Cast: Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Radhika Sarathkumar, Priyamani, Prakash Raj, Murli Sharma, Rao Ramesh, Nassar Crew:  Written by Sai Madhav Burra, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar  Cinematography by AM Edwin Sekay Music by S. Thaman Editing by Venkat Rajan Directed by Varalaxmi Sarathkumar  Produced by Pooja Sarathkumar, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar  After commanding roles in Telugu films like Krack, Naandhi and Veera Simha Reddy, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar now takes center stage in S. Saraswathi. Known for her ability to balance grit with grace, she steps into a character that demands both vulnerability and strength. The film positions her at the heart of a narrative where personal battles intertwine with social currents. But does Saraswathi succeed in capturing this balance? Let’s find out in the review.  Plot: Lakshmi (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar) arrives at Vidya Public School to pick up her twelve year old daughter Saraswathi, only to be told there is no record of the child ever studying there. Shocked and desperate, the school principal turns to Police Officer Uma Maheshwara (Rao Ramesh), who begins investigating. His search through the school and even a cremation ground yields nothing, no admission records, no trace of a body.  Lakshmi refuses to accept that her daughter is a figment of her imagination. Her anguish grows until she meets Lawyer Ramanujam (Prakash Raj), who believes her story and decides to stand by her. Together, they confront a web of denial and mystery, determined to uncover the truth. The question remains, can they prove Saraswathi’s existence and secure justice or will the child remain lost in shadows? Analysis: Saraswathi sets out to revive the missing‑child thriller format, aiming for emotional depth but faltering in execution. The narrative borrows familiar beats from earlier films but struggles to weave them into compelling situations. Instead of building tension, the story drifts between mismatched ideas: one rooted in suspense, another in trauma, without a strong core to hold them together. What could have been a gripping mystery collapses under unnecessary diversions, including forced romance, uninspired songs and lapses in logic that weaken the eventual reveal.  coming to performances, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar shoulders the lead role with maturity, investing sincerity into Lakshmi’s desperation. Priyamani and Kishore add weight in their flashback portions, briefly grounding the drama. Prakash Raj, Nassar, Rao Ramesh, Srikanth Iyengar and Sapthagiri tries to lift the film, but uneven writing and scattered focus keep the performances from resonating.  Thaman’s background score attempts to mirror Lakshmi’s emotional journey, shifting from subtle tension to explosive crescendos. But much of it feels familiar, with songs poorly integrated and leaving a sense of deja vu. A.M. Edwin Sakay’s cinematography leans into gritty realism, using tight frames and shadowed spaces to capture the protagonist’s desperation, but the visual language sometimes slips into repetition.  Editing by Venkat Raajen proves uneven the first half rushes present moments that needed breathing space, while the second half fails to let trauma settle. The courtroom sequences are cut with urgency completely miscalculating the dramatic weight. The technical team strives for intensity, but the imbalance between writing, visuals and editing keeps the film from achieving the sharpness it aims for.  Positivies:  Core idea Varalaxmi Sarathkumar’s performance  S Thaman Score Negatives:  Over‑dramatic, dragged episodes Logical fallacies Uneven editing Repetitive scenes Bottomline: Saraswathi wastes potential with sloppy execution. Rating: 2.5/5  Disclaimer: The views/opinions expressed in this review are personal views/opinions shared by the writer and organisation does not hold a liability to them. Viewers' discretion is advised before reacting to them.  

