanchakam(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewSumanth Prabhas performed well in this role. These kind of roles are tailormade for him. He showed good expressions and emotions and generated enough fun in the scenes. Ananthika Sanil Kumar looked good on the screen. She looked cute, gorgeous and tried to express with her eyes. She played the role that confuses everyone and the director tried to generate fun around her role.Narendra Ravi who made an impression with the Pre Wedding Shoot, created a laughing riot with his performance. Whenever one got a feeling that the story is drifing and narration is heading nowhere, he pulled it back with his hilarious antics. Venkatesh Kakamanu, Sai Sohan and Mani Aegurela also complemented them with their performances taking the film forward.Upendra Limaye is good in the role of the police officer. Director KV.Anudeep's surprise cameo turns out to be the highlight. Others performed according to their roles.Romanchakam(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewRomanchakam story is penned by Venu Gopal Reddy. He selected a simple story and more than the story and screenplay, he concentrated on entertaining viewers with situational comedy. However, he took more time in establishing characters at the start and then dragged the narration with the scenes involving friends and then introducing the female lead. At that time one gets a feeling that the story is heading no where and the screenplay looked stale.After the predictable first half, except for the hilarious sequence in the runup to the interval and the interval block, the stage is set for the second half. The second half continues in the same way and the few comedy scenes involving the cop did not generate the required humour as it turned repetitive.The pre climax and climax picks up pace and the cameo involving Anudeep entertains all turning the film into a decent watch. There are many illogical scenes and the director failed to justify the behavior of the female lead and at time the hero character. Though the film is touted to be a romantic entertainer, it misses the strong romantic elements.Pavan Pappula turned the film visually appealing on the screen. He turned the scenes into colorful ones. Vasuki Vabhav's songs are melodious and at one touches souls and hearts. They are shot in a beautiful manner. The background music is in sync with the story. Dialogues targeted Gen Z and youth and at times crossed the thin redline with adult content and double meaning elements. Venu Gopal Reddy, the director himself handled the editing and it is ok. There are many scenes that impacted the flow of the narration and tested the patience of the viewers. Production values are good.Romanchakam Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Youthful Elements</li><li>Couple of Songs</li><li>Cinematography</li></ul>Romanchakam Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Screenplay, Story</li><li>Predictable Elements</li><li>Over The Top Dialogues</li></ul>Romanchakam(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Romanchakam turns out to be predictable youthful entertainer. Director Venu Gopal Reddy Puppala came up with a simple story and he tried to entertain viewers with situational comedy. To some extent he succeeded but at times the dialogues turned over the top with all the actors indulging in shouting slugfest. The screenplay also offered nothing new. Youngsters may like the film to some extent if they ignore the predictability. Had he added few interesting elements and racy screenplay, impact would have been even more greater. Considering all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 2.25 rating for Romanchakam. &nbsp;

Romanchakam Review

Kiku Chiranjeevi(2026) Movie: What's BehindLow budget film Kiku Chiranjeevi is releasing in 28 August 2026. The film stars Kiku Yanamala, Kashish Khan in lead roles under the direction of Shubha Sai Venkat. Let us see what Kiku Chiranjeevi offered to movie lovers.Kiku Chiranjeevi(2026) Movie: Story ReviewKiku Chiranjeevi story revolves around an orphan who suffers from a rare ailment who falls for a beautiful girl who has her own conditions for marriage and the developments in their journey.Manu aka Manasa ( Kashish Khan) rejects many matches as they don't meet her pre conditions until she finds a youngster Chiru ( Kiku Yanamala) and they quickly fall in love.However Manu will be in for a shock. What is the shock, how she deals with them, what role Manu's father ( Srikanth Iyengar), Raghava Rao( Goparaju Ramana), Mask Man ( Rajeev Ravichandra), his mother ( Easwari Rao), her brother ( Tanikella Bharani) Investigation Officer &nbsp;( Sriram Venkat) form the interesting developments.Kiku Chiranjeevi(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewKashish Khan did justice to her role. She came up with decent expressions and emotions and added value to the scenes. She also oozed with glamour and gave full feast in intimate scenes in a song sizzling red hot on the screen.Kiku Yanamala is good in the role of a youngster who suffers from a rare disorder. He also showed variations in his role showing the transformation with ease in his body language. He delivered dialogues accordinglyEaswari Rao played an impactful role which is tailor made for her. She made an impression with her screen presence. Tanikella Bharani appeared in a key role. Goparaju Ramana and Srikanth Iyengar did justice to their roles. Sriram Venkat did a decent job in the role of the police officer. Others did justice to their roles.Kiku Chiranjeevi(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewKiku Chiranjeevi story is penned by Shubha Sai Venkat and he tried to thrill viewers with the youthful romantic thriller. The narration starts in an interesting way but quickly assumes predictable and monotonous flavour with the hero and heroine romantic track. Till the end of the first half, the so called thrill factor goes missing. He spent time with silly comedy scenes and romantic scenes and brings an end to the proceedings with the bold song setting the tone for the second half.While the first half is full of youthful romantic elements, the second half is filled with few thrills. Couple of scenes that come with twists may surprise common viewers but those who are used to watch such films find them predictable. But once those twists are revealed it is just a matter of time as to how the proceedings are brought to a logical conclusion.The first half filled with romantic and bold scenes is in complete contrast to the second half filled with couple of twists. The story turned out to be predictable and screenplay left many questions unanswered with illogical elements. The pre climax is ok while the climax turns out to be tame.Ramakrishna. P with his cinematography showed the scenes according to the narration and the story. Shekar Chandra tuned couple of songs. One song is bold and loaded with intimate scenes. His background music is as per the scenes ensuring that they are seamless. Editing of Chota K. Prasad is just ok. It could have been better as there are repetitive scenes that impacted the narration. Dialogues are ok and production values are average.Kiku Chiranjeevi Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Kashish Khan</li><li>Couple of Twists</li></ul>Kiku Chiranjeevi Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Predictable Elements</li><li>Illogical Scenes</li></ul>Kiku Chiranjeevi(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Kiku Chiranjeevi turns out to be a routine survival thriller. Kashish Khan indulged in bold beauty treat. Director Shubha Sai Venkat planned to thrill viewers and the makers promoted it as a thriller. However, with the thrill factor missing in the first half and monotonous elements, screenplay assuming serial type narration, everything misfired. The second half has couple of twists but these couldn't revive the fortunes as viewers have watched such twists and films for many decades. One gets a feeling that they are watching two films on one ticket.Doing away with unnecessary scenes, illogical elements, rework on the script and gripping screenplay would have added more fire power. Considering a all these aspects, Cinejosh goes with a 2.25 rating for Kiku Chiranjeevi. &nbsp;

56th Idea Filmfare Awards South 2008