Movie Name : Mahendragiri Varahi
Release Date : September 11, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Sumanth, Meenakshi Goswami, Aishwarya Rajesh, Siddu Jonnalagadda, Malvika Nair, Manju Bhargavi, Brahmanandam, Rajeev Kanakala, Vennela Kishore, Vamsee Chaganti, Kamal Kamaraju, Srinivas Vadlamani & others
Director : Santhosh Jagarlapudi
Producers : Madhu Kalipu, Laxman
Music Director : Anup Rubens
Cinematographer : Pratap R Krishna
Editor : Junaid Siddiqui
Related Links : Trailer
Sumanth has now come up with the mystery thriller Mahendragiri Varahi. The movie directed by Santhossh Jagarlapudi features Siddhu Jonnalagadda in a cameo. Let’s see how the film is
Story:
A curse by Goddess Varahi haunts the Mahendragiri dynasty, as all the men belonging to it die at the age of 33. The curse continues over generations, despite the dynasty’s efforts to please the goddess. Siddharth (Sumanth), a YouTuber from Hyderabad, gets connected to the problem and takes up the challenge of finding out the mystery behind the deaths.
Plus points:
The film starts on a good note, offering intrigue with the deaths. Siddhu Jonnalagadda shines in a key cameo. Despite the limited screentime, he makes his presence felt and lays a good foundation for what’s to come. The interval portion once again raises curiosity with an unexpected moment.
Sumanth is sincere as a YouTuber who exposes scams and fraudulent deeds committed by a few. From the moment he starts investigating the deaths of the Mahendragiri dynasty men, his role becomes more interesting.
The pre-climax and climax portions are neatly handled, giving the film a neat conclusion. The way the twists are written and their unpredictable nature are impressive. Vamsi Chaganti, Brahmanandam, and Vennela Kishore are good in supporting roles. Meenakshi Goswami is fine too.
Minus Points:
While the director did a good job designing the twists and giving the backstory an emotional touch, he missed out on a few logical aspects. The divine intervention happens only towards the end and not before that. One wonders why the divine intervention didn’t happen earlier despite so much chaos. There is no clarification offered about this and it comes across as convenient writing.
A mystery thriller like this needs to have good technical values, and Mahendragiri Varahi struggles to deliver on this front. The VFX is not up to the mark, and the use of AI makes the experience a bit irritating. The revelation of Aishwarya Rajesh’s role in the promotional assets reduces the impact on the big screen.
The middle portions could have been handled much better, and the film could have done away with a few scenes. The basic premise of Mahendragiri Varahi is along the lines of Murari, and viewers at times may be reminded of that film, though the path chosen is different.
Technical Aspects:
Background score by Anup Rubens is okay, while the cinematography by Pratap R Krishna is decent. The editing needed more precision.
Director Santhossh Jagarlapudi sticks to the plot without unnecessary deviations like romantic tracks and handles some portions neatly. However, he should have taken more care regarding the technical output and logic.
Verdict :
On the whole, Mahendragiri Varahi is a mystery thriller that has its moments. The beginning, interval, and climax portions are neatly handled, and the twists are written well. However, the film misses out on the logical aspect and technical finesse. The middle portions aren’t effective, making the film an okay watch.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team
Movie Name : Haiwaan
Release Date : 11 September, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Others
Director : Priyadarshan
Producers : Venkat K. Narayana (KVN),Shailaja Desai Fenn
Music Directors : Pritam Chakraborty
Cinematographer : Divakar Mani
Editor : Aiyappan Nair M.S.
Related Links : Trailer
Haiwaan marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. Legendary director Priyadarshan directed this flick, and it is the official adaptation of the Malayalam film Oppam (2016). Despite several big names attached to the film, it created less excitement among the audience. Let’s see how the movie is.
Story:
Shyam (Saif Ali Khan) is a visually impaired man who works as a maintenance supervisor at an apartment complex. He shares a good bond with Pradhan (Boman Irani), a retired judge who lives in the same building. Under unexpected circumstances, Judge Pradhan is murdered, and the blame falls on Shyam. Who actually killed the judge? What risks does Shyam take to protect Pradhan’s daughter Nandini? What is Parashuram (Akshay Kumar), the killer’s connection with Pradhan? And why is Shyam determined to protect the little girl? That forms the crux of the story.
Plus Points:
Saif Ali Khan delivers a very mature performance as a visually impaired man. His screen presence stands out as one of the highlights of the film. Akshay Kumar surprises with his ruthless portrayal of the antagonist and a new look.
The second half moves at a faster pace compared to the first half. The cat-and-mouse game between the hero and the villain generates tension at times.
Some thrills suit the mood of the story and keep things moderately engaging. The hero’s efforts to protect the girl are effective. The star hero’s cameo in the climax is also appealing.
Minus Points:
Those who have already watched the Malayalam version or are familiar with the original story may not find much novelty here. Many scenes have been recreated almost exactly as they were in the original.
The film’s opening and first half move at a snail’s pace. The director takes his sweet time to establish Shyam’s character and introduce his backstory. Hence, Haiwaan offers very little in terms of engagement in the initial segments, causing boredom.
Some logical loopholes and the lengthy runtime can be tedious while watching the film. Crime thrillers should be crisp and avoid unnecessary elements. The songs are also unimpressive.
Technical Aspects:
Director Priyadarshan once again showcases his writing prowess. However, he misses his mark when it comes to the direction this time. A story like this deserved better treatment from him. Divakar Mani’s cinematography is good. Music by Preetham and Ralphie Raphael is disappointing. The editing needed more refinement.
Verdict:
On the whole, Haiwaan is a regular suspense crime thriller that falls short despite the Akshay Kumar-Saif Ali Khan-Priyadarshan combination. The basic premise and the performances are fine, but the routine remake format and slow-paced first half work against the film big time. Haiwaan has failed to generate interest among moviegoers, and hence, it will be tough for the film to survive at the box office.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team