Movie Name :Modha Rathri
Streaming Date : September 18, 2026
Streaming Platform : Netflix
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Rishikanth, Anishma Anilkumar and Others
Director : Raja Karuppasamy
Producers : Naveen Yerneni,Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili
Music Directors : Bharath Sankar
Cinematographer : Surendran Paranjothi
Editor : Ashok Arjunan
Related Links : Trailer
Along with Ravi Teja’s Irumudi, Mythri Movie Makers released the Tamil film Modha Rathri in theatres on the same day. The film is now available to stream on Netflix with a Telugu audio option. Here’s our review of the film.
Story:
Maruthi’s (Rishikanth) parents arrange his marriage to Bujji Lakshmi (Anishma Anilkumar) without his knowledge or her consent, binding a man with a tragic past to a woman in love with someone else. Despite their reluctance, the wedding takes place, but drama erupts when Maruthi catches Lakshmi attempting to elope on their nuptial night. Whether he helps her escape or opposes her decision, and whether their families discover the truth, drive the rest of the narrative.
Plus Points:
Rishikanth does complete justice to his role with an understated, natural performance. He effectively brings out the silent grief of his tragic past while portraying his sheer bewilderment upon discovering his wife’s secret.
Joining him is Anishma Anilkumar, who delivers a solid performance that stands in sharp contrast to her previous work in Youth. While she sparks genuine laughter in her opening scenes, she shifts gears effortlessly in the later portions, where her vulnerability and helplessness render her character silent.
While organic humour runs throughout the film, the narrative quietly integrates social undertones like patriarchal boundaries imposed on women and parental dominance. It also touches upon caste-based condescension, subtly weaving these issues into the situational flow without turning preachy.
The slapstick comedy involving the character Nitish, played by the director himself, works out well through a string of awkward, funny misadventures. In addition, Bagavathi Perumal and Abdool Lee play their parts effectively, chipping in with a few decent chuckles.
Minus Points:
Because the narrative revolves around an incident unfolding over a single night, sustaining dramatic weight across a thin premise is naturally challenging. Although the director avoids going overboard, he struggles to keep the second half engaging.
The first hour breezes past with brisk situational chaos, but the post-interval stretch drags noticeably. Several sequences feel overextended, and tighter editing would have given the latter half a much better shape.
Although the predictable climax can be seen coming from a mile away, it lacks a neat, cohesive payoff. Instead of building genuine emotional or comedic drama around the resolution, the narrative settles for noisy commotion.
The Telugu dubbing is passable, yet leaving the songs entirely in Tamil reflects poor post-production effort. Furthermore, granting more screen time to seasoned comedy performers like Bagavathi Perumal and Abdool Lee could have supplied some much-needed energy to the lagging portions.
Technical Aspects:
Debutant director Raja Karuppasamy relies on an ordinary premise but fails to unlock its complete narrative potential. While he handles situational comedy and village eccentricities with ease, his writing lacks the structural depth required to sustain momentum throughout.
Surendran Paranjothi’s camera work remains functional, while Bharath Sankar’s background score suits the quirky mood. Editor Ashok Arjunan, who keeps the opening hour crisp, should have exercised firmer control over the bloated second half. The production values are strictly adequate.
Verdict:
On the whole, Modha Rathri is a routine rural comedy-drama saved in parts by organic humour. Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar anchor their roles well, and the initial situational humour lands neatly. On the flip side, predictable writing, overstretched scenes, and an uneven second half prevent it from being a truly satisfying watch.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team