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New OTT Releases

Chinna Chinna Aasai

Movie Name : Chinna Chinna Aasai
Streaming Date : July 28, 2026
Streaming Platform : JioHotstar
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5

Starring : Indrans, Madhubala, Aparna Balamurali, Jaffer Sadiq and Others
Director : Varsha Vasudev
Producers : Abhijith Babuji
Music Directors : Govind Vasantha
Cinematographer  : Faiz Siddik
Editor : Reckson Joseph

Related Links : Trailer

Malayalam film Chinna Chinna Aasai, starring veteran actors Indrans and Madhoo, is now streaming on JioHotstar. The Telugu-dubbed version is also available. Here’s our take.

Story:

Set in Varanasi, the story follows Leela (Madhoo), a 52-year-old woman from Thanjavur who gets separated from her tour group and loses her belongings during her trip. Left stranded in an unfamiliar city, she receives help from Madhavan (Indrans), a teacher of her age. As he stands by her through difficult situations, an unexpected bond develops between them. What happens next forms the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

The film explores the bond that gradually develops between two strangers in a simple and sincere manner. Their relationship evolves naturally through everyday conversations and shared experiences, lending a sense of authenticity to the narrative.

Madhoo delivers a sincere performance as Leela. She portrays the character’s loneliness and emotional struggles with subtle expressions, making the role believable.

Indrans complements her well with a restrained performance. His calm screen presence and effortless humour suit the character, while his conversations with Madhoo work well in several scenes.

The film’s emotional core lies in portraying two middle-aged individuals rediscovering the simple joys they had long forgotten. Though the idea is appealing, it works only in parts due to the film’s leisurely pace. Aparna Balamurali appears in a brief role and does well within her limited screen time.

Minus Points:

The biggest drawback is the slow-paced narration. Despite a runtime of around two hours, the film often feels longer because of its leisurely storytelling and lack of engaging dramatic moments. Several scenes could have been trimmed to make the narrative more engaging.

Another major issue is the Telugu dubbing. The concern isn’t the dubbing quality but the language itself. Since Leela and Madhavan converse mostly in Tamil, with only occasional Telugu, viewers unfamiliar with Tamil may struggle to follow several important conversations. The absence of Telugu subtitles makes the experience even more difficult, forcing viewers to rely on English subtitles.

The story remains simple throughout and offers no surprises except the climax. Those expecting dramatic twists or emotionally engaging conflicts may find the narrative underwhelming, as the film relies heavily on conversations and subtle emotions.

Technical Aspects:

As both writer and director, Varsha Vasudev presents a simple story with mature characters and relatable emotions. While the emotional moments are handled with sincerity, the screenplay lacks consistency and could have been tighter to keep the narrative engaging throughout.

Reckson Joseph’s editing could have been sharper, especially during the stretched portions. Govind Vasantha’s background score complements the film’s gentle tone, while Faiz Siddik’s cinematography is visually pleasing. The production values are neat, but the Telugu dubbing remains a significant drawback for the dubbed version.

Verdict:

On the whole, Chinna Chinna Aasai is an emotional drama that relies heavily on the performances of Indrans and Madhoo, but they aren’t enough to lift the film above its slow-paced storytelling. The straightforward narrative and the lack of proper Telugu dialogues during several key conversations further affect the overall experience. You may be better off exploring other options this weekend.

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

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Movie Name : Ikka
Streaming Date : July 10, 2026
Streaming Platform : Netflix
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5

Starring : Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, Dia Mirza , Tillotama Shome
Director : Siddharth P Malhotra
Producers : Sapna Malhotra ,Siddharth P Malhotra
Music Directors : Mithun, Julius Packiam
Cinematographer  : Jishnu Bhattacharjee
Editor : Shweta Venkat

Related Links : Trailer

Several direct-to-OTT films and series have dropped on various streaming platforms this week alongside theatrical releases. Leading digital platform Netflix has now premiered Ikka, a legal thriller featuring big names like Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna. Let’s see how the film is.

Story:

Shauryaman Gaur (Akshaye Khanna), the son of a prominent businessman, finds himself entangled in an attempt-to-murder case involving a young woman. The high-profile case threatens his family’s reputation. Desperate for a win, they approach Arjun Mehra (Sunny Deol), a brilliant defense lawyer nicknamed ‘Ikka’ who hasn’t lost a single case yet.

Arjun is known for his strict professional ethics and initially turns down the case due to past friction with Shaurya. However, unexpected circumstances force him to reconsider. Standing opposite him in court is Madhura Banerjee (Tillotama Shome), a small-time lawyer. Why did Arjun initially say no, and what changed his mind? Who actually attacked the girl? The answers to these questions form the crux of the courtroom battle.

Plus Points:

Fans of legal thrillers will find Ikka to be engaging to some extent. The film cuts straight to the chase within the first few minutes without wasting time on unnecessary buildup. As the investigation unfolds, the screenplay picks up well initially, delivering some decent moments and timely twists.