  Cast: Sree Vishnu, Reba Monica John, Raccha Ravi, Sijju Crew:  Music by Kaala Bhairava Editing by A. Sreekar Prasad Cinematography by Vidyasagar Chinta Written and Directed by Hussain Sha Kiran Produced by Vinay Chilakapati, Sandeep Gunnam After an entertainer like Vishnu Vinyasam last weekend, Sree Vishnu steps away from his familiar boy-next-door charm and ventures into darker terrain with Mrithyunjay. This crime thriller not only reunites him with Reba Monica John after the successful Samajavaragamana but also reshapes their dynamic, trading playful ease for layered intensity. But does the film succeed in the same way as their earlier collaboration? Let’s find out in the review. Plot:  Jay (Sree Vishnu) has an eidetic memory and a chameleon like ability to adapt, changing colors to ensure his targets are achieved in his job at a news agency. He always aspires to become a crime reporter at Swecha News. One day, he comes across the murder of Achyuth (Bala Aditya) and encounters a girl named Anjali.  It is in her that he sees a reflection of himself, prompting him to search for clues. With those clues, Jay tries to meet ACP Seetha (Reba), but she never gives him a proper opportunity to prove himself. That’s when the perfect killer Saadhu (Veer Aryan), crosses paths with Jay. What follows is a gripping cat-and-mouse game between them. Analysis:  Sree Vishnu steps away from his familiar charm and embraces a darker, restrained intensity. His silence carries weight and his gaze conveys conviction, but the character never fully finds its emotional core or clarity of purpose.. Despite his effort to bring freshness, the portrayal feels incomplete. Reba Monica John’s presence is crucial but her role suffers from a weak character arc that limits emotional impact.  She has the potential to balance Vishnu’s stoicism, but the director fails to build the layered dynamic between them, leaving her performance underutilized. Veer Aryan, on the other hand, is strikingly effective and precise as the killer, he delivers one of the film’s strongest turns. The supporting cast, including Sudharshan, Chinna and Racha Ravi, provide adequate contributions, though they remain secondary to the central conflict. Hussain Sha Kiran’s direction shows ambition but struggles with execution. After an average debut, he attempts to reinvent himself through a procedural crime drama, borrowing stylistic cues from Asian thrillers. The idea of truth as liberation is compelling, but the writing lacks the emotional depth needed to make the struggle resonate. Instead of building strong character cores, the narrative often takes convenient detours, softening the impact of its central theme.  On the visual front, Kiran crafts a neo-noir mood, balancing cold detachment with fiery obsession. The clash of muted blues and vivid reds mirrors the character's inner turmoil, caught between commitment and desire. This aesthetic choice gives the film a striking identity, though it cannot fully mask the gaps in storytelling. Kaala Bhairava’s score adds an unsettling edge, weaving minimal, haunting notes that build tension without overpowering the narrative. Vidhya Sagar Chinta’s cinematography embraces shadows and stark contrasts, shaping a noir inspired visual language that fits the crime thriller mood. Editing, however, becomes the film’s weakest link. A Sreekar Prasad’s attempt to tighten the narrative leaves several threads unresolved, with transitions that feel abrupt and episodes stitched together in disarray. Positives:  Tight runtime  Engaging storyline  Sree Vishnu’s performance  Kaala Bhairava’s score Negatives: Weak Reba–Vishnu episodes Inconsistent editing pattern Few  Loose ends in writing Bottomline:  Thriller fans may enjoy its tension despite  flaws in execution. Rating: 2.75/5  Disclaimer: The views/opinions expressed in this review are personal views/opinions shared by the writer and organisation does not hold a liability to them. Viewers' discretion is advised before reacting to them.

The team of D/O Prasad Rao Kanabadutaledhu, streaming on ZEE5, celebrated the remarkable success of the series with a grand success meet after it crossed 100 million streaming minutes within just one week of release. The emotionally charged series, directed by Poluru Krishna and produced by K. V. Sriram, has struck a chord with audiences for its intense performances and strong emotional core. The event brought together the cast and crew who shared their experiences and gratitude for the overwhelming response. Cinematographer K. Mahesh Kumar expressed his happiness about the reception and the collaboration behind the project. He said, “Good morning everyone. I’m really happy today. This is a hat-trick for producer Sriram and director Krishna, and I’m happy to be part of that hat-trick. Special thanks to Jayanth and all the artists who have been very supportive during the work. Thank you.” Actor Raag Satya became emotional while addressing the gathering and recalled predicting the success of the series during the pre-release event itself. Reflecting on the response from audiences, he said, “Hello everyone, a warm welcome to everyone especially the media. I fixed it at the pre-release event itself that there shall be a success meet and that day has arrived. I’m enjoying this success wholeheartedly. It released on Feb 27 and since that day from around 10 AM I’ve been getting continuous calls. Everyone has been praising it. Even I was unable to watch the episodes properly because the calls were so continuous. They specifically mentioned a couple of scenes