Movie Name : Newton’s 3rd Law
Release Date : July 31, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Sumanth Yarlagadda, Jagapathi Babu, Avasarala Srinivas, Ravi Varma and Others
Director : Rajesh Karna
Producers : Harish Kohirkar
Music Director : Sinjith Yerramilli
Cinematographer : Veda Vyas Gottipati
Editor : Anil Pasala
Related Links : Trailer
Actor Sumanth’s latest film, Newton’s 3rd Law, hits theatres today. Directed by debutant Rajesh Karna, the crime thriller also stars Jagapathi Babu and Srinivas Avasarala in pivotal roles. Here’s our review to find out how it fares.
Story:
Set in 1999 in Hyderabad, Vasu Dev (Sumanth) begins investigating the death of a youngster named Vinay (Trinadh Varma). He soon discovers that it was no accident, but a murder. As the investigation progresses, Vasu uncovers a connection between the deceased and Stephen Mercury (Jagapathi Babu), a ruthless criminal and smuggler. How is a college student connected to the underworld? Who killed Vinay? And what circumstances led to the murder? The answers unfold in the rest of the story.
Plus Points:
The core idea of Newton’s 3rd Law is built around the philosophy that every action has an equal and opposite reaction – a concept that also mirrors the belief in karma. Building a crime investigation thriller around this premise is an interesting choice, and the team deserves appreciation for attempting something concept-driven.
Sumanth fits the role of a serious investigator well and delivers a convincing performance. His character arc is neatly written and contains a subtle twist that works in the film’s favour. While he anchors the narrative, Trinadh Varma, whose character drives the entire story, leaves a good impression with his sincere performance. Given the right opportunities, the young actor has the potential to emerge as a dependable performer.
Shelley N. Kumar is equally impressive as Vinay’s mother. She delivers a natural performance, expressing both grief and restraint with ease. Ravi Varma, Jagapathi Babu and Srinivas Avasarala perform their respective roles effectively despite being confined to limited character arcs.
The opening portions and the climax are among the film’s biggest strengths. Rajesh Karna executes both sequences neatly, ensuring they leave a positive impression.
Minus Points:
A compelling story alone isn’t enough to make an engaging thriller. Even a slow-burn narrative works when the screenplay consistently builds intrigue. Unfortunately, that’s where Newton’s 3rd Law falters. While the premise has genuine potential, the screenplay lacks the grip needed to keep audiences invested.
The investigation often feels stuck in a loop, repeatedly covering familiar ground instead of pushing the narrative forward. As a result, the first hour feels stretched, with the story unfolding in fragments rather than gathering momentum. Frequent flashbacks further interrupt the flow, making the narrative feel repetitive. The second half doesn’t improve matters either. It is weighed down by lengthy conversations that revisit the same points without adding much to the drama.
The supporting characters, too, could have been written with greater depth. Jagapathi Babu gets very little scope to showcase his calibre, and the same applies to Srinivas Avasarala. Though both actors perform well within their limitations, their characters lack the dramatic weight needed to leave a stronger impact. Neha Pathan is okay, but her role also misses the opportunity to surprise.
Although the climax neatly ties together the loose ends and is executed well, the film has already lost much of its momentum by then. Had the narrative been tighter in the initial portions, the overall impact would have been far more effective.
Technical Aspects:
For a debutant, Rajesh Karna deserves appreciation for choosing an interesting concept with good potential. However, the execution falls short of doing complete justice to the idea. A tighter screenplay and sharper narration could have elevated the film into a far more engaging investigative thriller.
Technically, the film is supported by decent cinematography and a neat background score, both of which complement the mood of the narrative. The editing, however, is one of the major drawbacks, as several scenes could have been trimmed to deliver a crisper viewing experience. The production values are adequate.
Verdict:
On the whole, Newton’s 3rd Law has an interesting premise but ends up as a disappointing investigative thriller due to its sluggish screenplay and uneven execution. Sumanth delivers a convincing performance, while Trinadh Varma and Shelley N. Kumar leave a positive impression with their performances. However, the repetitive narration and excessive lags make it difficult to stay invested. With a tighter screenplay and sharper pacing, the film could have delivered a far more compelling experience. As it stands, this turns out to be a tough watch even for fans of investigative thrillers.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team