Bigg Boss Telugu 10 has introduced an unexpected twist during its fourth week of nominations. Instead of a conventional elimination in the latest weekend episode, wildcard contestant Mithilesh reportedly exited the reality show after accepting a Rs 15 lakh cash offer, surprising housemates and viewers.The unusual deal has directly affected the season’s prize pool. The original Rs 50 lakh winning amount has reportedly been reduced by Rs 15 lakh following Mithilesh’s exit. As a result, the eventual Bigg Boss Telugu 10 winner is now expected to receive Rs 35 lakh as prize money.The development adds another layer of uncertainty to the ongoing season, with contestants continuing to compete for the coveted trophy and the remaining prize amount. Cash offers and unexpected decisions have traditionally been used to create tension inside the Bigg Boss house, particularly as contestants approach crucial stages.Akkineni Nagarjuna has returned as the host for Bigg Boss Telugu 10, guiding contestants through nominations, tasks, eliminations and weekend episodes. With the competition progressing and more contestants facing eviction, audience interest is expected to intensify as the season moves toward its eventual finalists and winner. - Veda

Movie News

Bigg Boss Telugu 10 Prize Money Reduced to Rs 35 Lakh

Bigg Boss Telugu 10 Prize Money Takes a Hit

Kiran Abbavaram’s upcoming film KA13 is progressing rapidly, with the actor director gearing up to complete the shoot soon. The project has created curiosity since its launch, particularly because Kiran is handling multiple responsibilities as hero, writer and director, marking another major step in his filmmaking journey.Devika Bhat plays the female lead, while veteran actors Sarath Kumar and Sai Kumar are part of the cast. The film’s festive poster and BTS material have already offered glimpses of its traditional setting and visual treatment. The makers are expected to reveal the official title shortly, adding to anticipation around the project.Kiran Abbavaram has been balancing acting, direction and production commitments, with his recent success with Chennai Love Story adding momentum to his career. He is also associated with projects including the mythological action fantasy Indraputra and the upcoming mystical thriller Hatah in his production, demonstrating his expanding involvement behind the scenes.KA13 features cinematography by Viswas Daniel, music by Bheems Ceciroleo, production design by Sudheer Macherla and editing by Santhosh Naidu. Produced by Sudhakar Chaganti under Joy Films, the film is nearing its shooting stage completion, while the team is preparing to unveil its title and further details soon. - Veda

Kiran Abbavaram KA13 Shoot Nears Completion

Kiran Abbavaram Directorial KA13 In Final Stage

Nani’s The Paradise has delivered a massive opening weekend, collecting ₹155 crore gross worldwide in four days, according to the makers. Despite mixed to negative critical reactions, the Srikanth Odela directorial has maintained strong theatrical momentum, helped by Nani’s popularity and the extended Ganesh immersion holiday weekend.The film’s adjusted four-day worldwide breakdown stands at ₹70 crore from Telangana, ₹32 crore from Andhra Pradesh, ₹22 crore from the rest of India and ₹31 crore overseas, taking the cumulative total to ₹155 crore. The overseas run has also crossed the $2 million mark in North America, adding to Nani’s career milestones.The Paradise stars Nani as Jadal alongside Kayadu Lohar, Mohan Babu, Sonali Kulkarni, Raghav Juyal, Priyadarshi and others. Produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under SLV Cinemas, the 1980s-set action drama explores the struggles of a marginalized community, combining intense action with emotional family and social themes.With the first weekend now completed, attention shifts toward the weekday trend. The film’s ability to maintain occupancy after the holiday period will determine its long term theatrical run. Anirudh Ravichander composed the music, while CH Sai handled cinematography and Navin Nooli edited the film. - Veda

Nani The Paradise Four Days Worldwide Boxoffice Collections

The Paradise Crosses 150 Crore Worldwide

&nbsp;&nbsp;Tapsee on her marriage with Mathias Boe. Tapsee known for her high intense performances entered into wedlock with Danish badminton player Mathias Boe.Speaking about her relationship and marriage, she said &nbsp;“The same year I debuted in Bollywood is when I started dating him. And I have held him close to me for all these years. Because I don't think I can do any better. I think this is the best decision I have made in my life. Because, your family is what God has given to you… my profession was also not by purely choice, it was by co-incidence. So, this was my choice! I am so proud of it.”She continued &nbsp;“We have been together for 13 years… There is extreme sense of security. Most importantly, immense respect for each other. Immense. Love comes after that. If the base of a relationship is not respect then that relationship won't last for a very long time. In the film industry itself I see a lot of colleagues who want to find love regardless of whatever profession… but it is hard, and it is getting harder. I am not sure why, do we value temporary happiness more? I had a totally opposite experience.”- Pramod Nandivada

Tapsee on her marriage

Tapsee on her marriage with Mathias Boe

&nbsp;&nbsp;Salman strong take on fake video creators. Salman Khan is known to air his views in a candid manner. Today he shared his thoughts on fake AI video creators.He said “Someone made an AI video, or did AI voice dubbing; that is wrong. AI has progressed so much that it's very scary. It's a very serious thing. You said something, and someone used AI to edit it and kisi ko gali bakdi. You know what they're doing? AI videos bana rahe hain yeh. Bahut saare logon ke (They abuse someone. Do you know what they’re doing? They’re making AI videos of so many people), and even I am there in the AI video,"He added “Now, people who don't know it is AI-generated content might post that Salman Khan was there. But those who know this reality and still created the video, what kind of people are they? Now those kinds of people should be put behind bars. Jab tak koi ek aadh, do aisa andar jaayega nahi na, tab tak yeh rukne wala hai nahi. There has to be a law that needs to be passed, and there has to be censorship on social media (Until one or two of them go to prison, this will not stop).”Salman is currently busy with Monster under the direction of Vamsi Paidipally and he is also starring in Maatrubhoomi under the direction of Apoorva Lakhia.- Pramod Nandivada

