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Latest Movie Review

Review: Karthi’s Sardar 2 – Underwhelming Sequel That Misses the Mark

by 123telugu

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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Review: Mandaadi – Promising premise, uneven execution

by 123telugu

Movie Name : Mandaadi

Release Date : September 10, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Soori, Suhas, Mahima Nambiar, Sathyaraj and Others
Director : Pugazhendhi Mathimaran
Producer : Elred Kumar
Music Director : G. V. Prakash Kumar
Cinematographer : S. R. Kathiir
Editor : Pradeep E. Ragav

Related Links : Trailer

Mandaadi is the latest Tamil drama to blend competitive sport with raw human emotion. Tamil actor Soori and Telugu actor Suhas play the primary roles in this film, which released in cinemas today. Here is an overview of how this coastal rivalry fares on the big screen.

Story:

Twenty years ago, Muthukaali (Soori) and Sattapuli (Suhas) from Kalingapatnam were thick friends and skilled traditional boat sailors. A bitter fallout shatters their bond, turning the companions into lifelong adversaries who dominate opposite sides of the village. The core narrative traces why Muthukaali abandoned the sport, the roots of Sattapuli’s local hegemony, and the high-stakes boat race that forces them to clash again.

Plus Points:

Tamil cinema explores yet another rural drama grounded in gritty realism. The lives of traditional seafaring communities and their rugged lifestyle are depicted with refreshing authenticity. Furthermore, competitive boat sailing is a rare theme on the big screen, making the sports aspect an immediate asset.

Soori has been making bold acting choices lately, and accepting this nuanced script is easily among his finest decisions. His performance is admirably subtle, allowing heavy emotional restraint and quiet presence to carry the weight. His silence throughout several crucial stretches proves far more impactful than lengthy dialogues.

Suhas proves to be an equally compelling counterpart in an intense antagonist role. Stepping into a menacing gray character is a sharp addition to his versatile filmography. His commanding vocal delivery and fiery screen presence make Sattapuli a magnetic figure to watch.

The psychological friction and war of words between the leads generate solid dramatic tension. The narrative gathers steady momentum through a well-staged exposition, peaking with a gripping pre-interval stretch and an interesting climax. Backed by solid action choreography and an energetic musical score, supporting performances from Mahima Nambiar, Sathyaraj, and Ravindra Vijay anchor the narrative.

Minus Points:

Despite several strong technical and dramatic elements, the narrative falters noticeably during the middle act. While the first half moves with purpose, the second half succumbs to formulaic predictability. The scenes advance on familiar genre beats, gradually dampening the viewing momentum.

The hostility between Soori and Suhas is well-established, yet the writing fails to dig deep into their fractured emotional history. Exploring their lost camaraderie with more emotional depth in the later portions would have lent greater weight to the final showdown. Without that emotional resonance, some of the high-stakes drama feels superficial.

While the boat-racing sequences are neatly mounted, injecting a few more clever narrative twists would have made the competition far more electrifying. In addition, Sathyaraj’s character feels visibly underutilised despite his steady presence in a brief role. A tighter edit and richer secondary conflicts could have elevated these undercooked sequences.

Technical Aspects:

Director and writer Mathimaran Pugazhendhi takes a commendable creative swing with an unconventional sporting backdrop. He succeeds in staging the central rivalry, though his writing falters when sustaining intrigue across the latter half. A tighter, more inventive screenplay could have transformed a decent drama into an exceptional one.

The technical crew provides sturdy support to keep the coastal atmosphere vivid. GV Prakash Kumar’s background score infuses raw momentum into the aquatic action, while SR Kathir’s camera work captures the rugged seascape handsomely. Pradeep E. Ragav’s editing is largely functional despite a few lingering scenes, and the Telugu localisation team ensures seamless dubbing that retains the film’s regional flavour.

