Set against the backdrop of rising tensions at the India–China border, Akhanda 2: Thaandavam explores a threat aimed at weakening India’s spiritual and cultural roots. As hostile forces try to destabilize the nation, Akhanda (Nandamuri Balakrishna) returns from exile to protect Sanatana Dharma, the country, and innocent lives. The story revolves around his divine rage, spiritual symbolism, and mass-driven action as he confronts internal and external enemies.
Balakrishna and Boyapati Sreenu reunite for the fourth time with Akhanda 2: Thaandavam, carrying massive expectations. The film follows the template of a typical Boyapati mass entertainer—larger-than-life heroism, heavy spiritual references, thunderous action blocks, and nonstop elevations. Logic takes a back seat as the film focuses on star aura and theatrical highs.
Nandamuri Balakrishna dominates the film in dual roles. While his Akhanda avatar delivers the expected intensity and power, the MLA Balamurali Krishna character fails to make a strong impact. Despite this, Balakrishna’s commanding screen presence, dialogue delivery, and spiritual monologues strike a chord with fans.
Samyuktha Menon is underutilized, with a very brief role and no memorable moments. Aadhi Pinisetty’s antagonist role lacks depth and ends abruptly, reducing its impact. Supporting actors like Murali Mohan, Kabir Duhan Singh, Achyuth Kumar, and others perform adequately within their limited scope.
The film boasts high production values. C. Ramprasad’s cinematography presents Balakrishna in a stylish and powerful manner, especially during action sequences. The scale and visuals match the mass tone intended by the director.
Ram–Laxman’s action choreography is extremely exaggerated and over-the-top, which may invite trolling post-OTT release, but it works effectively on the big screen for fans.
Thaman S, who delivered a memorable soundtrack for the first Akhanda, falls short this time. The background score feels repetitive, though a few trance-based themes elevate key moments. Overall, the music does not reach the highs expected from this combination.
Editor Tammiraju keeps the film moving at a brisk pace, avoiding major lag despite the lengthy runtime. However, abrupt character arcs and rushed villain development affect narrative flow, especially in the second half.
Boyapati Sreenu once again delivers a film that prioritizes hero worship over storytelling. While the spiritual symbolism involving Shiva and Hanuman looks visually striking, the absence of a strong conflict and villain weakens the overall impact. The film relies heavily on continuous elevations to keep audiences engaged, leaving little room for emotional depth or narrative coherence. Akhanda 2 is not Boyapati’s strongest work, but it succeeds in offering a loud, unapologetic mass experience tailored specifically for Balakrishna’s fan base.
Plot: Maa revolves around a mother (Kajol) who battles demonic forces to save her daughter. Set against a Bengali backdrop, the film dives into a world where mythology, fantasy, and horror intersect. A cursed past, a mysterious mythological creature, and the eventual divine awakening form the crux of the plot. The film follows a predictable arc but incorporates a visual style that is engaging, though ultimately the emotional impa
Read More →
Plot "Son of Sardaar 2" follows the journey of Jassi (Ajay Devgn), a confused Sardaar who lands in Scotland and is immediately caught up in two chaotic missions. He must pose as the father of a girl for her wedding and pretend to be a soldier in the Indian Army. Along the way, he meets Rabiya (Mrunal Thakur), a Pakistani dancer abandoned by her husband, who also finds herself in a difficult situation.
Read More →
Plot Aadi Deva Varma, a successful businessman and devoted father, begins experiencing visions from a past life where he was King Vrusshabha. When his son Tej visits their ancestral village, he too starts seeing fragments of the same past. These visions reveal a generational curse tied to their reincarnated lives, threatening their present-day father–son bond. The story follows their attempt to understand these dreams and break the curse haunting them. Overview Directed by Nanda Kishore, Vrussha
Read More →
The makers of Vinaro Bhagyamu Vishnu Katha, featuring Kiran Abbavaram and Kashmira in the lead roles, promoted the film as a new age action comedy. Here’s our review of the film. Story: Vishnu (Kiran) crosses path with Darshana (Kashmira) and they eventually fall for each other. All hell breaks lose after they are caught in a terrorist attack situation. How are they linked to it? Can they come out safely from the terror
Read More →
Plot: Thug Life follows Rangaraaya Sakthivel (Kamal Haasan), a gangster operating out of Delhi. In 1994, during a shootout, he inadvertently becomes the guardian of Amaran (Silambarasan), a young boy whose father is killed in the crossfire. Two decades later, Sakthivel names Amaran as his gang's successor before heading to prison. However, Amaran’s betrayal, internal gang politics, and the
Read More →
Plot: “Kaantha” is a Tamil period drama set in the 1970s, focusing on star hero T.K. Mahadevan (Dulquer Salmaan) and his growing ego conflicts with Ayya (Samuthirakani), his mentor who helped him rise to fame. The story also revolves around Kumari (Bhagyashri), whose perspective adds a fresh angle. The film portrays ambition, pride, and personal sacrifices in the golden era of cinema while exploring how ego and fame can affect relationships and careers. Overview: After years of production delays
Read More →
Sudheer Babu is known for trying out nee age scripts and he is back at it again with Hunt which is billed to be a new-age action thriller. Here’s what we have to say after watching the film. Story: Assistant Commissioner of Police, Arjun (Sudheer) meets with a freakish bike accident and he forgets the past. But he now has to solve a high profile murder case without any recollection of the incidents in the past. Will he be able to do so?
Read More →
Vijay Deverakonda and Parasuram have come back together for Family Star after having done Geetha Govindam earlier. Family Star is a commercial potboiler that is packed with formulaic commercial elements. Here is our review of the film. Story: Govardhan(Vijay Devearkonda) is a hardworking middle class man who is with the responsibility of financially looking after his family as his brother are worthless. One day, he gets to meet Mrunal Thakur who later becomes a tenant at his h
Read More →
Micheal marks Sundeep Kishan's pan-Indian debut and the film hit the theaters today amidst decent anticipation, thanks to the impressive trailer. Here's what we have to say after watching the film. Story: Michal (Sundeep Kishan) is nurtured and bought up by a rugged gangster. He follows the same path to rise to the top of the chain and resorts to extreme violence. But he has a soft and painting past.
Read More →
Plot Wicked: For Good serves as the final chapter in Jon M. Chu’s two-part cinematic adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical. The story follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) as their intertwined journeys reach their climax amid political unrest, propaganda, betrayal, and the collapse of Oz’s carefully constructed façade. While the film attempts to bring emotional closure to their friendship and the mysteries surrounding the Wizard, its execution often feels weighed down by
Read More →