Salman on fake video creators

Salman strong take on fake video creators

&nbsp;&nbsp; Kushboo Patani advice to girls on Delhi rapes. Of late, Delhi is rocked with various attacks and rapes on women and even Supreme Court of India expressed its concern and came up with a strongly worded statement.In the meantime, actress Disha Patani's sister Kushboo Patani, who was once in Indian Army shared a video explaining the use of an air pistol, saying girls could learn to use one for self-defense. Khushboo showed how the pistol works, explaining that it uses CO2 to propel a pellet rather than gunpowder or a conventional cartridge. She urged girls to get proper training at a nearby shooting range and said, "You can buy this, keep this with yourself and protect yourself; don't depend on anyone. Otherwise, what's happening in India will not end. It costs ₹60,000-70,000 and it's good. You can train to use it in your nearby shooting range."She came up with the disclaimer &nbsp;"Disclaimer: Only for self-defense. This is not a toy, no matter it is real or not, real u must use it wisely and responsibly.177 Air Pistol Glock 17 Gen 4 For educational purposes only.@peppoutbykp."She posted &nbsp;"Never buy online. Always go to a local district dealer; connect with them. They have every type of CO2 air pistol; buy only that u can actually handle in speed, so weight is important. Real or not real, only a responsible person should buy and only for self-defense. Learn to shoot a pistol at a local shooting range; learn to remove it from purse /pocket directly in speed without seeing the air pistol."- Pramod Nandivada

Disha Patani sister on Delhi rapes

Kushboo Patani advice to girls on Delhi rapes

&nbsp;&nbsp; Radhika Apte on ageing and sexuality. Radhika Apte who is known for her bold and frank talk spoke about ageing and sexuality. She said We, as a society, are so ageist. Getting old is regarded as some kind of deterioration. But I am 41, now I am getting to know myself and my body far better than in my 20s or 30s. In your 20s, you are basically busy doing all the things your parents told you not to. And in your 30s, you are panicking that you might actually agree with some of those things your parents said.”She continued &nbsp;“But in your 40s, you are trying to find your space. This is the peak time of desire, understanding, sexuality and your needs. I feel the fittest, youngest and most alive in my 40s. Especially going through motherhood, your whole body changes, so you actually get to know your body, your needs. It’s such a great age. People are idiots who don't know that and they are controlling of other people because they don't want to express it themselves. They are really missing out."She acknowledged &nbsp;“Forget sex and desire, it starts from basic equality and the basic ability to be able to freely think and speak. I also grew up like that thinking sex was dirty and that is so sad. Even for men, their desires are looked upon a certain way and women's desires are looked upon a different way. Why are we separating it? It is an act to be done together also.”- Pramod Nandivada

Hot beauty on Sexuality

Radhika Apte on ageing and sexuality

&nbsp;&nbsp;Dil Raju addresses financial crunch rumours. Rumours have been thick and fast that Dil Raju and his Sri Venkateswara Creations landed in huge financial crunch following the disaster of Yash's Toxic. Dil Raju acquired the rights of Toxic in AP and Telangana for a whopping Rs 120crs and it resulted in huge financial losses.However some say, Dil Raju negotiated a deal returnable-advance arrangement with the film’s producers, including Yash. Under the reported agreement, any deficit is to be refunded to Dil Raju within 45 days, thereby limiting his exposure and shifting much of the financial risk back to the film’s producers.Even before Toxic, Dil Raju got a huge shock with Ram Charan-Shankar's Game Changer which turned out to be a dud. Its losses amounted to Rs 100crs. Still Dil Raju is negotiating to acquire the Telugu rights of Ranbir Kapoor-Nitesh Tiwari's magnum opus Ramayana.Dil Raju, addressing the financial crunch rumours says “Ups and downs are part of any business. Movie production is no exception. What you are referring to as setbacks, I treat as stepping stones. One has to take risks in business, otherwise you become stagnant. Yes, I’ve had my share of losses. But nothing that is unsolvable. The good news is that films are doing well in Hindi, Telugu and other languages.” - Pramod Nandivada

Is Star producer in financial crunch

Dil Raju addresses financial crunch rumours

&nbsp;&nbsp;Huge confusion over Devara sequel. NTR's Devara directed by Koratala Shiva which marked the debut of Janhvi kapoor as the female lead and the presence of Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan got mixed reviews. The film is made in two parts but following Devara result no one spoke about the sequel.Vague references were made by Koratala Shiva and NTR and NTR got busy with projects like Dragon with Prashanth Neel and his project with Trivikram Srinivas referred to God of War , a mythological entertainer.In the meantime, some rumours already went viral that the Devara sequel had been shelved while others say it is very much on and Koratala already completed the script for the sequel. Currently Koratala Shiva is set to direct Balakrishna in his next. Seeing all this developments, one can be rest assured that the sequel of Devara is all but shelved.- Pramod Nandivada

Gossips

Is Devara sequel on or shelved

Huge confusion over Devara sequel

&nbsp;&nbsp;Rajamouli reacts to project with Suriya. For long movie lovers have been speculating about the project under Rajamouli and Suriya's combination. Rajamouli attended the promotions of Fahad Faasil's Don't Trouble The Trouble pre release event in Chennai.During that time, host asked Rajamouli about the project with Suriya. Rajamouli said that the moment he is in Chennai, he knew that he would be faced with this question. Though he didnot reveal much details, he said that whenever it happens it will be something sensational.Rajamouli said whenever he and Suriya teams up, they will come up with something sensational. Currently Rajamouli is busy with Mahesh Babu's Varanasi which is releasing on 7 April 2027. The film stars Priyanka Chopra as the female lead while Prithviraj Sukumaran is playing an important role. Keeravani is the music director.Suriya is on a high scoring back to back hits in form of Karuppu and Viswanath &amp; Sons.- Pramod Nandivada

Rajamouli on project with Suriya 

Rajamouli reacts to project with Suriya

&nbsp;Puri Jagannadh’s Slum Dog: 33 Temple Road is generating curiosity with Vijay Sethupathi in the lead. The upcoming action drama also features Tabu, Samyuktha, Duniya Vijay, Zarina Wahab, Brahmaji and VTV Ganesh. The latest glimpse introduces Zarina Wahab as Zubeidaa, offering a more emotional perspective on the film’s world.In the glimpse, Zubeidaa opens up to her son about how circumstances led her to begging at a railway station. The sequence focuses on the hardships and emotions behind the lives of people living on the streets. Zarina Wahab’s portrayal adds a sensitive dimension to Puri Jagannadh’s otherwise action oriented narrative.Vijay Sethupathi plays a street-dweller who turns into a knife wielding vigilante, according to the teaser. Tabu portrays Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax Gauri Hegde, while Samyuktha plays the female lead. The film promises a combination of raw action, human emotions and relationships.Produced by Puri Jagannadh, Charmme Kaur and JB Narayan Rao Kondrolla, Slum Dog has completed shooting and entered post-production. Harshavardhan Rameshwar handles the music, with Sam K Naidu on cinematography and Santosh Noozilla editing. The film is planned as a pan India release in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam. - Veda