that made them cry. One such scene is me controlling Bindu Chandramouli garu. My own sister connected to that scene a lot and became very emotional. I didn’t do it alone, the director made me do it. We actors are just like water — whatever vessel we are put into, the shape is decided by the director. Thank you Krishna. I and Sriram share nearly a 20-year relationship. We met during a shoot and since then we have stayed connected. A special thanks to the ZEE5 team, Jayanth and Anuradha garu*. *Rajeev Kanakala* was so good that he reminded me of my own father and I truly felt Vasanthika was like my own daughter-in-law.” Actor Dr. Prasad Rao spoke about how widely the series has resonated with viewers. “I will not be surprised if the ongoing success of this compels you to edit the series as a feature film. Today when I went to the bank on some work, the staff there spoke vividly about the series and how engaging it was and some even started identifying me because of it. The cinematographer did an amazing job and his combination with the director was excellent. It was really great working with Udaya Bhanu garu and Rajeev Kanakala.” Actor Koteswara Rao praised director Poluru Krishna for maintaining strong quality in the project. “Hello all. First of all a big thanks to the team because of whom we are standing here today. I’ve been working with Krishna from the series Recce. He is incredible at enhancing the quality of the project regardless of the budget. DOP Mahesh is also on the same wavelength as the director. Since COVID the audience’s taste has changed and they are looking for genuine entertainment. Director Krishna did a great job regarding that and the reason for the success of this series is that it feels genuine.” Actress Bindu Chandramouli spoke warmly about the experience of working on the project. “Hello all, we are lucky to be part of this web series. Thank you Krishna for choosing me. He has so much clarity of thought and making and that clarity really reflected when I saw the series. He is really a brilliant director. Vasanthika and I share a genuine bond and that reflected on the screen. Thank you sweetheart, she is a beautiful actress. Rajeev Kanakala sir was amazing. It looks like Krishna sir reminded everyone about the acting capacity of Rajeev sir through this series. Even we felt like someone had written something like this for us to perform. Udaya Bhanu garu was excellent and thanks to Sriram garu for being such a supportive producer. A special thanks to ZEE5 and Jayanth garu. They always encourage brilliant and versatile scripts. I’m glad to be part of such a thrilling and thought-provoking series that carries an important message.”   Actress Vasanthika thanked the media and audiences for supporting the series from the beginning and spoke about the relevance of its message. “First of all thanks to the media for gracing the event today and being very supportive since day one. I’m very happy about the responses and praises that have been flooding in. This series has a very important message and it is not restricted to anyone or two people. It is for everyone including parents and it addresses real issues that every family faces today. A special thanks to director Krishna garu for choosing me for this role and series. All the appreciation I get is because of Krishna garu. Thanks to Mahesh garu for showing me so well on screen. Rajeev garu has been immensely inspiring with his performance and our dynamic lady superstar *Udaya Bhanu garu* — I wish someday I become as brave as her. Special thanks to my producer and ZEE5. ZEE5 has become more like home to me and this has been a golden opportunity for my career.” Jayanth Raghavan, Head of Telugu Content at ZEE5, described the current phase as particularly exciting. “2026 ZEE5 journey is something else and we are calling it Fantastic February. The dance show Aata is doing great numbers on our platform and now D/O Prasad Rao Kanabadutaledhu has also joined that success. The title says Kanabadutaledhu but the series will be seen for a very long time. Its aesthetics and technical values stand out. Success today is not easy but family content never lets audiences down and we at ZEE5 will continue bringing such content.” Director Poluru Krishna thanked the media and the platform for supporting the project. “Special thanks to the media who came here today. You have taken the series so much closer to the audience and played a key role in this success. I should first thank *Jayanth* and *Anuradha garu* because of whom the project took this shape and then my producer *Sriram* who gave me so much freedom while working. In many calls I received people spoke less about me and more about Rajeev sir. He did a great job. Udaya Bhanu garu was very cooperative. Bindu Chandramouli garu* was phenomenal and everyone emoted during the shoot itself. Vasanthika’s reaction after the narration showed how enthusiastic she was for the role. A special thanks to Prabhakar and Kondal Rao who worked with me for the story and especially Siddhu and Kiranmayi who are the reason the background score came out so well.” Producer K. V. Sriram spoke about the emotional theme of the series and the father-child relationship at its core. “There might be a communication gap with parents but the connection is always there. Mothers may feel more friendly but fathers maintain a certain discipline and stature. That emotional gap can create issues and this series explores that space. It is about the protectiveness of a father towards his children and we felt it was important to show that