Pawan Kalyan

Movie Name : Ustaad Bhagat Singh

Release Date : Mar 19, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Pawan Kalyan, Sreeleela, Raashii Khanna, Parthiban, Rao Ramesh, KS Ravikumar, and others
Director : Harish Shankar.S
Producers : Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili
Music Director : Devi Sri Prasad and Thaman
Cinematographer : Ayanaka Bose
Editor :  Karthika Srinivas

Related Links : Trailer

After a 14-year hiatus, Pawan Kalyan and Harish Shankar have reunited for a new film titled Ustaad Bhagat Singh. This cop action drama hit the big screens today amid positive buzz. Check out the review to find out how it is.

Story:

Chadhala Marri Nalla Nagappa (Parthiban), who aspires to become the Chief Minister of Telangana, hatches a plan to assassinate the current CM Chandrasekhar Rao (KS Ravikumar). Meanwhile, his son heads to the Nallamalla forest for a getaway but goes mysteriously missing. During the investigation, it is confirmed that Ustaad Bhagat Singh (Pawan Kalyan) is behind his disappearance. Who is he? What led to the rift between him and Nagappa? What circumstances triggered these events, and what is his true motive? The film unravels all these answers.

Plus Points:

The buzz around the actor-director combo returning with Ustaad Bhagat Singh is significant. Expectations were high, especially with Pawan Kalyan returning to dance numbers after a long gap.

Pawan Kalyan delivers in his trademark style. He is at ease in action sequences, which will appeal to fans. His dialogue delivery lands well, though the comedy works only occasionally.

Parthiban puts in a composed performance. While his character lacks a strong impact, he manages to hold his presence. A few face-off moments between him and Pawan Kalyan are effective.

The recreation of the “Ee Manase” song from Tholi Prema is a clear fan-service moment and works in that space. The Mahankali fight sequence stands out as a solid high point, presenting Pawan Kalyan in a powerful light.

Sreeleela shines in few scenes and she looks lovely on screen. The second half has a few entertaining stretches, mainly driven by action and dialogue-heavy moments aimed at fans.

Minus Points:

The film leans heavily on familiar commercial tropes, making the narrative predictable. The story offers little novelty and follows a safe, formula-driven path. Harish Shankar prioritises elevating the star over building a strong screenplay, which limits the film’s overall impact.

The supporting cast is underutilised. Rao Ramesh, Gowtami, and Raashii Khanna have limited scope. Raashii Khanna’s role feels particularly unnecessary and lacks proper closure, making her portions ineffective.

The first half struggles due to weak writing and ineffective comedy, giving it a stretched and uneven feel. The film only shows some improvement in the latter portions.

Thaman’s music is underwhelming. The background score and songs feel repetitive, with noticeable similarities to his earlier work, reducing their impact.

The film could have benefited from stronger emotional depth. Sreeleela’s character could have been written with more nuance, while KS Ravikumar delivers a neat and functional performance within his role.

Technical Aspects:

Harish Shankar had the chance to deliver a stronger film but opts for a predictable narrative. A tighter script could have significantly improved the overall result.

Cinematography by Ayananka Bose is adequate. Thaman’s score is average and affected by repetition. Editing by Karthika Srinivas could have been sharper, especially in the first half. Production values are decent.

Verdict:

On the whole, Ustaad Bhagat Singh is a formula-driven action drama that delivers a few fan-pleasing moments. Pawan Kalyan’s presence and select action sequences work in its favour. However, a predictable storyline, weak first half, and underdeveloped characters hold it back. It may appeal to fans, but for a wider audience, it remains a routine commercial outing.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team