Emotional Side Of Slum Dog

Slum Dog Zarina Wahab Glimpse Highlights Emotional Core

&nbsp;&nbsp; Actor Allu Sirish has approached Hyderabad City Police over loud music allegedly continuing until 2–3 am near his residence in Shaikpet. Sirish, who lives at Aparna One, said the noise from a Hanuman temple in Vinobha Nagar had been disturbing residents for several days.According to Sirish, he had previously contacted the Film Nagar Police Station about the issue. He said residents were asked to cooperate until September 25 because of Ganesh immersion celebrations. However, Sirish claimed that the loud music continued even after the festival related activities had ended.Sirish highlighted the impact of prolonged late night noise on elderly residents, children and working professionals in the residential community. He also alleged that the music was being played beyond permitted decibel limits and continued during late night hours, prompting him to raise the matter publicly through a post on X.Hyderabad City Police responded to Sirish’s post, stating that his complaint had been forwarded to the Film Nagar Police Station for necessary action. The development has brought attention to concerns surrounding late-night noise in residential areas and the need to balance community activities with residents’ right to peaceful living. - Veda

Allu Sirish Complains About Loud Music

Allu Sirish Raises Noise Complaint

&nbsp;Tamil cinema has built a strong global market through stars such as Rajinikanth and its substantial overseas audience. Films including 2.0, Jailer, Leo and Coolie have achieved major worldwide numbers, but the ₹1,000 crore milestone remains outside the industry’s reach. Jailer 2 now arrives with considerable commercial expectations.The ₹1,000 crore benchmark has become an important milestone in Indian cinema after several large scale productions crossed it. Tamil films have approached the upper commercial tier without reaching four digit worldwide gross territory. Jailer 2 has the franchise advantage, Rajinikanth’s popularity and an expanded ensemble, giving the sequel significant pan Indian theatrical visibility.Jailer 2 reunites Rajinikanth with director Nelson Dilipkumar and music composer Anirudh Ravichander. The sequel features an extensive ensemble including Mohanlal, Vijay Sethupathi, Hrithik Roshan, Shiva Rajkumar, S.J. Suryah, Vidya Balan and Suraj Venjaramoodu. Sun Pictures has officially scheduled the film for October 15, 2026.The sequel’s ₹1,000 crore prospects will depend on several commercial factors, including opening strength, sustained theatrical performance, overseas reception and its Hindi market response. Jailer itself reportedly earned ₹605 – 650 crore worldwide, demonstrating the franchise’s reach. Jailer 2 now has an opportunity to expand that footprint, although its eventual collections remain unpredictable. - Veda &nbsp;

Can Jailer 2 Achieve Kollywood Longstanding Dream

Jailer 2 and Tamil Cinema 1000 Crore Target

&nbsp;Will Family Casting workout at Box Office. Many films came in Tollywood with father and son playing key roles. Krishna and Mahesh Babu starred in Poratam and many films came later and Akkneni family starred in Manam. Now inside talk is Akhil is set to star in a key role in Nagarjuna's upcoming milestone film King 100. But the question is will these family castings workout.Fans love to see father and son in the single frame and one cannot forget the sensation Krishna and Mahesh Babu's Poratam created. Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan's Acharya and Nagarjuna, Naga Chaitanya, Akhil, ANR's Manam entertained fans. While Nagarjuna is taking the ANR legacy forward, these multistarrers will take the legacy to the next generation. Ra, Karthik is planning to show ANR legacy in an entertaining and emotional manner. These emotions and sentiments will workout well and curiosity level increase among movie lovers. The film stars Tabu in an important role.Aishwarya Rajesh is the female lead and &nbsp;Sushmita Bhatt and sandalwood Star Upendra are in important roles. The milestone film is bankrolled in a prestigious manner on Annapurna Studios banner. The film is releasing on 24 December 2026.- Pramod Nandivada

King 100: Akkineni Prince special treat

Akhil special treat in King 100 

Keerthy Suresh, Sananth and Rishikanth's Dorothy directed by Karthik Subbaraj turned out to be a bold take on LGBTQ+ themes, including its exploration of same sex attraction and transgender identity, have become central to the ongoing debate.On the social media, people got divided. While few showered praises on the makers for their bold take, others blasted them for being provocative. In the midst of all this, ace director Mani Ratnam showered praises on the film.He said &nbsp;“Karthik is a very, very special talent. We have many, many young and promising new directors with us and Karthik is leading the pack. Dorothy is a very special film.”He added, “The film language is very, very good. Extremely good. Very impressive. I am envious. The control over the language, the shots. The technique. Ilaiyaraaja's music is really something very, very special. I am very happy. I wish him all the best.”Dorothy set in the 1990s, it tells the story of two men whose lives are upended by the arrival of a woman.- Pramod Nandivada &nbsp;

 Mani Ratnam hails Dorothy

Mani Ratnam praises Dorothy

Suriya recently scored a hit with Viswanath &amp; Sons directed by Venky Atluri. He recently celebrated his 20th wedding anniversary with his wife Jyothika in Scotland. Suriya recently interacted with his fans and gave the message to them regarding trolls.He said “Let us sow only love. When we engage just because some fool has made a post on social media, we end up looking like fools, too and getting hurt,” he said, adding, “Let us simply be ourselves, and let them be themselves; there is no need for us to say anything. Trying to make them understand or change their minds is difficult. Some might grasp it, but the vast majority won't. Don't waste your energy. Sincerely pursue what you love, day in and day out, and success will surely follow.”Fans reacted to him in the following manner., “Please. We have had this social media fight since Facebook. We can't stop hatred, but if you want to win people's hearts, even if he is your enemy, show your lovable side or ignore him. He will change. But don't call or stamp them as "muttal"; it's not maturity, sir,” filled X (formerly Twitter).. “Counterpoint: You can't let a fools opinion go unchallenged. That is how you let him and any others know no one has a response to their "intelligence" and it multiples like cancer. You're asking to not just leave hero-sexuals alone but also misogynysts, misandrists, castesists to propagate their views,” read one comment.Suriya’s fans, though, seemed to be having a ball. “If this triggers you, congratulations! You are the exact fool he’s calling out,” wrote one Redditor. “Throw an insult, and the owner picks it up,” wrote another. One even wrote, “You can wake up someone who is sleeping bro, but you will never be able to wake up someone who pretends to be sleeping. That’s the problem,” agreeing with Suriya.-- Pramod Nandivada &nbsp;

