Home Tags Posts tagged with "OTT Review"

OTT Review

OTT Review: Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna’s Ikka – Hindi Film (Telugu dub) on Netflix

by 123telugu

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 

0 FacebookTwitterWhatsappCopy Link

OTT Review: Stranger Things 5 & Final Episode – Telugu dubbed series on Netflix

by 123telugu

Web Series : Stranger Things 5

Streaming Platform : Netflix
Release Date : Dec 01, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3.5/5
Starring : Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Jamie Campbell Bower, Finn Wolfhard, David Harbour, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Joe Carey, and more
Director : The Duffer Brothers (Shawn Levy, Frank Darabont), Shawn Levy
Producer : Hilary Levitt
Music Director : Kyle Dixon, Michael Stine
Cinematographers : Caleb Heyman
Editor :  Dean Zimmerman, Catherine Narenzo

Related Links : Trailer

Stranger Things is one of the popular web shows that has received great appreciation from audiences across the globe. The series, which began way back in 2016, has now come to an end with a total of five seasons. On this New Year, the last episode of the final season has been released worldwide. Let’s see if the ending is satisfactory.

Story:

At the end of the seventh episode, the entire gang, Will (Noah Schnapp), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), Max (Sadie Sink), Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), along with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), her father Jim Hopper (David Harbour), Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton), and Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman), successfully set out to eliminate Vecna/Henry (Jamie Campbell Bower). However, Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton), the leader of the Hawkins military forces, also sends some of her troops after them.

How does Eleven’s team plan to reach Vecna in the Upside Down? How do they get there? What new truth do they discover about Henry in this process? Why did he turn out the way he did? Do the gang finally succeed in ending Vecna or not? Who makes sacrifices along the way? The finale has all the answers.

Plus Points:

There have been mammoth expectations surrounding this final season. Living up to them is no less feat, and the makers succeeded to a large extent. The last season was released in three phases. The first four episodes were a massive treat. However, among the next three episodes, the third one garnered an underperforming response. But the much-awaited final episode turned out to be an absolute banger.

For fans, this series is an emotion. If some of you had felt that the seven episodes didn’t fully deliver, the final episode will make you think otherwise and leave you more than satisfied. Despite its nearly two-hour runtime, the narrative flows wonderfully.

The first hour is packed with exhilarating high moments, grand visuals, spectacular action, and thrilling adventure, while the second hour is given an emotional touch by the Duffer Brothers. Characters like Will, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Eleven, along with their friendship element, will be relatable for many viewers. The beautifully crafted emotional scenes between them serve as eye-pleasing moments for fans.

The team did a commendable job by giving a proper closure to almost all characters and ending the series on a happy note. The major reveal regarding why Henry became what he is, and his backstory, is well-written and showcased. The conclusions given to characters like Steve, Dustin, Max, Hopper, and Joyce work well.

Additionally, the emotional moments in the climax, especially the scene where Will, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Max talk, are sure to leave fans teary-eyed. These moments bring back memories of all the previous seasons and provide a complete nostalgic feel. The twist given to Eleven’s character is guaranteed to offer goosebumps. The closure is well-designed and does not disappoint fans a bit.

Minus Points:

While the final episode and the series largely move in a fan-pleasing manner, there are some noticeable drawbacks. The subject revolving around an unseen dimension on Earth involving a group of friends embarking on adventurous journeys is undoubtedly interesting. However, a solid backstory for the villain is equally important, and after watching the final episode, it gives the feeling that this aspect is a bit weak.

If we look closely, it may remind some viewers of Spider-Man 3. Similar to the Venom concept, certain aspects here are somewhat simple and could have had more depth. Also, while the strong villain, Vecna, is immune to things like gunshots, the Mind Flayer that controls him is attacked rather easily by the kids and gets injured. This element could have been handled with more precision. Apart from this, the VFX in a few places feels slightly tacky.

Technical Aspects:

Compared to the previous episodes, the technical work in this episode is much better. Action and music come together superbly, leaving little room for complaint. The editing is also perfect. The efforts put in by Duffer Brothers (along with Shawn Levy and Frank Darabont) are impressive. It feels so great since the series ends in the same way that fans wanted.

Though there was scope to split the final episode into two, releasing it as a single combined episode helps maintain emotional balance. However, the writing for the villain needed more depth. Setting that aside, concluding a series that means special to so many people as a proper classic is truly appreciable.

Verdict:

On the whole, the nine-year journey of Stranger Things comes to an end on a highly satisfying note. Just as the kids in the series grew up over the years, the show’s followers also grew alongside them, giving the series a special place on their watchlists. For fans, the final episode stands as a grand tribute to this long journey.

