Naveen Polishetty is effective in light-hearted roles and once again livens up the screen with his swag and humour. However, even his charm cannot salvage the weak story, especially as the second half drags. Meenakshi Chaudhary looks pretty and performs adequately. Rao Ramesh, Chamak Chandra, and Goparaju are passable in their roles. Director Maari handles the proceedings competently, but Naveen, who also penned the script and screenplay, should have opted for a fresher, new-age storyline instead of rehashing themes reminiscent of old Rajendra Prasad films AA Okkati Adakku. The result is a disappointing entertainer that fails to rise above clichés.
Though narrated in a comic tone, the film fails to remain engaging. Several jokes fall flat, while a few sequences test the audience’s patience. Director Kishore Tirumala opts for the beaten-to-death “husband, wife and other woman” template but offers nothing new. The idea of a protagonist justifying two women in his life has been explored repeatedly in Telugu cinema, and this film adds no fresh perspective. Ravi Teja manages to evoke a few laughs and does reasonably well in romantic scenes, but even his efforts cannot salvage the clichéd narrative. Films like Intlo Illalu Vantintlo Priyuralu, Aavida Maa Aavide, and Sankranthiki Vasthunam have already explored similar plots, leading to an unavoidable sense of déjà vu that mars the experience.
The protagonist’s dedication to the cause and bravery in the face of British brutality make for a gripping narrative. The climax is particularly impactful, showcasing Neera's defining moment and leaving audiences to witness her fate on screen. While Iyer as a director is meticulous, her performance as Neera Arya shines through, showcasing her strength and vulnerability. She puts up a very elegant performance, self-assured in putting forth the layered and inspiring story. The rest of the cast also delivers outstanding performances. Shreyas Talpade is phenomenal as Netaji, bringing authenticity and conviction to the role. Indira Tiwari and Dr. Subhash Chandra also impress, adding depth to the narrative. The supporting cast, including Suresh Oberoi and Priyanshu Chatterjee, contributes to the film's emotional impact.
While the premise appears quirky and offers scope for an entertaining family fantasy, the film collapses under outdated writing, forced comedy, and amateurish narration.
While the intent is refreshing, the execution sadly remains colourless and uninspiring. Prabhas woos pretty girls, dances with damsels, and even falls in love with a nun to showcase his romantic and comic side. His task in this fictional thriller is unique—he battles evil ghosts—but a dreary screenplay and deadpan humour dilute his efforts. The suspension-of-disbelief narrative offers little excitement, despite a few novel ideas. Casting three heroines opposite Prabhas turns out to be an overdose. Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, and Riddhi Kumar are reduced to glamour props, with poorly etched roles that add nothing beyond visual appeal. Their presence, instead of enhancing the horror-comedy quotient, takes the sting out of it.
Vijay Deverakonda steps away from his romantic hero image in Kingdom, taking on the role of a hot-headed constable in a bold attempt at reinvention. He transforms physically—sporting a shaved head—and delivers a restrained performance. However, even his committed portrayal can’t salvage a film bogged down by an implausible plot and scattered execution. Set against the backdrop of Telugu tribals turned fishermen being enslaved on a remote Sri Lankan island, the story stretches credibility at every turn. Vijay’s undercover mission to outwit the Sri Lankan army and retrieve hidden gold feels detached from reality. The idea of a few smugglers taking on military force on foreign soil is hard to digest and weakens the film’s dramatic stakes and heroism goes for a toss.
BVS Prakash of Deccan Chronicle gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote that "L2: Empuraan struggles to match the impact of its predecessor but remains an intriguing watch for fans of Lucifer".
While the premise has potential for a gripping sibling-centric thriller, it’s squandered by bland storytelling and dated tropes. The plot point of threatening the families of honest officers to force them to sign doctored reports feels as old as the hills. The attempt to inject Kantara-like forest mystique into a routine commercial drama also feels forced and ultimately irrelevant.
BVS Prakash of Deccan Chronicle gave 2/5 stars and wrote "After a flop like Liger, noted director Puri Jagannadh returns with Double iSmart, but the sci-fi plot he has chosen is not exciting enough."
BVS Prakash of Deccan Chronicle gave it one-and-a-half out of five stars and noted that "Initially, the hero is pitted against a gangster who wants to usurp his garage and then he is pushed into an online scam and he flexes his muscles too".
Barring a few laughs and eerie moments, the much-hyped horror comedy ‘Om Bheem Bush’ falls flat due to insipid jokes and outdated plot. Agreed that it is meant to tickle the funny bones of the audience and the makers kept claiming that there is ‘no logic, only magic’ but it is bereft of any magic. Because it is just another clichéd ghost story of a haunted mansion and three youngsters entering it to discover some treasure, risking their lives. If director Sree Harsha intended to do a spoof on films like ‘Chandramukhi’ and ‘Raju Gari Gadhi’, then it would have been interesting , rather he uses a Malayalam speaking ghost (Sampangi) who looks awful and keeps chasing people to terrify them and generates unique sounds.
BVS Prakash of Deccan Chronicle gave 2/5 stars and wrote, "it turns out to be disappointing fare due to wafer-thin plot and dreary narration and eventually, the much-hyped action film goes for a toss, although it has its share of good moments."
BVS Prakash of Deccan Chronicle gave two out of five and wrote "Siddhu Jonnalagadda is back in his elements and evokes enough fun with his comic-punchlines and unique mannerisms, but it is not enough to pull off a 2 and half hour film that rides on an impossible mission".
The major problem lies with the story by Anhata Menon, Umesh Padalkar, and Sidharth Sengupta. It’s too weak, oversimplistic, and largely conforms to the stereotypical portrayal of tribals. It paints a world that is black and white. Tribals are shown wearing sac-like clothes, speaking a perfectly and easily comprehensible dialect of Hindi, are expert archers, and are pros in their understanding of medicinal flora and fauna to the extent that they can treat cancer which even modern medicines cannot. It’s too superficial and no effort has been done to even scratch this surface. Hence neither the screenplay nor the dialogues can do much to elevate this mundane material. The direction largely conforms to the usual revenge drama wherein the hero wants to avenge his father’s killing at any cost.