Suriya about trolls

Suriya message to fans regarding trolls

Young hero Havish is coming to entertain movie lovers with a romantic entertainer titled Romeo Juliet. The film stars Visakha Dhiman as the female lead and is directed by Bhargav Macharla.Prabhas in the morning came up with the cryptic post about Romeo. He posted “I feel a bit like Romeo today, where are you my Juliet darlingey,” followed by a red heart emoji.This made people wonder what is it all about. Now, Prabhas revealed the story of Romeo Juliet. The story reveal glimpse showed Havish interacting with a gun dealer to select a weapon to kill a girl. Then the conversation moves into relationships, romantic experiences etc.The story reveal generated interest among movie lovers. The film is up for release on 23 October 2026 on Prabhas' birthday. Gopi Sunder and Abhiraj Nair are handing the music and cinematography of the film. The film is bankrolled in a prestigious manner &nbsp;by Sundeep N and Venkateswara Rao Challagulla under the Navarasa Entertainments banner.- Pramod Nandivada &nbsp;

Pan India Star reveals Romeo Juliet

Prabhas reveals Romeo  Juliet story

&nbsp;In any industry success and failures are common and film industry is not an exception. Entire film unit belives in a story and try to entertain movie lovers. In the process some mistakes and blunders happen and the film fail to entertain and turn out to be a daisters. Sometimes, the films turn out to be a blockbuster.However, the result is not due to the work of one individual. When the film turns out to be a hit, the entire credit should go to the film unit. The same should be the case when the film flops. This because, director directs a story penned by another person. Actors try eo entertain viewers with their performances on the screen.Music director, cinematographer and all the 24 crafts try their best and producer pump in money to turn the project into a reality and entertain viewers. Even one mistake by anyone in the entire process will change the fate of the film. So the result of the film should be owned by the entire team and not to just one person.-- Pramod Nandivada

Who is responsible for films results

Who should be responsible for the films results

Narayanamma from Aadarsha Kutumbam released. Venkatesh's upcoming entertainer Aadarsha Kutumbam directed by Trivikram Srinivas is racing for a spectacular release on 9 October 2026. The film stars Nara Rohit in an important role while Srinidhi Shetty and Nivetha Pethuraj are playing the female leads. The film also features Dimple Hayathi in an important role.The makers today released the first single Narayanamma in a grand manner at Park Hyatt hotel, Hyderabad. The song is shot in a beautiful manner on Venkatesh, Srinidhi Shetty, Nivetha Pethuraj and Dimple Hyathi. Thaman tuned a foottapping tune while Ramajogaiah Sastry penned the lyrics for the single. Srinidhi Shetty, Dimple Hyathi and Nivetha Pethuraj entertained with their dance moves.The song is shot in an energetic manner by the lead singers Prabha Bangarigalla and Ram Miriyala . Pujita Ponnada, Rao Ramesh, and Satya are starring in important roles.Ravi K Chandran is the cinematographer. Sreekar Prasad is the editor for the project. Haarika &amp; Hassine Creations is bankrolling the project. &nbsp;

Narayanamma from Aadarsha Kutumbam released

Aadarsha Kutumbam: Narayanamma entertains

&nbsp;Vijay Devvarakonda is coming to entertain movie lovers with his upcoming film Ranabaali. The film directed by Rahul Sankartiyan is racing for a spectacular release on 16 October 2026. The film is generating interest as Vijay Devarakonda and Rahul Sankartiyan earlier came up with a thriller Taxiwala.The film stars Rashmika Mandanna as the female lead. The makers started their promotions and now they shared the details about the unique promotions. The makers will be coming with a four part series and it is titled ‘Never Forget – The Truth Series,’The first chapter will be released on 28 Sep and it is titled 'The Famine We Forgot'. The poster comes with a caption “A man made genocide. To starve, to enslave, to conquer.”The second chapter will be released on 30 Sep and it is titled “The History We Forgot,” and it talks about the construction of the railways by the Britishers and the real reason behind it.The third chapter will be released on 2 October and it is titled 'The Men We Forgot' and shows how many Indians didnot bend to the Britishers.The fourth chapter will be released soon and it is titled The Last Road. Ajay Atul is the music director for the film produced on Mythri Movie Makers banner. The film is presented by Gulshan Kumar and Bhushan Kumar under T-Series Films.The film is presented by T-Series.---- Pramod Nandivada

Ranabaali unique promos details out

Ranabaali promotional details revealed

Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is gearing up for its digital premiere after an impressive theatrical run. Directed by Girish A.D., the Malayalam romantic comedy drama, which opened in cinemas on August 21, is scheduled to begin streaming on JioHotstar from October 2.The film has generated considerable attention since its theatrical release, with audiences responding strongly to its blend of romance, family emotions and comedy. Written by Girish A.D. and Kiran Josey, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit features Vishnu Vijay’s music and has continued attracting viewers beyond its initial theatrical weeks.Nivin Pauly portrays Justin, a bachelor in his thirties from Karukutty, whose routine changes after Ashley, played by Mamitha Baiju, moves into his neighbourhood. Their initially cautious relationship gradually develops into an unexpected romance, forming the emotional core of the film’s engaging narrative.The ensemble includes Dileesh Pothan, Sangeeth Prathap, Suresh Krishna, Vinay Forrt and Roshan Shanavas in important roles. The film’s reported worldwide collection has crossed Rs 325 crore, with Kerala contributing more than Rs 150 crore, according to trade reports, strengthening its commercial standing in Malayalam cinema. - Veda

BKU Finally Locks Its Release Date

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit OTT Streaming Release Date