Packed with ample action, adventure, thrills, and, most importantly, emotions, the series reaches a fitting conclusion. In many ways, it feels like a perfect farewell for Stranger Things followers. The final episode beautifully wraps up this epic saga, leaving the emotion lingering in the hearts of viewers. Don’t miss streaming the finale.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

0 FacebookTwitterWhatsappCopy Link
Stranger-Things-S5

OTT Review: Stranger Things 5, Volume 2 – Telugu dubbed series on Netflix

by 123telugu

Stranger-Things-S5

Web Series Name : Stranger Things 5: Volume 2
Streaming Date : Dec 26, 2025
Streaming Platform : Netflix
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Joe Keery and others
Directors : Frank Darabont, Shawn Levy, The Duffer Brothers & Shawn Levy
Producers : Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen.
Music Directors : Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein
Cinematographers : Tim Ives, Tod Campbell, Lachlan Milne, David Franco, Ricardo Diaz, Caleb Heymann, Brett Jutkiewicz
Editor : Dean Zimmerman, Kevin D. Ross, Nat Fuller, Katheryn Naranjo, Casey Cichocki
Related Links : Trailer

Stranger Things is one of the most-loved web shows across the world. The makers recently released the first volume of the final season, which was met with a solid response. Netflix has now dropped the second volume of the fifth installment. Let’s see how it is.

Story:

This volume continues from where the previous volume left off. After Will (Noah Schnapp) gains powers, his friends and family are shell-shocked. From there, they start believing that Will can not only control the Demogorgons sent by Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) but also challenge Vecna himself.

Meanwhile, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), and their gang, who are trapped in the Upside Down, try to figure out where Vecna is operating from and search for his actual base. On the other hand, the twelve children imprisoned by Vecna, including Max (Sadie Sink) and Mike’s sister Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher), remain trapped in that world.

At the same time, questions arise about what experiments the Hawkins security forces conducted on Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), why they are once again so desperate to capture Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), what Vecna’s master plan actually is, and whether Max has returned. The three episodes revolve around these developments and the plan devised by friends and family to stop Vecna once and for all.

Plus Points:

Without an iota of doubt, all three episodes are handled in a satisfactory manner and offer a decent feast for fans. Since this is the final season, the episodes serve to lay the establishment for the finale, and hence, the narrative leans more towards emotional depth this time. As a result, viewers are expected to connect emotionally with the show on a deeper level.

Another major highlight is seeing the entire team reunite after being split up in earlier episodes, and this strengthens the emotional weight. Additionally, some scientifically driven scenes provide thrills. The interactions and emotional moments between Dustin and Steve are a treat for those who adore them. The emotional approach taken with Will’s character in the third episode also works in the show’s favour.

The first two episodes feature solid climax portions that are sure to excite the viewers. Will controlling and injuring Vecna, in particular, is a moment that lifts the spirits of fans. The track involving Max and Holly Wheeler is also handled decently. Overall, the balanced presentation of multiple character arcs with strong emotions stands out in these three episodes.

Minus Points:

Since the emotional depth is given more importance in this volume, the audience will get to see very less of adventure and high-octane thrills. A better balance here would have elevated the viewing experience further. Some moments are stretched unnecessarily.
Certain dialogues between Jonathan and Nancy could have been shortened. Once again, the VFX work isn’t up to the mark. Moreover, after showcasing Will as extremely powerful in the previous volume, expectations around his role increased this time. Those hoping for more exciting developments from his character might feel disappointed. Additionally, it would have been far better if the third episode had ended with a stronger hook leading into the final volume.

Technical Aspects:

Since the final season was shot at once, the production values remain consistent with the earlier episodes. Compared to the last volume, the background score is more effective in the new episodes, with Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein elevating several scenes. The cinematography is superb throughout.

Editing by Dean Zimmerman and Catherine Naranjo is neat, though a few scenes could have been trimmed for a better experience. Directors The Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy did a good job, maintaining emotional depth and showing the friendship elements that fans love. However, including more thrills could have enhanced the impact and taken the new edition to the next level. That aside, their work impresses in these episodes.

Verdict:

On the whole, Stranger Things: Season 5 – Volume 2 offers a decent treat for fans with its emotional depth. The lead actors deliver emotionally charged performances, and most of the elements that fans expect from the series are neatly shown. While the action and thrill quotient fall short, new episodes successfully build the momentum required for the final volume. So, you watch these three episodes and gear up for the explosive conclusion on January 1, 2026.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

0 FacebookTwitterWhatsappCopy Link
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Facebook Twitter Instagram Whatsapp