OTT

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

by 123telugu July 11, 2026

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

Click Here For Telugu Review

July 11, 2026

OTT Review: Gram Chikitsalay Season 2 – Hindi Series on Amazon Prime Video

by 123telugu June 23, 2026

Web Series Name : Gram Chikistalay S2
Streaming Date : June 23, 2026
Streaming Platform : Prime Video
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring :Amol Parashar, Vinay Pathak, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Akash Makhija, Garima Vikrant Singh, Dinesh Lal Yadav
Director : Lalitam Anand
Producer : Arunabh Kumar
Music Director : Rohit Sharma
Cinematographer : Girish Kant
Editor : Chandrashekhar Prajapati

Related Links : Trailer

After a gap of nearly a year, Gram Chikitsalay Season 2 arrives with a new challenge for Dr. Prabhat Sinha and his team. Created by TVF for Amazon Prime Video, the Hindi-language series is now streaming. Has the new season improved on the shortcomings of its predecessor? Let’s find out.

Story:

Having adapted to life in Bhatkandi village and its people’s mindset, Dr. Prabhat Sinha (Amol Parashar) continues to struggle with low patient turnout and a shortage of medicines at the PHC. He soon learns that winning the Ideal PHC Award could secure the resources the centre desperately needs. Determined to achieve the goal, Prabhat sets out to transform the PHC, only to face a new condition that threatens his plans. What is this condition, and can he overcome the challenges that follow? The series reveals the answers.

Plus Points:

Whether the makers took audience feedback into account or simply refined their approach, Season 2 is a noticeable improvement over its predecessor. The central conflict is more interesting, the narrative feels more focused, and the overall content works better than what the first season offered.

Amol Parashar maintains consistency in the lead role and shows slight improvement compared to the previous season. Anandeshwar Dwivedi as Phutani and Akash Makhija as Gobind once again emerge as the major strengths of the series, delivering several entertaining moments through their comic timing. Gobind’s subplot, centred on his desire for a permanent job and marriage, is among the better-written portions of the season, with Akash Makhija handling the character’s emotional conflict with sincerity and conviction.

Akansha Ranjan Kapoor as Dr. Gargi has limited screen presence and therefore doesn’t get much scope to showcase her abilities. Vinay Pathak is dependable as Dr. Chetak Kumar, while Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua) is adequate as Babu Saheb.

The final episode deserves special mention. While not every emotional beat lands perfectly, it still delivers a few heartfelt moments, particularly through Moushami Bharti’s character, and provides the season with a satisfying conclusion.

Minus Points:

The biggest drawback of the season is its pacing. Despite having only five episodes with runtimes of around 30–40 minutes each, the narrative often feels stretched. The core conflict is decent enough on its own, making the slow storytelling feel unnecessary.

The Ideal PHC Award storyline gives the season a stronger purpose, but the sluggish narration frequently dilutes its impact. Several supporting characters, particularly Gargi and Babu Saheb, are given emotional moments, yet their arcs lack the depth needed for those scenes to leave a stronger impression.

The makers seem keen on maintaining a light-hearted tone throughout, which works for the most part. However, the background score often signals emotions before the scenes are allowed to create them naturally.

Similarly, the subplot involving Dr. Chetak Kumar’s daughter feels underexplored and ultimately comes across as a missed opportunity. While the writing succeeds in making the season better than its predecessor, several emotional moments could have carried greater weight with deeper character development and tighter execution.

Technical Aspects:

Director Lalitam Anand handles the direction competently and keeps the series accessible throughout. The writing team, including Vaibhav Suman and Shreya Srivastava, improves upon the foundation laid in the first season by presenting a more focused narrative. However, the screenplay still struggles with pacing issues and occasionally falls short of fully exploring its emotional and character-driven moments.

Girish Kant’s cinematography is satisfactory and captures the rural setting effectively. Rohit Sharma’s music complements the narrative reasonably well. The editing by Chandrashekhar Prajapati is arguably the weakest technical aspect of the season. A tighter edit could have significantly improved the viewing experience and made the series more engaging. The production values remain decent throughout.

Verdict:

On the whole, Gram Chikitsalay Season 2 is an improvement over the first season, thanks to a better central conflict and a few commendable performances. While the finale and certain emotional moments work to an extent, the persistently slow pacing and underdeveloped supporting arcs prevent the series from making a stronger impact. With tighter writing and sharper execution, it could have been a far better watch. Give it a try only if you have the patience for a slow-burn rural drama and are willing to overlook its shortcomings.

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

Click Here For Telugu Review

June 23, 2026

OTT Review: Madhur Dixit’s Maa Behen – Hindi Film on Netflix

by 123telugu June 4, 2026

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

Click Here For Telugu Review

June 4, 2026

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