Nandamuri Balakrishna’s upcoming action drama Dada is heading into its next shooting phase in Mysore. According to reports, the schedule is expected to begin on September 29, with key scenes involving other actors being filmed initially. Balakrishna is reportedly set to join the schedule from October 5 for his portions.Dada reunites Balakrishna with director Gopichand Malineni after Veera Simha Reddy. Set against an 1980s backdrop, the film is described as a gangster action drama blended with strong family emotions. Kajal Aggarwal plays the female lead, while Manchu Manoj takes on the antagonist role.The Mysore schedule is expected to feature major action sequences and dramatic portions involving Balakrishna. Gopichand Malineni has said that special attention was given to Balayya’s style, swag and mannerisms. The director has also promised powerful entertainment, drama and dance sequences featuring Balakrishna and Kajal.Produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru under Vriddhi Cinemas, Dada features Thaman S as music director, with Arvind S Kashyap handling cinematography and Navin Nooli editing. The makers have officially locked December 24, 2026, for the worldwide theatrical release, positioning the film as a Christmas season attraction. - Veda &nbsp;

NBK To Rejoin DADA

Nandamuri Balakrishna Dada Moves Into Mysore Schedule

&nbsp;&nbsp;Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Dharman is emerging as one of the major attractions for Pongal 2027. Directed by Ashwath Marimuthu and produced by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International, the film officially began shooting in June and is progressing rapidly, with the team preparing crucial action sequences.Dharman marks Rajinikanth’s 173rd film and brings together an unusual combination of superstar Rajinikanth and producer Kamal Haasan after their long standing friendship. Anirudh Ravichander is composing the music, while Simran and Raashii Khanna are part of the cast. The makers are targeting a Pongal 2027 theatrical release.Ram Pothineni has also joined Dharman in an important role, adding a major Telugu connection to the project. Reports suggest he could be positioned opposite Rajinikanth, although specific character details remain under wraps. The film has been described as a family oriented thriller with commercial elements, while its storyline remains closely guarded.The Pongal 2027 window is already attracting major releases from Tamil and Telugu cinema, making Dharman’s arrival particularly significant. Ashwath Marimuthu recently shared updates from the ongoing production, including preparations for an intense action episode. With Rajinikanth headlining and Kamal Haasan backing the project, expectations surrounding Dharman continue to rise. - Veda

Superstar Joins Pongal Race

Rajinikanth Dharman Eyes Pongal 2027 Release

&nbsp;&nbsp; Actor Karthi has questioned the implementation of weekly holidays for Tamil Nadu police personnel, saying officers who work around the clock deserve adequate rest. He raised the issue at the Former Police Officers Public Welfare Trust’s 10th anniversary event in Coimbatore, highlighting the demanding nature of police duties.Karthi said police personnel continue to face difficulties despite existing provisions for weekly rest. Tamil Nadu government orders introduced compulsory weekly offs for constables and head constables in 2021, while provisions for Sub-Inspectors and Special Sub-Inspectors followed in 2022. A 2025 Madras High Court case highlighted implementation concerns.Addressing the gathering, Karthi reportedly urged the present TVK government to ensure that the promised weekly-off system reaches police personnel in practice. TVK chief Vijay had announced a Police Welfare and Working Conditions Act during the 2026 election campaign, including regulated duty hours and rotation based weekly offs for eligible personnel.Karthi also spoke about the pressures faced by police officers, including cross state operations and growing social media scrutiny. He praised their dedication and said the media should support personnel working under challenging circumstances. The actor’s comments have brought renewed attention to police welfare and the implementation of weekly rest provisions in Tamil Nadu. - Veda

Karthi Questions TN Government

Karthi Raises Police Welfare Concerns Asking Government  For Weekly Off Promise

Nani’s The Paradise has delivered a strong opening at the Telugu box office, emerging as one of his biggest theatrical openers. Trade estimates suggest the film collected around ₹50–55 crore share from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during its first four days.The film reportedly opened with more than ₹25 crore share across the Telugu states, followed by around ₹10 crore on Day 2, ₹9 crore on Day 3 and nearly ₹10 crore on Day 4. Despite the strong start, the subsequent trend has raised questions about its pace toward the reported ₹80 crore Telugu states break even target.Coming to Overseas, The Paradise sold its overseas rights for ₹17 Cr in North America and ₹5.0 Cr in the Rest of World (RoW) markets, taking the combined overseas share to ₹22 Cr. The fm has collected 30 crore gross in overseas so far with share around 15+ crores.The Paradise has also generated political discussion over Priyadarshi’s Shankaranna character, whose appearance, Telangana dialect and mannerisms have been widely compared with former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. For distributors, the immediate focus remains sustained weekday collections and whether The Paradise can approach its reported break even requirement. - Veda &nbsp;

Despite Strong Opening Weekend The Paradise Needs Longway To Go

Political Debate Adds Another Dimension To The Paradise 

Anumana Pakshi (2026) Movie: What's BehindRag Mayur is coming to entertain movie lovers with Anumana Pakshi. The film attracted the attention of all as it is helmed by Vimala Krishna who earlier directed the hit film DJ Tillu. Let us see what Anumana Pakshi offerd to movie lovers.Anumana Pakshi (2026) Movie: Story ReviewAnumana Pakshi story revolves around a yougnster who is suspicious of everything and anything and the happenings in his life. Sunny (Rag Maur) is suspicious of everything without any reason and this impacts his life and also that of others who comes across him.Despite his repeated attempts to avoid Varma (Prince Cecil), he fails to do so and finally the duo along with other friend Bharath (Ananya Akula) lands in Kashmir and meets his friend Ananth (Charith). Where this leads to, how it is connected to beautiful girl Kanya (Merin Philip), her father Brahmos (Brahmaji), SI Vasu (Ajay), his wife Sujata (Raasi) and others form the rest of the developments.Anumana Pakshi(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewRag Mayur plays the lead role for the first time. However he failed to make even a minimal impact on the screen. His so called comedy didnot work. As the narration progressed, he indeed tested the patience of the viewers.Merin Philip made her entry with the female lead. She got a forgettable role. It is written in a poor manner. Prince Cecil passed through the motions. Ajay got another silly character and is wasted altogether. Brahmaji fails to entertain and so too Raashi. Others like Charith, Ananya Akhula also failed to make an impression.Anumana Pakshi(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewAnuamana Pakshi story is penned by Vimal Krishna. Expectations are high as Vimal Krishna earlier came up with DJ Tillu. He tried to entertain viewers showing the happenings in the life of a person who is extremely suspicious. However he completely failed with his story, screenplay and direction.Everything turned cringe from the start. There is nothing to talk about and one gets a feeling that even serials are better and kids can write better stories. The so called humour never worked and infact turned out to be stale. There is not one engaging sequence or entertaining scene to talk about. While the first half turned out to be ridiculous, second half turned out to be atrocious.Dialogues looked outdated and out of sync. Overall, the director failed on all fronts. Sunil Kumar Nama's cinematography left a lot to be desired. Music and background score tuned by Sricharan Pakala were mediocre. Seems Chota K Prasad didnot attend to his editing. Production values are below average.Anumana Pakshi) Movie: Advantages<ul><li>None</li></ul>Anumana Pakshi Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Everyting</li></ul>Anumana Pakshi (2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Anumana Pakshi turns out to be a cringe fest hiding behing the so called comedy. The entire cast and crew failed on all fronts and the fault lies solely with the director Vimal Krishna. One gets a doubt as to whether Vimal Krishna really penned DJ Tillu story and directed it. Anumana Pakshi had no story and from then on script, screenplay and direction went missing completely. Vimal Krishna just passed time by coming up with silly scenes in the name of comedy and twists. Considering all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 1 rating for Anumana Pakshi.

