Neeshita Nyayapati
Hindustan Times
Karuppu
2026 · Hindustan Times
RJ Balaji's Karuppu almost plays out like every other mass masala film you have seen growing up, but what distinguishes it is that when your protagonist is a literal guardian deity, you rely on the beauty and ugliness of humanity around him rather than typical heroic tropes.
The Rajasaab
2026 · Hindustan Times
Unfortunately for the Prabhas-starrer, whenever it makes an attempt at the above-mentioned romance, it tests your patience. The humour works in bits and pieces. The 'horror comedy romance' never reaches its full potential after making you sit through an over-3-hour-long film.
Maa Inti Bangaram
2026 · Hindustan Times
This time around, they have something more action-packed, with help from Raj Nidimoru, who puts his expertise from The Family Man and Citadel: Honey Bunny to pen a story that flips the script. What happens when a Samantha, instead of a Rajinikanth or Kamal Haasan, plays a woman with a complicated past?
Game Changer
2025 · Hindustan Times
Game Changer is an expensive masterclass on electoral politics. Since he created his niche in 1993 with Gentleman, the director's films follow familiar beats that either bring you comfort due to nostalgia or irk you because he doesn't seem to evolve beyond them. Game Changer is a fairly well-made Shankar film that sticks to the tried-and-tested formula.
Thandel
2025 · Hindustan Times
Chandoo Mondeti's Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi-starrer Thandel is a mixed bag, but one can't fault it when it comes to the love story. The film starts well, falters, but thankfully finds its footing again.
Mirai
2025 · Hindustan Times
Karthik Ghattamaneni's Mirai, starring Teja Sajja and Manchu Manoj in the lead roles, also attempts to do that, and it's fruitful for the most part. Minus portions where the film gets too hammy, the film succeeds in setting up the solid story of an unassuming young man who has greatness in store.
Kingdom
2025 · Hindustan Times
Will Gowtam Tinnanuri find a way to match the tenderness of emotions we have come to expect of him from Malli Raava and Jersey? Will Vijay Deverakonda finally get his redemption arc after delivering a string of disappointing flops? The answer is both yes and no.
Kaantha
2025 · Hindustan Times
Kaantha goes creatively meta in the most satisfying manner while unveiling the making of a film within a film. Unfortunately, Kaantha doesn't seem to reach its full potential, much like some of the characters in the film.
Dude
2025 · Hindustan Times
Pradeep Ranganathan's Agan in director Keerthiswaran's debut film, Dude, is the exact opposite of that [entitled male leads], standing out as a refreshing departure from the typical South cinema trope of men who feel entitled to love.