‘Telusu Kada’ Movie Review

‘Telusu Kada’ Movie Review

Actors: Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Raashi Khanna, Srinidhi Shetty, Harsha Chemudu, Rohini, Sanjay Swaroop and others

Music: Thaman

Cinematography: Gnanasekhar

Producers: TG Vishwa Prasad- Krithi Prasad

Written-Directed by: Neeraja Kona

Starting with small roles, young actor Siddu Jonnalagadda became very popular with films like Krishna and His Leela, DJ Tillu, and Tillu Square. In between, he faced a setback with Jack, but he bounced back and returned to his zone with the film Telusu Kada. Neeraj Kona, who has worked as a stylist on many films, made her directorial debut with this movie. Starring Siddu Jonnalagadda and Raashi Khanna, the film released today as a special Diwali treat. Let’s take a look at what it offers.

Story:

Varun (Siddu Jonnalagadda) is an orphan. Losing his parents at a young age didn’t stop him, he works hard to build a good life for himself. His dream is simple: to marry a nice girl, have children, and start his own family. But things don’t go smoothly. His love, Raaga (Srinidhi Shetty), doesn’t understand him and eventually leaves. After some time, Varun meets Anjali (Raashi Khanna) through a matrimony setup. They connect well and get married. However, problems start to come between Varun and Anjali. Surprisingly, it is through Anjali that Raaga comes back into Varun’s life. The big questions now are: what is the problem between Varun and Anjali, and how does Raaga’s return change Varun’s life?

Analysis:

In Telusu Kada, a boy and a girl are having a conversation about marriage. Their interests seem to align, and everything appears to be going well. But then the boy says, “I feel a little uncomfortable… I’ll go.” What he really means is, “When I see your smile, I get distracted. It’s hard to make a decision.” The girl responds, “I think you’re flirting, but I’m confused.” Scenes like this show how well the film presents small emotional moments.

The problem is, the film mostly relies on conversations. There are fewer than ten characters throughout the two-and-a-half-hour movie. For a large part, only four characters appear, talking and interacting. The dialogues are interesting and mature, and the scenes feel real. But because the film moves forward almost entirely through discussions, it can feel repetitive and heavy at times. Telusu Kada is a good, thoughtful film, but it’s not for everyone. Those expecting pure entertainment may struggle, while viewers who watch with patience may enjoy it a lot.

Siddu Jonnalagadda gave us a cult hit on modern relationships with Krishna and His Leela, and Telusu Kada feels like a spinoff of that. Like in Krishna and His Leela, relationships take center stage. The story has interesting twists, but the constant conversations make parts of the film feel slow. The characters represent different perspectives of today’s generation, a boy focused on marriage, a girl who doesn’t believe in it, and another who sees separation as a solution. The story gets more interesting when the boy starts a new relationship, and the first girl comes back. A dialogue, “I will always make you the mother of my child,” becomes important later, and that twist makes Telusu Kada unique.

The first half balances present-day love and the past story well. But the second half slows down. Some scenes feel forced, and the hero’s character comes across as overly mature or over-smart. Watching only three characters talk endlessly can get tedious. Still, in the final half hour, the film picks up again. Neeraja Kona directs the climax with strong dialogues and emotion, and Siddu Jonnalagadda delivers a standout performance. Overall, Telusu Kada may not appeal to everyone, but its mature characters, deep conversations, and thoughtful storytelling will likely impress a section of the audience. It may not be a commercial blockbuster, but it’s rich in content.

Performances:

Siddu Jonnalagadda, who didn’t get much attention with Jack, is back in his element. He plays Varun, a guy who has his life figured out but still behaves a bit typically at times. Siddu owns the role well, especially with his dialogue delivery and overall performance. His work as Varun reminds you a little of his charm in Krishna and His Leela.

Raashi Khanna looks attractive and carries the role of Anjali with grace. Srinidhi Shetty does a decent job as Raaga; her performance is fine even if her looks aren’t highlighted much. Harsha Chemudu stands out as the hero’s friend. Even though it’s a standard friend role, he brings a certain uniqueness to it. As for Sanjay Swaroop, Rohini, and the rest of the cast, they’re mostly ordinary and don’t leave much of an impression.

Technicians:

Technically, the film is strong. Thaman’s music is a big highlight, with pleasant songs and a solid background score. Mallika Gandha track is impressive. Gnanasekhar’s cinematography is colorful and visually appealing, and the production values don’t feel compromised.

Writer-director Neeraj Kona took a risk with this debut, choosing a trendy subject instead of playing it safe. She handles the story with maturity and the dialogues are impressive throughout.

That said, the film relies heavily on conversations. It might have worked better if some dialogues were trimmed and the visuals or story twists were given more weight. A slightly more commercial touch could have made it easier for general audiences to connect with.

Verdict: Telusu Kadha.. Bit fun.. Bit uneasy!

Rating: 2.5