 Anumana Pakshi Review

The Paradise(2026) Movie: What's BehindNani who is known for his natural performances and Srikanth Odela who teamed with Nani for his debut venture Dasara, a mass entertainer, once again came up with The Paradise. The film's songs, teaser and trailer got tremendous response and increased the curiosity levels. Nani's unique look and transformation captured the imagination of all. The film's Telangana backdrop is appealing to all. The film was released on 24 Sep 2026. The film's OTT rights have been bagged by Netflix and streaming will be after the completion of its theatrical run. Let us see what impact The Paradise made on movie lovers. &nbsp;Paradise(2026) Movie: Story Review"The Paradise" story revolves around the sect who fights for recognition even after India's Independence and where this leads to form the interesting part.Sawari sect who are oppressed in The Paradise by Shikanja Malik ( Mohan Babu) fight for recognition even after India's Independence. Did they reach their goal, what role Jadal( Babu), Sammakka (Sonali Kulakarni ), Vikram Manik ( Raghav Juyal), Subbulakshmi ( Kayadu Lohar), Biryani ( Sampoornesh Babu), MLA Shankaranna (Priyadarshi), Lawyer (Sathyaraj) form the crux of the developments.The Paradise(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewNani, who is known for doing different genre entertainers and a variety of roles, transformed himself completely for this role. His role surprises everyone. He transformed his look completely, sported long braids and also delivered dialogues in Telangana slang. He enacted breathtaking stunts and elevated the scenes with his screen presence blending it with emotions and expressions in an intense manner.Mohan Babu looked menacing in his looks and he looked extremely villainous on the screen. He got good screen presence and came up with powerful performance. His look and character is designed in a terrific manner. He delivered dialogues with ease, wreaking fear in the minds of the viewers.Raghav Juyal made his entry into Tollywood and he an okayish role. He tried to make his presence felt with his unique mannerisms but the weak character did not help the cause. Sonali Kulkarni got the all important role. Her role is pivotal to the story and she captivates all with her powerful expressions and emotions. Kayadu Lohar is ok in her role. She indulged in glamour treat that comes with silly characterisation. Priyadarshi as an MLA made an impact. Sathyaraj also played a key but small role. Sampoornesh Babu got a different role altogether and made full use of it.The Paradise(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewThe Paradise story is penned by Srikanth Odela. He tried to entertain all by highlighting the fight of the oppressed against the powerful, rich and dreaded people who wields an iron like grip. He starts the narration in an interesting manner and till the introduction of the lead actor, the intensity is maintained in a perfect manner.However, the romantic track slowed the pace of the narration and the story goes nowhere. It comes back to the track with the conflict between the hero and the villian and also the mother-son emotional bonding. The intensity reaches its peaks during the pre interval block before setting the stage for the second half.The second half continues in the same manner with protagonist and antagonist baying for each other's blood and the oppressed sect fighting for recognition. It also boils down whether they should fight for the recognition or for the survival to live another day to continue the fight. The film ends in a predictable tone with many cinematic liberties taken and missing logics hampering the realistic feel.Right after the start, one gets a feeling that something is a miss. Most of the scenes are included and shot only to give elevations. Though the start and introduction of the protagonist increase the curiosity levels, the same is not maintained in the next scenes. Kayadu Lohar's characterisation looked extremely odd and the introduction of Raghav Juyal looks absurd. The scenes of son hating mother is also not established properly. The mother's love for son should have been established in a different manner than selling herself to cure his fever. The interval episode after all the hype, looked normal.The second half picks up pace thanks to the protagonist's decision. However with the scenes turning monotonous and routine ,one cannot travel with them. The role of MLA similar to KCR generates interest. The way the Govt brands the oppressed people as terrorists smacks of logic. Same is the case with the pre climax and climax which turned out to be below average. Srikanth Odela failed as a writer and his direction turned out to be pretty average.Anirudh Ravichander came up with a thumping background score. He took the scenes to the next level with his background music. However at times, his background music turned extremely loud. He came up with two foot tapping tunes and the songs are shot in a beautiful manner. The editing of Naveen Nooli could have been better. There are many scenes that repeated and slowed the tempo of the narration. &nbsp;GK.Vishnu with his cinematography added value to the proceedings. He showed the scenes as per the story backdrop in a natural and realistic way. Dialogues are ok to an extent. Production values are good.Paradise Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Nani</li><li>Cinematography</li><li>Interval Block</li></ul>Paradise Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Predictable Elements</li><li>Cinematic Liberties</li><li>Extreme Violence</li><li>Screenplay, Direction</li></ul>The Paradise(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, The Paradise turns out to be the fight of the oppressed for recognition. Nani came up with a sincere and stunning performance. He also underwent remarkable transformation for his role. Srikanth Odela turned successful in giving mass image and elevating Nani's mass mannerism to the next level in the film. Nani showed good intensity in the mass role. He sported a new look and there ends the so-called novelty and creativity in the story. Srikanth Odela's story offered nothing new. Many such stories came earlier and except for Nani's braids, his look resembled that of Ram Charan in Peddi. Even some of the dance moves resembled the same.On top of it, though he did many stunts, many looked forced and artificial. After the intense start, Srikanth Odela turned the narration into a predictable one with romantic elements etc. Couple of scenes in the first half stand and except that , it does not offer anything new and high. He tried to elevate the mother-son sentiment but the scenes do not connect chords as they looked forced and disappeared in the intense action sequences.In his quest to take Nani's mass image to the next level, Srikanth Odela did not concentrate on the story, screenplay and direction. Story looked predictable and one gets a feeling that he drew inspiration from Peddi, Devara, KGF, Pushpa, Salaar and many others. The chapter wise narration reminds one of the successful template of Dhurandhar. In the name of emotions, most of the actors went over the top bringing in artificiality. Similarly, he has taken many cinematic liberties and logics went missing. Excessive violence and use of obscene words and dialogues did not create the required impact.Reworking on the story and script and racy screenplay would have added value to the narration. Considering all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 2.25 rating for The Paradise.

