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Movie Name : Lenin

Release Date : July 10, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Akhil Akkineni, Bhagyashri Borse, Easwari Rao, Brahmaji, Pramod Panju, Shatru and Others
Director : Murali Kishor Abburu
Producers : Akkineni Nagarjuna, Suryadevara Naga Vamsi
Music Director : Thaman S
Cinematographer : Leon Britto
Editor : Navin Nooli

Related Links : Trailer

Lenin is the latest film starring Akhil Akkineni, arriving after a hiatus of three years. Directed by Murali Kishor Abburu, Lenin stars Bhagyashri Borse as the female lead and arrived in theatres today amid decent expectations. Here’s how the film fares.

Story:

Set in 1989 in Sri Ramapuram, Chittoor, Lenin (Akhil Akkineni) is an orphan raised by Jayanthi (Eashwari Rao) alongside her son Vasanth (Pramod Panju), a doctor. During the annual Bharatam Mitta celebrations, Lenin falls in love with Bharathi (Bhagyashri Borse), who reciprocates his feelings. Just when everything seems to be going his way, Lenin uncovers shocking truths about the people closest to him, forcing him to turn against them. What are those shocking truths, and why do his loved ones turn against him? The answers unfold on the big screen.

Plus Points:

Lenin is undoubtedly one of the finest outings in Akhil’s career. Not only does it mark a strong comeback for Akhil, but it also gives him the commercial entertainer he has long been waiting for. He makes the most of the opportunity with a commendable performance. Be it the emotional moments or the action sequences, Akhil delivers with confidence.

Bhagyashri Borse plays a pivotal role, with much of the story revolving around her character. She looks beautiful on screen and delivers an energetic performance. Her chemistry with Akhil works well, making the romantic track enjoyable.

Pramod Panju turns out to be one of the film’s biggest surprises. His character remains under wraps until the second half, making the reveal all the more effective. He delivers an impressive performance and leaves a strong impact with his screen presence.

Sivaji delivers a solid performance as the grey-shaded Yathiraju, while Eashwari Rao is equally effective in her role. The rest of the supporting cast lends good support.

Thaman’s background score effectively elevates the emotional and action-packed moments. The pre-interval and interval blocks, a couple of well-executed twists, and the climax stand out as the film’s biggest highlights.

Minus Points:

The narrative becomes fairly predictable as the characters gradually reveal their true intentions. While the core writing is decent, a tighter screenplay and sharper pacing would have made the film far more engaging.

The songs are good on their own, but a film like this doesn’t need so many. Their placement slows the narrative and affects the overall pace.

Akhil has certainly improved as an actor and delivers a sincere performance. However, there is still room for improvement in a few emotional scenes. Characters such as the MLA, along with Shatru and Brahmaji, could have been given more screen time and stronger characterization.

Technical Aspects:

Murali Kishor Abburu succeeds in presenting Akhil in a solid commercial role. While the story works well, the screenplay could have been sharper to make several scenes more gripping. Even so, he succeeds in delivering a fairly engaging commercial entertainer.

Thaman delivers exactly what the film demands with a rousing background score that complements the narrative well. Leon Britto’s cinematography is decent, while Navin Nooli’s editing could have been crisper by trimming a few scenes. The production values are impressive throughout.

Verdict:

On the whole, Lenin is a decent commercial revenge drama that gives Akhil the commercial outing he has long been waiting for. Akhil’s performance, Bhagyashri Borse’s screen presence, Thaman’s rousing score, and a couple of well-executed twists work in the film’s favour. On the flip side, a few underdeveloped characters, a slightly lengthy runtime, unnecessary songs, and a somewhat predictable plot hold it back. Despite its shortcomings, Lenin emerges as a passable commercial entertainer that makes for a decent weekend watch.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

Movie Name : Rao Bahadur

Release Date : July 3, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Satya Dev, Vikas Muppala, Deepa Thomas, Bala Parasar, and Other
Director : Venkatesh Maha
Producers : Chinta Gopalakrishna Reddy, Anurag Reddy, Sharath Chandra, Eshwran Vijayaraghavan
Music Director : Smaran Sai
Cinematographer : Kartik Parmar
Editor : Venkatesh Maha

Related Links : Trailer

Rao Bahadur marks the latest collaboration between Satya Dev and director Venkatesh Maha. Backed by an intriguing promotional campaign, the film generated considerable curiosity ahead of its theatrical release. Does it live up to the expectations? Let’s find out.

Story:

Set in 1991, Bhuvanam Ramappa Rao Bahadur (Satya Dev) is diagnosed with Liver cancer, and doctors predict that he has only four months to live. Much to everyone’s surprise, he survives beyond that period, leaving his family and the doctors shocked. As time passes, Ramappa begins behaving strangely, leaving his close friend and family doctor, Narayanachari (Vikas Muppala), puzzled by his behaviour. One day, Ramappa sets out to uncover a truth that has been bothering him. What is he searching for, and does he eventually discover it? The rest of the story unfolds around this mystery.

Plus Points:

Satya Dev once again proves why he is among the finest performers in Telugu cinema. Rao Bahadur gives him ample scope to display his range, and he rises to the occasion with an exceptional performance. His transformation is striking, and there are moments where he is almost unrecognisable. He anchors the entire film with remarkable conviction.

Deepa Thomas gets a refreshing character and makes the most of it with a convincing performance. Her expressions feel effortless, and her scenes with Satya Dev are handled with warmth and sincerity.

Vikas Muppala is effective in his role, while Bala Parasar adds a welcome touch of humour with her entertaining screen presence.

The central idea is fairly simple, but the unconventional narrative style keeps the audience invested. Smaran Sai’s background score significantly enhances the emotional and mysterious portions, while the production design lends authenticity to the film’s setting.

Minus Points:

An interesting premise deserves equally engaging writing, and that is where the film falls short. Although the first half remains watchable, the narrative makes little progress, leaving several questions unanswered for too long.

The pacing is another major drawback. Several portions linger longer than necessary, making the film feel stretched. As expectations build towards a major reveal, the screenplay often settles for ordinary developments instead of consistently rewarding the audience’s patience.

The second half features a polarising twist that is likely to divide opinions. A handful of moments also feel repetitive, especially when viewers are eagerly waiting for the central mystery to unfold. The emotional drama occasionally loses its grip, slightly reducing the overall impact.

Technical Aspects:

Venkatesh Maha attempts to present a familiar idea through an unconventional narrative structure by introducing multiple elements that keep the audience guessing. While the approach succeeds in parts, a tighter screenplay would have made the film far more compelling. That said, he deserves credit for incorporating psychological elements into the narrative, which add an intriguing layer to the storytelling.

Karthik Parmar’s cinematography effectively captures the film’s atmosphere, while Smaran Sai’s background score emerges as one of its biggest strengths, adding weight to several crucial moments. The editing could have been crisper, as trimming a few prolonged stretches would have made the narrative more engaging. The production values are impressive, with the production design and art department deserving special appreciation.

Verdict:

On the whole, Rao Bahadur is a sincere attempt that deserves appreciation for trying something different, even if it doesn’t fully realise its potential. Satya Dev delivers a standout performance, ably supported by Deepa Thomas and the rest of the cast. The background score and production design further enrich the experience. However, the sluggish narration and stretched screenplay hold the film back from becoming a truly memorable watch. If you enjoy unconventional dramas and have the patience for a slow-burning narrative, Rao Bahadur might appeal to you.