Verdict:

On the whole, Mandaadi works in parts, blending a traditional water sport with a clash of pride and ego. Committed performances from Soori and Suhas, energetic boat-racing episodes, and a thunderous score work in its favour. However, the film struggles to maintain the same impact throughout, with a predictable second half and uneven writing holding it back. Some stretches manage to engage, but the film never quite comes together as a consistently compelling watch. Go with expectations in check if you consider watching it.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Review: Dulquer Salmaan’s I’m Game – High on Style, Low on Punch

by 123telugu

Movie Name : I’m Game

Release Date : September 03, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Dulquer Salmaan, Kayadu Lohar, Mysskin, Antony Varghese and others
Director : Nahas Hidhayath
Producer : Dulquer Salmaan
Music Director : Jakes Bejoy
Cinematographer : Jimshi Khalid
Editor : Chaman Chakko

Related Links : Trailer

I’m Game is the latest Malayalam movie that hit the big screens today. Dulquer Salmaan has joined hands with RDX-fame director Nahas Hidhayath for this action thriller. Amid decent buzz, the film is out now, and here’s the review to find out how it fares.

Story:

Dan John (Dulquer Salmaan) is a compulsive gambler who loses everything and ends up drowning in debt. Refusing to back down, he turns to cricket betting, only to lose whatever little he has left. Frustrated and desperate to recover his money, Dan creates a massive ruckus, an act that ultimately leaves his life hanging by a thread.

Following the incident, he slips into a coma. When he eventually wakes up, everyone assumes he has returned to normal, but Dan soon discovers that something bizarre has happened to him. What exactly happened to Dan? What is this strange phenomenon he has encountered, and how does he deal with the chaos that follows? The rest of the story reveals the answers.

Plus Points:

Dulquer Salmaan is well known for picking movies with fresh and interesting ideas. He has good taste in stories, and I’m Game is another honest try in that direction. The main plot feels new and makes people curious right from the start. That freshness is one of the biggest strengths of the movie.

Dulquer gives a very good performance, and there is almost nothing to complain about his acting. He puts in a lot of hard work, especially during the interval scene, which looks great on screen. The unusual story also gives him enough room to show different emotions and shades of his character.

Kayadu Lohar looks good on screen, and her scenes with Dulquer work well enough. Mysskin does a decent job as the villain, and Samyuktha Vishwanath leaves a good mark despite her small role. Antony Varghese enters in the second half and delivers a solid, emotional performance that helps the movie.

The background music, camera work, and fast editing in the fight scenes make the film look clean and stylish. All the technical departments come together nicely to give the movie a grand, commercial look.

Minus Points:

The story idea is fresh, but the way it is told on screen is quite normal. The first half sets up the plot nicely and brings in a big twist, which creates high hopes for the rest of the film. However, the second half slowly loses its grip because many scenes feel repeated and the story becomes easy to guess.

The action scenes are fun at the beginning, but they soon feel boring because you always know what is going to happen next. The director and writer should have added more surprises here to keep the excitement alive. Also, the cricket betting angle has been seen in many movies before, and the film does not show anything truly new with that topic.

The lengthy runtime is another big problem for the film. A story like this does not need nearly three hours to finish. Cutting about twenty to thirty minutes would have made the film much faster and far more enjoyable to watch.

Mysskin does an okay job, but his character needed a stronger presence to feel scary. A younger and more stylish villain could have made the hero-villain clash much more intense. As it stands, his role does not leave the kind of punch you expect from a main bad guy.

Technical Aspects:

The director, Nahas Hidhayath, starts with an exciting story idea, but he struggles to turn it into a non-stop thrilling ride. He shows real talent in a few sequences, but he needed a firmer grip on the story during the second half. Better pacing would have kept the excitement high until the very end.

The editing by Chaman Chacko is good in parts, especially during the big action scenes. However, he should have cut down several slow and repeated scenes to make the movie flow better. A tighter edit would have kept the audience far more engaged.

The cinematography by Jimshi Khalid makes every frame look rich and colorful. Jakes Bejoy’s background music is easily one of the best parts of the movie, as it brings great energy to the fight scenes. The overall production values are high and give the film a proper big-screen look.

Verdict:

On the whole, I’m Game has an interesting plot, but the average storytelling pulls it down. Dulquer Salmaan and the technical team do their best to lift the film, but the slow second half and predictable scenes stop it from becoming a big hit. The movie works only in bits and pieces, so action fans who like fresh ideas can give it a try with low expectations.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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