The Paradise Review

Secret Soldier(2026) Movie: What's BehindSecret Soldier directed by Akki Viswanadha Reddy attracted the attention of all, as the film which was titled earlier as China Piece landed in censor problems and went to the EBC Chairman, Ministry of External Affairs etc forcing them to undergo title change. The film is releasing on 18 Sep 2026 and let us see what the film really deals with.Secret Soldier(2026) Movie: Story ReviewSecret Soldier revolves around a youngster who inadvertently lands on the radar of the security agencies and the surprising elements that are connected to him. Indian security agencies find out that the Human Shield for their satellites have been disabled making it vulnerable to the threats of the enemy nations, Pakistan and China.Param(Kamal Kamaraju), is at his wits end and directs his team to find out who was responsible to the breach of the security system. This puts Mariyamvali (Nihal Kodhaty) on their radar. How the security breach is connected to Mariyamvali, what role his friend Prudhvi (Surya Srinivas), security agents Sarah (Harshitha Bandlamuri), Sheetal (Sireesha Nulu), Kanika Kapoor (Deeksha Panth), Bhakthal (Vamshi Nekkanti), Alina Raj (Mariyum),Ashok Mithran (Srikanth Iyengar),Inspector Ranjith Kumar (Abhishek Reddy) and others form the interesting twists.Secret Soldier(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewNihal Kodhaty performed well in his role. He showed variations in his expressions and emotions according to the situation. He made an impact with his performance on the screen.Surya Srinivas is good in the role of his friend. He evoked few laughs in his role initially and later turned into serious mode. Kamal Kamaraju came up with impactful performance.There are many other actors like Harshitha Bandlamuri, Sreesha Nulu, Kamal Kamaraju, Srikanth Iyenger, Srinivas Vadlamani, Vinod Sagar, Deeksha Panth, Raj Tirandasu, Mahesh Achanta, Vamsi Nekkanti who did justice to their roles and helped the story to move forward.Secret Soldier(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewSecret Soldier story is penned by Akki Viswanadha Reddy. He tried to excite and entertain movie lovers with the espionage thriller. He starts the narration in an interesting and exciting manner, increasing the curiosity levels. But then the friendship elements etc, diluted the intensity and slowed the tempo. The introduction of numerous characters &nbsp;ended up in confusing the viewers. The screenplay turned convoluted with so many characters appearing in no time. The first half ends on a decent note setting the stage for the second half.The second half treads in a similar fashion and after few twists, the film ends in a predictable way. The Illogical scenes and convenient screenplay brought down the intensity levels.The Cinematography of Suresh Ragutu gave the film a rich feel. The screens looked realistic and natural and he used the camera angles and colour combinations to give a believable feel to the proceedings.Karthik Rodriguez's background music elevated the scenes to the next level making viewers glued to the screen. He made an impact with his background music increasing the intensity levels.The editing of Marthad K Venkatesh could have been far better. There are many scenes that turned repetitive and slowed the pace of the narration. Dialogues are adequate and production values are rich.Secret Soldier Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Interesting Premise</li><li>Cinematography</li><li>BGM</li></ul>Secret Soldier Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Screenplay</li><li>Confusing Elements</li></ul>Secret Soldier(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Secret Soldier turns out to be a decent spy thriller. Director Akki Viswanadha Reddy came up with an interesting Premise. However, inclusion of numerous characters, illogical scenes, confusing and convoluted Screenplay undid all his good intentions.Reducing the number of characters, doing away with technological jargons, more detailed narration with racy screenplay would have added more fire power. Considering all these elements, Cinejosh goes with a 1.5 rating to Secret Soldier.

Secret Soldier Review

Happy Journey(2026) Movie: What's BehindHappy Journey directed by Abhiramm Naidu is releasing on 18 Sep 2026. Let us see whether Happy Journey gave happy moments to movie lovers in theatres or not.Happy Journey(2026) Movie: Story ReviewHappy Journey story revolves around group of women from different agegroups going on a trip and the experiences and how it changes their outlook. Savitri (Annapurna), Minister's wife Chamundeswari (Aamani), Nayana (Jinisha Alishetty), Srilatha (Jhansi), her daughter Tanvi (Payal Radhakrishna), Vihana (Roopa Srinivas), Divya (Sunaina Yella) happens to be a part of a free trip to France.How they become part of the free trip, what role travel company organisers Govind (Vamsidhar Goud), Apparao (Ravi Sivateja) played, how the free trip impacts their lives, how it is connected to Tanvi's would be Nikhil (Pruthvi) and others, how they deal with the changes that bring in their lives form the interesting part.Happy Journey(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewAnnapurna who played different roles this time entertained with her lively performance and surprises all donning modern outfits. One should commend her for doing such a bubbly , lively and energetic role at this age. She stands out with her performance in the film. Aamani is good in the role of the minister's wife. Jhanvi evoked few laughs in the role of a miser woman. She also emoted well during the climax. Payal Radhakrishna, Jinisha Alishetty, Roopa Srinivas and Sunaina performed according to their roles. Sunaina however at times became over the board and over dramatic. Vamsidhar Goud and Ravi Siva Teja entertained with their humour to some extent. Muralidhar Goud, Pruthvi Dandamudi and others did justice to their roles.Happy Journey(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewHappy Journey story is penned by Abhiramm Naidu. He tried to highlight the experiences and problems in the lives of women of different age groups in an entertaining manner. He starts the narration with the introduction of various female characters and then setting them on a France trip. The entire first half sails through in an entertaining and hilarious manner ending on a interesting emotional twist, setting the stage for the second half.Emotions takes the center stage in the second half with few comedy scenes in-between. The emotions of various female characters are highlighted. However, seeing those scenes on the screen, one gets a feeling that the director got stuck up with the 80s problems and melodrama associated with them. But for all his hard work to pierce the hearts of the viewers with emotional scenes pertaining to men and women, misfired completely. The climax emotional scene turned out to be over dramatic and missed the basic emotions. Once the film ends, viewers will heave a sigh of relief after all the emotional torture. The screenplay resembles that of many old films of the 80s and 90s.Subramaniyan Manigandan turned the scenes colorful with his cinematography. He showed the locations of France in a beautiful and visually appealing manner on the screen. &nbsp;Shekar Chandra's songs turned out to be average. However he elevated the scenes with his background music. Editing of Chota K Prasad is ok but could have been better as there are scenes that impacted the pace of the narration. Dialogues are ok. Production values are decent.Happy Journey Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Annapurna</li><li>Few Hilarious Scenes</li><li>Cinematography</li></ul>Happy Journey Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Routine Story</li><li>Overdramatic, Artificial Emotions</li></ul>Happy Journey(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Happy Journey turns out to be routine hilarious entertainer. Director Abhiramm Naidu's story offered nothing new. Though the story turned out to be routine, he ensured that there are many scenes to entertain viewers. He not only tried to entertain viewers with the female actors but also in the end tried to showcase their problems to connect chords with the viewers emotionally. Doing away with over dramatic scenes, toning down the emotions and more entertaining elements and racy screenplay would have added more punch to the final result. Considering all these elements Cinejosh goes with a 2 rating for Happy Journey. &nbsp;

