Movie Name : Trikala
Release Date : May 28, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Ajay, Shraddha Das, Master Mahendran, Sahithi Avancha, Nandha Durairaj,Amani, Sahithi Avancha Sai Dheena, Robo Shankar, Rowdy Rohini, ETV Prabhakar, Ambati Arjun, spyder snjay , Kalloori Vinoth
Director : Mani Thellagutie
Producer : Radhika Srinivas
Music Director : Shajith Humayun
Cinematographer : Pavan Chennal
Editor : Mani Thellagutie
Related Links : Trailer
Trikala, headlined by Master Mahendra, Shraddha Das, and Ajay, is now out in theatres. Let’s see how this fantasy thriller is.
Story:
The story, rooted in the Sanatana Dharma concepts of rebirth and karma, begins centuries ago. A royal dynasty is cursed after committing cow slaughter, due to which every male heir of their lineage is born with a deformity.
What happens after Vaitharan (Ajay), the last heir of the dynasty, is born? Who is Nidhi (Sahithi), the girl who gets acquainted with a young boy named Shiva (Master Mahendra) from Anakapalli through a phone call? Who will save the cursed village of Shankarampalli? And why are a group of sorcerers trying to awaken the spirit of Trikaaluni, which was trapped inside an eggshell? To know the answers, one has to watch the film.
Plus Points:
Those who enjoy fantasy-based subjects will find the core concept of Trikala interesting and refreshing. The film starts on a promising note with its backstory and the introduction of the Trikala concept.
The second half is comparatively better, as many of the confusions are cleared here. The emotional episode featuring Aamani, along with a song sequence, was handled well. The veteran actress delivered a commendable performance. Ajay gave a powerhouse performance in his role. Though his character’s revelation comes a bit late, the director presented it neatly. The actor who portrayed the younger version of Ajay also did a solid job.
Tanikella Bharani, Master Mahendra, and Shraddha Das performed well in their respective roles. The suspense factor manages to keep the audience engaged to some extent in the first half.
Minus Points:
Though the subject chosen is fresh and holds good potential, the narrative isn’t entirely effective and tends to confuse at times. The intriguing core idea gets diluted by a few routine scenes. The way the first half is narrated with abrupt cuts adds to the confusion.
While the second half provides answers to most of the questions, it also gives the feeling that the team spent too much time on buildup, resulting in a dragged-out narrative. After a point, the screenplay slips into a routine zone, but the fantasy and mythological elements make the film bearable.
Additionally, the karma concept linked to Ajay’s character could have been explained with better clarity. The film also lacks nativity, making it feel neither fully Telugu nor Tamil. The poor lip sync affects the viewing experience, and Ajay not dubbing for his own role comes across as disappointing.
Technical Aspects:
The production values, VFX, and the overall setup required for a fantasy film are okayish. At times, the team appears to have relied on AI-generated visuals. The music is decent, and the “Amma” song stands out as a good number. The cinematography is fine.
Director Mani Thellaguti also handled the editing, but that aspect turns out to be below par. The core idea is exciting, but the same cannot be said about the execution. At times, the narrative becomes confusing, while in a few portions it remains mildly engaging. More care should have been taken with the technical aspects.
Verdict:
On the whole, Trikala is a below-par film with some fine moments. Though the idea is interesting, the narrative doesn’t succeed in holding our attention. Ajay did well, and he is ably supported by Aamani. However, the confusing narrative and a few routine elements weaken the overall impact.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team