sense of security for this generation. Krishna and I share a relationship of nearly twenty years and the success of this project is really a triangular success between Krishna, me and ZEE5.” Actress Udaya Bhanu said the response to the series brought her immense happiness. “Hello everyone, hope you all are doing well and we are all on cloud nine. When your work speaks you don’t need many words. My speech today is only gratitude. The happiness I’m feeling after this success has come after a very long time. Everyone gave 100% to this project but there was always a doubt whether it would reach the audience. Once it released I started receiving beautiful messages from everywhere and it made me very happy reading them. I’m indebted to Sriram for casting me and thank you director sir. My role is powerful and empathetic and everyone did a great job. It has been a long time since I worked with *Rajeev* and he is such a great actor.”   Actor Rajeev Kanakala thanked the media and praised his co-actors while reflecting on the emotional impact of the series. “First thanks to the media for coming here today and everyone standing here did great work. I want to specially thank the media for their wonderful reviews. They were quite boosting for all of us. I must speak about Bindu Chandramouli. It’s not easy to do emotional scenes. Her 11-year-old son passed away six months ago and regardless of that she showed up to work and delivered a great performance. Vasanthika was excellent. You can see the pressure of Swathi in her walk itself. It shows a very mature performance at such a young age. It has been a long time since I worked with Udaya Bhanu, maybe after 20–25 years. I was initially doubtful since she is known for funky roles but she really aced such a serious role and her monologue was very impactful. The final emotional moment was really touching. I cried a lot and realized that even I should loosen up and be more friendly with my kids.”   Q & A Session   Q. How was it for you while watching the series not just as an actor but also as a father?* Rajeev Kanakala: “I was into the character from my first shot itself. That’s not me. The director made sure it was not Rajeev but Prasad Rao. The final emotional moment was really touching. I cried a lot and also realized that even I should loosen up and be more friendly with my kids.” Q. Earlier you mentioned bringing your kids to the shoot. What was their reaction while watching the series? Udaya Bhanu: “We enjoyed a lot. Even after finishing the series we spoke for more than six hours and kept discussing it. My friends and acquaintances kept calling me and my kids were guessing what would happen in each episode. By the end of it even my husband and I became conscious of the message from the series and I’m very happy to be part of it.” Q. Everyone is speaking about the final episode and many say it feels like a one-man show. How did you feel about it during narration?* Rajeev Kanakala: “I was excited during the narration itself and I knew how powerful the finale would be. Even though the sequence is only two or three minutes the director took an entire day to shoot it because he was very keen about the details and that is why it had such a strong impact.” D/O Prasad Rao Kanabadutaledhu is an emotionally charged drama that explores the complex relationship between a father and his daughter, weaving themes of protection, misunderstanding, and the emotional distance that can sometimes grow within families.    Disclaimer: The news article is written based on information shared by various sources. The organisation is not responsible for the factual nature of them. While we do try to do thorough research at times people could misguide. So, we would encourage viewers' discretion before reacting to them.

Sree Vishnu, widely regarded as the King of Entertainment, continues to demonstrate his growing box office potential. He has built immense confidence among audiences through his diverse script choices and consistent delivery of high-quality entertainers. Proving this trust once again, his latest release, Vishnu Vinyasam, has successfully outperformed all trade expectations. The film's theatrical run began with mixed reports during the early morning shows. However, the box office trajectory quickly shifted by the evening and night shows as family audiences flocked to the theaters. Despite the initial underwhelming word-of-mouth, viewers chose to rely on their trusted star, seeking the spectacular cinematic experience Sree Vishnu is known to deliver. Defying early trade predictions, the movie collected a solid gross of over Rs. 19.2 crores worldwide in just six days, successfully achieving its breakeven target across all territories. Audiences were thoroughly impressed by Sree Vishnu's effortless comic timing and ease in dialogue delivery. His engaging chemistry with leading lady Nayan Sarika, along with comedian Satya's hilarious performance, served as major crowd-pullers. Directed by Yadunaath Maruthi Rao and produced by Sumanth G Naidu, the remarkable commercial recovery of Vishnu Vinyasam firmly establishes Sree Vishnu's impeccable star power. Riding high on this box office triumph, the actor is now gearing up for the release of his next project, Mrityunjay, hitting screens tomorrow.   Disclaimer: The news article is written based on information shared by various sources. The organisation is not responsible for the factual nature of them. While we do try to do thorough research at times people could misguide. So, we would encourage viewers' discretion before reacting to them.