Happy Journey Review

Missing Meghana(2026) Movie: What's BehindRam Karthik, Ammu Abhirami's Missing Meghana directed by Vachaspathy is releasing on 18 Sep 2026. Let us see whether Missing Meghana thrilled movie lovers or not.Missing Meghana(2026) Movie: Story ReviewMissing Meghana story revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a young girl and the incidents that unfold right after that. One fateful day a young girl Meghana (Ammu Abhirami) disappears mysteriously. How she disappeared, what the are circumstances that led to her disappearance, how it is connected to her father Srinivasa Rao (Goparaju Ramana), her fiancé, ACP Arjun (Kaushik), bike rider Karthik (Ram Karthik), Aadya (Vaidkaa Senjaliya), form the twist in the tale.Missing Meghana(2026) Movie: Artists ReviewAmmu Abhirami is good her role. She got limited screen presence and looked cute on the screen. Kaushik is ok in the role of the aggressive cop. Ram Karthik played the role of the youngster who experiences love failure and then getting closer to another girl. He also enacted stunts in the climax.Ankit Koyya is fine in his role. Goparaju Ramana is ok in the role of the father, which is tailor-made for him. Others like Vempa Kasi, Mahipal, Ruchita, Nalini, Srinivas, Shani, Pandu performed according to their roles.Missing Meghana(2026) Movie: Technicians ReviewMissing Meghana story is penned by Vachaspathy. He tried to thrill viewers with a thriller. He starts the narration diving into the main point of the missing girl and then the investigation that follows subsequently. The first half proceeds with the conflict between two cops and the revelation about Meghana and the interrogation of the suspects. The first half ends on an interesting note with few surprising revelations setting the tone for the second half.The second half goes further into murders and drugs etc. The first half included a song to highlight the father-daughter sentiment but it failed to generated the required emotions. The song placement looked odd and out of sync. They could have easily done away with the song.The main villian revelation did not excite anyone as the director failed to keep the viewers engaged with the suspense till the end. Viewers can easily guess the villian even before the end of the first half thus diluting the intensity levels in the second half. Many such films came earlier and the narration dragged with the routine breakup story of Karthik testing the patience of the viewers. The interval twist turns out to be decent and the second half turns little racy. But the predictable elements robbed the viewers of the excitement.Though few scenes in the runup to the finding of Meghana looked good, the weak villian turned out to be the main drawback. The climax ends on a routine note with an action sequence. There are many routine and predictable scenes in the second half as the narration proceeds towards the climax.The cinematography of Sam K Naidu is good. He showed the visuals in an appealing manner. However in few scenes, the color grading &nbsp;is not done at all robbing the viewers of the seamless experience on the screen. RR.Dhruvan's background music failed to make an impact. It is not in sync with the storyline. Re recording and mixing also turned out to be below average. However, the songs he tuned are good and shot well. Basava's editing left a lot to be desired. There are many repetitive scenes and he could have done away with one song completely and also many scenes especially in the first half. Production values are good.Missing Meghana Movie: Advantages<ul><li>Interesting Point</li><li>Few Scenes</li></ul>Missing Meghana Movie: Disadvantages<ul><li>Predictable Elements</li><li>Weak Villian</li></ul>Missing Meghana(2026) Movie: Rating AnalysisAltogether, Missing Meghana turns out to be another run of the mill crime thriller. Director Vachaspathy came up with an interesting point but he failed in his execution. Many predictable elements, repetitive scenes, dragged narration, weak villain ended up testing the patience of the viewers. Little finetuning of the script, racy screenplay, interesting twists, doing away with monotony would have added more substance to the final output. Considering all these aspects, Cinejosh goes with a 1.25 rating for Missing Meghana.

Missing Meghana Review

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

Super Star Rajinikanth's Jailer 2 directed by Nelson Dilip Kumar is slated for a grand released on 15 October 2026 as Dasara special. As usual the makers are planning to request the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a price hike ahead of its release.However, many say that this will draw flak from everyone. A distributor says “Better avoid a ticket hike for a dubbed film. The negative response to the ticket prices for Yash’s Toxic helped Irumudi make more money, as Telugu audiences were upset with the hike and seemingly responded by avoiding the film,”The distributor questioned “When Rajinikanth is being offered at around Rs 180 in Tamil Nadu, why should Telugu audiences pay Rs 400 to Rs 500? It amounts to taking advantage of the Telugu audience, who have traditionally supported films across industries,”He urged “This should be a lesson for Telugu distributors. Instead of increasing ticket prices in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, they should leave some money in the pockets of audiences, especially during the festive season in October,”He continued “No other state follows this practice in the same way. We should also avoid it,”---- Pramod Nandivada

Jailer 2 ticket hike in Telugu states to draw flak