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Karthi

Movie Name : Sardar 2

Release Date : September 10, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Karthi, Malavika Mohanan, S. J. Suryah, Ashika Ranganath, Yogi Babu, Rajisha Vijayan, and Others
Director : P. S. Mithran
Producers : S. Lakshman Kumar
Music Director : Sam C.S
Cinematographer : George C. Williams
Editor : Vijay Velukutty

Related Links : Trailer

Karthi has come up with Sardar 2, the sequel to his hit film Sardar. The spy action thriller directed by PS Mithran is now out in cinemas. Let’s see how the movie is.

Story:

The entire film revolves around Operation Doku, which has the capability to destroy the nation. India somehow manages to soften its impact, but Black Dagger (SJ Suryah) brings it back into use, posing a huge threat. How Sardar (Karthi), Vijay Prakash (Karthi), and other RAW agents try to stop Operation Doku, and what it actually means, forms the crux of the story.

Plus points:

Like every other film of his, Karthi delivers an impressive performance in Sardar 2 as well. He once again rocks the show both as a father and son. His performance in some emotional moments is pretty good.

The message that the film tries to deliver is very much relevant in today’s world. Sardar 2 talks about the over usage of antibiotics, and a few dialogues that come in this regard are meaningful. Ashika, Malavika, and SJ Suryah are fine in their roles.

Minus Points:

What made the first film work is its gripping narration, well-timed mass moments, and a solid social message. What Sardar 2 lacks is a taut screenplay. There are some interesting ideas, but they aren’t effectively presented.

The makers decided to amp up the scale and budget, but in doing so, they didn’t pay enough attention to the narrative. The approach isn’t grounded this time, the tension is missing in the proceedings, and there are some over-the-top moments that work against the film big time.

In the second half, there is a fun sequence featuring SJ Suryah, Yogi Babu, and Nizhalgal Ravi. The director might have included it to give a fun touch to the film. Not only does it look out of place, but it also makes us wonder how people with such little knowledge are appointed as RAW agents.

A few episodes along those lines look highly unconvincing and take away from the seriousness of the premise. The second half is lengthy, monotonous, and barely offers any thrills.

Technical Aspects:

Sam CS did just an okay job. The background score could have been much better. Cinematography by George Williams is neat, and some moments are well-shot. The production values are solid, while the editing could have done away with a few scenes.

PS Mithran’s intention to deliver a social message about the usage of antibiotics is good, but his execution isn’t strong this time. The film doesn’t deviate from the core plot, but it offers very little in terms of engagement. Sardar 2’s premise needed gripping storytelling to click.

Verdict:

On the whole, Sardar 2 is an underwhelming follow-up to Sardar, with only a few scenes working in its favor. The film features a relevant social message, but the narration lacks the spark needed for the film to reach its potential. Karthi is good in his role, but the lack of a compelling screenplay, lengthy runtime, unconvincing episodes, and dull moments make it a below-par watch.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Annagaru Vostaru Review

Annagaru Vostaru Review

Movie Name :  Annagaru Vostaru
Streaming Date : Jan 28, 2026
Streaming Platform : Amazon Prime Video
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Karthi, Krithi Shetty, Sathyaraj, Rajkiran, Anand Raj, Shilpa Manjunath and Others
Director : Nalan Kumarasamy
Producer : K.E.Gnanavelraja
Music Director : Santhosh Narayanan
Cinematographer  : George C. Williams Isc
Editor : Vetre Krishnan

Related Links : Trailer

Karthi’s Pongal release Vaa Vaathiyaar has shockingly arrived on Amazon Prime Video within two weeks of its theatrical release. What’s even more startling is that the Telugu dubbed version, Annagaru Vostaru, skipped the theatrical release and headed to OTT directly. Let’s see how the movie is.

Story:

Set in a fictional place, Ramarao (Karthi) is born at the exact time of Sr. NTR’s death. His grandfather (Rajkiran), a devoted fan of Sr. NTR, firmly believes Ramarao to be his idol’s reincarnation and raises him with strong moral values.