Some verbal duels between the opposing lawyers and their sharp counter-arguments serve as a major strength. The legal drama generated in these scenes is fair. Sunny Deol and Tillotama Shome fit their roles perfectly. Sunny brings a dignified and commanding presence to his character, while Tillotama delivers a highly grounded performance as a middle-class housewife and struggling lawyer. Her portrayal of helplessness in specific court scenes feels remarkably authentic.

After Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna delivers a powerful performance here as well, especially during his opening courtroom sequence. The remaining cast members support the narrative well. The real highlight of the film is its climax. The final portions unfold beautifully, revealing smart twists.

Minus Points:

While watching Ikka, one particular aspect becomes glaringly obvious, especially for Telugu cinema lovers. The core storyline heavily resembles Nagarjuna’s version in the movie Kubera. Since Sunny Deol’s character is designed on similar lines within a legal setup, the narrative gives a strong sense of predictability.

Additionally, the film introduces a sensitive plot twist involving the birth of Sunny’s daughter. However, the way it’s handled might make viewers wonder if the makers are trying too hard to normalize such complex social issues.

The pacing also drops in the middle sections, making the narrative feel sluggish at times. Even though it’s a dedicated courtroom drama, the film misses out on intense legal arguments backed by specific law sections, which we usually see in this genre. Including such detailed legal exchanges with sections could have added more authenticity and value alongside the entertainment.

Technical Aspects:

The production values are good, and the makers haven’t compromised on the visual setup required for a legal thriller. The background score and cinematography complement the mood of the film effectively. The editing lacks sharpness. The Telugu dubbing is neat and holds up well.

Director Siddharth P. Malhotra takes a somewhat familiar story written by Altheia Kaushal and peppers the screenplay with some fine moments. His ability to create a few tense situations and extract quality performances from the lead cast works in the film’s favour. However, the film doesn’t rise above the bare minimum, making the overall experience underwhelming.

Verdict:

On the whole, Ikka is just an okayish legal drama that has some decent moments. Strong performances from Sunny Deol, Tillotama Shome, and Akshaye Khanna, combined with some twists, are the film’s primary strengths. On the flip side, a predictable storyline and occasional pacing issues reduce the overall impact.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

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Maa Behen OTT Review

Maa Behen OTT Review

Movie Name : Maa Behen
Streaming Date : June 4, 2026
Streaming Platform : Netflix
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5

Starring : Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Dharna Durga, and Ravi Kishan
Director : Suresh Triveni
Producers : Vikram Malhotra, Suresh Triveni
Music Director : Akashdeep Sengupta
Cinematographer  : Anuj Rakesh Dhawan
Editor : Dipika Kalra
Related Links : Trailer

Veteran Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit and latest sensation Triptii Dimri played the lead roles in the latest crime dark comedy-drama Maa Behen. The film premiered directly on June 4. Let’s see how it is.

Story

Rekha (Madhuri Dixit) is a lower-middle-class housewife living a simple life with her two daughters, Jaya (Triptii Dimri) and Sushma (Dharna Durga). Their peaceful lives take an unexpected turn when a man from the neighboring house is found dead under suspicious circumstances inside their home.

How did the man die? What do the three women do with the body to avoid police suspicion and keep their neighbors from finding out? The bizarre situations they encounter while trying to cover up the incident form the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

The biggest strength of the film is its lead cast. Madhuri Dixit delivers a solid performance as Rekha, effectively portraying both fear and a mother’s desperation to protect her family.

Triptii Dimri puts glamour aside and delivers a restrained, convincing performance. She particularly shines in an emotional monologue sequence in the second half. Dharna Durga, who plays the younger daughter, provides much of the film’s humor with her witty one-liners and expressive reactions.

The family drama and frequent arguments between the three women feel natural and generate entertaining moments. The first half moves at a brisk pace, with the panic and chaos that follow the discovery of the body leading to some genuinely funny situations.

Director Suresh Triveni’s dark comedy writing works well in some scenes, and few dialogues land effectively. The supporting cast also performs adequately.

Minus Points:

Despite a fair start, the movie loses momentum in the second half. The narrative begins to revolve around the same central point without making significant progress, making portions feel stretched.

A gripping screenplay essential for a dark comedy thriller is largely missing here. The climax twists are fairly predictable, reducing the impact of the mystery reveal.

Although the film is a crime-comedy drama, several scenes feel overly cinematic and also lack logic. The police investigation track is also written rather weakly.

Most supporting characters are underdeveloped and exist merely for convenience. Additionally, neither the songs nor the background score leave a lasting impression.

Technical Aspects:

Director Suresh Triveni chooses an interesting crime-comedy premise but does not fully succeed in sustaining engagement throughout the film’s runtime.

Cinematographer Anuj Rakesh Dhawan does a decent job, particularly in the indoor sequences. The background score elevates a few scenes but remains average overall. The editing could have been sharper, especially in the second half. Production values are decent.

Verdict:

On the whole, Maa Behen is a dark crime comedy that works only in parts. The performances of Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri, along with some dark-comedy moments in the first half, keep the film moderately engaging. However, a weaker second half and a predictable climax prevent it from reaching its full potential. Fans of crime-comedy films may try it, provided they keep their expectations in check.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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