Rajeev Kanakala

OTT Review: D/o Prasad Rao: Kanabadutaledhu – Telugu series on ZEE5

by 123telugu February 28, 2026

Web Series : D/o Prasad Rao: Kanabadutaledhu
Streaming Date : Feb 26, 2026
Streaming Platform : ZEE5
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Rajeev Kanakala, Vasanthika ,Uday Bhanu ,Gayatri Bhargavi ,Hima Bindu
Director : Krishna Poluru
Producer : K.V.Sri Ram
Music Director : Sri Ram Maddury
Cinematographer : Ram K Mahesh
Editor : Chandrashekar.G.V

Related Links : Trailer

ZEE5 has now come up with a Telugu crime thriller web show titled D/o Prasad Rao: Kanabadutaledhu. The series stars Rajeev Kanakala, Udaya Bhanu, and Vasanthika in the lead roles. Let’s see how it is.

Story:

Prasad Rao (Rajeev Kanakala), belonging to Chittoor district, runs a grocery store to make a living. He has a daughter named Swathi (Vasanthika), who is the first graduate in their family. Swathi gets a job in Hyderabad, but Prasad Rao initially hesitates to send her. Upon the request of family members and relatives, he finally agrees.

Prasad Rao accompanies his daughter and helps her settle in a hostel in Hyderabad. One month after joining the job, Swathi goes missing, and the news becomes a sensation in the media. Multiple suspects make it challenging for the police to crack the mystery.

Plus Points:

With D/o Prasad Rao: Kanabadutaledhu, the makers tried to address an important issue regarding parenthood and the upbringing of a girl child. Though the message hasn’t been conveyed in the most effective way, it is good that the issue has been addressed, and the series might spark discussions about its theme.

The performances of Rajeev Kanakala, Udaya Bhanu, and Vasanthika are on point. Rajeev Kanakala is a seasoned actor who can portray any role effortlessly. Though his screen time is limited, he makes the most of it and leaves a good impact.

90s fame Vasanthika plays Rajeev Kanakala’s daughter, and she is impressive in her role. The character is a mix of innocence and confidence, and the young actress portrays it neatly. Popular anchor Udaya Bhanu impresses with her strong screen presence. There are some decent moments here and there that are somewhat interesting.

Minus Points:

The antagonist’s character initially feels fierce, but it doesn’t conclude in a compelling manner. A lot was promised in the initial segments of the show, but by the end, the character feels underdeveloped. A few more portions featuring the villain with greater depth and detail would have elevated the show overall.

Major reveals happen in the final episode, one after another, making things feel heavily rushed. Several significant developments occur all of a sudden, and hence, the show doesn’t leave the desired impact.

The investigation portions needed more spark, as they feel quite generic in nature and also lack logic in certain places. There is a dialogue where Udaya Bhanu says the culprits will slip their tongue if they are made to wait for a long time, but surprisingly, she fails to notice the same when the murderer exhibits nervous behaviour.

Technical Aspects:

Ram K Mahesh’s cinematography and Sri Ram Maddury’s background score are neat and sit well with the story. The editing is crisp, and the show mostly moves at a brisk pace. The production values are fine, too.

Director Krishna Poluru picks up a good point, but the narrative isn’t gripping enough to hold the audience’s attention throughout. Apart from a few moments, the show doesn’t work much. More care should have been taken with the investigation portions and the closure of the antagonist’s character.

Verdict:

On the whole, D/o Prasad Rao: Kanabadutaledhu is a well-intended crime thriller with a good message, but it falters in execution. The investigation sequences are not very exciting, and some crucial portions needed more depth to create a stronger impact. Rajeev Kanakala, Vasanthika, and Udaya Bhanu deliver good performances, but the underwhelming storytelling affects the overall impact.

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

Click Here For Telugu Review

February 28, 2026

Review: Nawab Cafe – Disappointing emotional drama

by 123telugu February 21, 2026

Movie Name : Nawab Cafe

Release Date : Feb 20, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : Shiva Kandukuri, Teju Ashwini, Rajeev Kanakala
Director : Pramod Harsha
Producers : Radha V Papudippu & Venkat R Papudippu
Music Director : Prashanth R Vihari
Cinematographer : Kranthi Varla
Editor : Pavan Narava

Related Links : Trailer

Shiva Kandukuri has now come up with the emotional drama Nawab Cafe. Initially the movie was titled Chai Wala, but due to censor board objection, the title was changed later. The movie hit the big screens today, and let’s see how it is.

Story:

Ranganath (Rajeev Kanakala) owns a cafe named “Nawab Cafe” in the Old City of Hyderabad, which carries a legacy of over four centuries. Raja (Shiva Kandukuri), the son of Ranganath, dislikes his father’s business and wishes to settle abroad. However, unexpected circumstances force Raja to take over the cafe, where he is confronted with hidden challenges.

Plus Points:

Rajeev Kanakala is a gem of an actor who slips into any character effortlessly, and he is at his usual best in Nawab Cafe too. As a man who wants to protect his family’s legacy and as a father trying to put some sense into his son’s mind, the senior actor does a solid job.

Shiva Kandukuri portrayed his role neatly. There are two variations in his character. Till the midpoint, he is shown as a fun-loving youngster who loves to live life to the fullest, while he becomes a completely responsible son in the second half. Performance-wise, the actor did well. A few moments before the interval, where the hero gets involved in an argument with his father and the female lead, explaining his life goals to them, came out well.