However, as Ramarao grows up and becomes a cop, he chooses the opposite path. Ramarao gets suspended after threatening a movie producer for a bribe. One day, his grandfather learns about Ramarao’s true nature, leading to a life-changing situation for the protagonist. What happens next forms the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

The movie has a very interesting idea that instantly grabs our attention. What if an iconic star, worshipped by people like a demigod, comes back to deal with evil forces and becomes the saviour of the masses? This is the core idea on which Annagaru Vostaru is based.

Karthi is one of those rare actors who never goes wrong with his performances, even when the films themselves aren’t entirely satisfactory. He performs to the tee and tries his best to hold the film together with his charismatic screen presence. Some moments in the first half are engaging, and the interval episode leaves a fairly good impact.

Minus Points:

A good concept alone isn’t enough to make a successful film. There needs to be a gripping screenplay to keep the audience hooked, and this is where Annagaru Vostaru falters. The narration is largely underwhelming due to the lack of a proper structure. The characters, especially the antagonists and the female lead, aren’t introduced properly.

As a result, it becomes difficult to connect with the proceedings, despite Karthi giving it his all. The second half, in particular, leaves a lot to be desired. The narrative turns repetitive and predictable, and by the time the film reaches the climax, it runs out of steam. Apart from Karthi, the rest of the cast doesn’t get scope to shine.

Additionally, there is very little chance for the film to work with Telugu audiences. OTT platforms lately have been releasing only a single version of multilingual films, swapping audio tracks for the same visual file. While this strategy may work for some films, it defeats the very purpose of movies like Vaa Vaathiyaar/Annagaru Vostaru.

We are told about NTR in the dialogues, but what we see on screen is MGR, clearly meant for Tamil audiences, making the overall experience underwhelming. It is surprising that a platform like Prime Video did not consider this crucial aspect.

Technical Aspects:

Music composed by Santosh Narayanan turns out to be one of the weakest links of Annagaru Vostaru. Not even a single song is catchy, and the background score, which was expected to be quirky, largely misses the mark. George C. Williams’ cinematography is good, and the production values are neat. However, the editing could have been much better.

Director Nalan Kumarasamy, who earlier delivered an impressive film like Soodhu Kavvum, comes up with a fascinating idea for Annagaru Vostaru, but his screenplay is ineffective and uneven. It is disappointing to see a good idea not reach its full potential, and Annagaru Vostaru unfortunately falls into that category.

Verdict:

On the whole, Annagaru Vostaru (Vaa Vaathiyaar) has an interesting premise, but due to its underwhelming screenplay, the film fails to leave the desired impact. Karthi shines as Ramarao, brilliantly portraying a cinematic, Robin Hood–esque superhero, but the narration by director Nalan Kumarasamy doesn’t pack a punch. While a few moments in the first half are decent, the second half turns tiresome due to repetition. Hence, Annagaru Vostaru ends up being far from satisfactory.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

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Suriya as Rama, Alia Bhatt as Sita

Suriya as Rama, Alia Bhatt as Sita

Vishnu Manchu’s dream project Kannappa was released on June 27, 2025, and with its theatrical run nearing its end, many fans are now awaiting its OTT release. Meanwhile, Vishnu has revealed details about another ambitious project he once wanted to make – a film based on the epic Ramayana.

In a recent interview, Vishnu revealed that back in 2009, he and director K. Raghavendra Rao had planned a film centered on Ravana, with Mohan Babu set to play the lead role. Although the full script and dialogues were completed, the project never materialised, primarily due to its high budget.

Going into further detail, Vishnu said he envisioned Suriya as Lord Rama and Alia Bhatt as Sita, and had even discussed the idea with Suriya. Vishnu himself wanted to play Hanuman, but Raghavendra Rao had suggested he instead take on the role of Indrajit.

The rest of his dream cast included:

Indrajit – Karthi

Lakshmana – Kalyan Ram

Jatayu – Sathyaraj

Now, the big question is: Will Vishnu Manchu revive this vision of the Ramayana? And if so, will this star-studded cast come on board? It will be interesting to see if this long-dreamt project finally comes to life.

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