Minus Points:

The main problem with Nawab Cafe is its screenplay, which remains boring for the most part. The narrative feels outdated, and there is absolutely no urgency in the proceedings, with the director taking all the time in the world to arrive at the conflict point.

The first half tries hard to evoke laughs, but the comedy tracks are pale, poorly designed, and fall flat entirely. The romantic drama between the lead pair also isn’t appealing. The movie closely resembles Dhanush’s latest film Idli Kadai in crucial scenes, and the drama isn’t captivating enough to look beyond the resemblance.

The director places emphasis on emotion in the second hour, but here things get even more tiresome, with scenes failing to leave an impact. The dialogues are badly written, giving a sense of outdatedness in many scenes.

The antagonist’s character and his motive offer nothing new and have been beaten to death. Hence, Chaitanya Krishna’s role hardly makes any difference. The same goes for the female lead’s characterization. Teju Ashwini doesn’t have much to shine and is largely restricted to the background.

Technical Aspects:

Prashanth R Vihari’s music is okay, with one song looking good on screen. The cinematography by Kranthi Varla is fine, and the production values are decent. The production design team did an effective job, and the Old City setting is neatly presented. The editing is not satisfactory, as the movie drags on.

Pramod Harsha is both the writer and director of Nawab’s Cafe, and he has done an okayish job. Some moments are fine like the pre-interval portions, but more care should have been taken with the emotional moments in the second half. The story isn’t fresh, and the screenplay brings fatigue due to the lack of engaging moments. More care should have been taken with the emotional scenes.

Verdict:

On the whole, Nawab Cafe is a disappointing emotional drama that suffers from a routine story and a tiresome narrative. Rajeev Kanakala and Shiva Kandukuri are good in their respective roles, but the rest of the cast hardly had any scope. Both halves are filled with boring moments, and the film has very little to offer.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

February 21, 2026

Review: Little Hearts – A Timepass Rom-Com That Appeals to Youth

by 123telugu September 6, 2025

Movie Name : Little Hearts

Release Date : Sep 5, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Mouli Tanuj Prashanth, Shivani Nagaram, Rajeev Kanakala, SS Kanchi, Anitha Chowdary, Sathya Krishnan
Director : Sai Marthand
Producer : Aditya Haasan
Music Director : Sinjith Yerramilli
Cinematographer : Suriya Balaji
Editor : Sreedhar Sompally
Related Links : Trailer

YouTuber Mouli Tanuj Prasanth steps into the lead role with Little Hearts. The film, directed by first-timer Sai Marthad and featuring Shivani Nagaram as the female lead, is a youthful rom-com that hits theatres today. Here’s what it has to offer.

Story:

Nalli Akhil Kumar (Mouli) is far from a bright student, though his father, Nalli Gopal Rao (Rajiv Kanakala), is determined to see him become an engineer. After a poor EAMCET rank, Akhil ends up in a long-term MPC coaching center. There, he meets Khatyayani (Shivani Nagaram), a fellow struggler from the BiPC stream. Love blossoms gradually, but just when Akhil plans to confess, an unexpected truth rattles him. What does he learn? How does it affect his feelings for her? And can the relationship survive parental and personal hurdles? That’s what the film explores.

Plus Points:

Mouli carries over the same easy charm that made him popular on YouTube. His comedy feels unforced, his timing is sharp, and those simple, innocent expressions make him instantly relatable. He doesn’t try to act like a larger-than-life hero, and that actually works in his favour.

Shivani Nagaram has a pleasant screen presence, and her pairing with Mouli feels genuine. She matches him in lighter moments and adds warmth to the romantic track.

The supporting cast adds good colour. Jai Krishna is full of energy, Rajiv Kanakala brings weight to his scenes, and Nikhil Abburi chips in as well. Together, they make sure the humour never runs dry.

Some scenes, especially the ones where Akhil tries to impress Khatyayani, are genuinely funny. The jokes don’t feel forced, and a couple of songs blend in without killing the flow.

Minus Points:

The narrative is familiar and feels simple, but the comedy scenes make you forget that most of the time.

The supporting roles could have been utilized better. Both Rajiv Kanakala and Jai Krishna feel underused, and with a bit more screen time, they could have added greater impact.

The pacing dips slightly after the twist but is mostly saved by the comedy. However, the climax wraps up too quickly. A tighter script might have maintained the momentum throughout.

Clearly, the film is aimed at college audiences, targeting youth viewers. It works well for them, but those looking for depth or emotional weight may find it too light.

Technical Aspects:

Director Sai Marthad, in his debut, handles the comedy portions with confidence but can’t escape the weak script. Suriya Balaji’s cinematography is clean, Sinjith Yerramilli’s music adds some mood, and Sreedhar Sompally’s editing could have been sharper in the second half. Production values are fine, nothing flashy, but they do the job.

Verdict:

On the whole, Little Hearts is a timepass rom-com that delivers laughs throughout. Mouli, Shivani, and Jai Krishna keep things lively, but the thin story, occasional pacing issues, and rushed climax prevent it from leaving a stronger impact. It works well with young audiences, who will likely enjoy it. Some viewers may not find it as entertaining, but for most, it’s an enjoyable watch and a good option for the weekend.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

September 6, 2025

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