Yukti Thareja

Review: KJQ (King Jackie Queen) – A crime drama lost in weak execution

by 123telugu August 7, 2026

Movie Name : KJQ

Release Date : August 07, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : Dheekshith Shetty, Shashi Odela, Yukthi Thareja, Muralidhar Goud, Rekha Nirosha, Ankur Vikal and Others
Director : Kiran Kumar
Producer : Sudhakar Cherukuri
Music Director : Poornachandra Tejaswi
Cinematographer : Nagesh Banell
Editor : Shravan Katikaneni

Related Links : Trailer

KJQ – King Jackie Queen marks the final directorial venture of the late Kiran Kumar (KK). Starring Dheekshith Shetty alongside debutant Shashi Odela, the film arrives in theatres today. Does KK’s final outing leave a lasting impression? Let’s find out.

Story :

Partha (Dheekshith Shetty) believes power is everything and rises from rags to riches through violence. His closest friend, Jackie (Shashi Odela), is a ruthless man who longs for a normal, peaceful life. Their lives take a turn with the arrival of heroine Bhargavi (Yukthi Thareja), a bold woman haunted by a troubled past. Partha is determined to make her his own, but Bhargavi wants nothing to do with him. An unexpected turn changes all three of their lives, setting the stage for the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

Dheekshith Shetty gets one of his most challenging roles after Dasara. As the arrogant and power-hungry Partha, he delivers a convincing performance, especially in the third act, where he effectively portrays the character’s darker shades.

Debutant Shashi Odela leaves a respectable impression. Though Jackie isn’t explored as deeply as he could have been, Shashi expresses the character’s inner conflict with sincerity and makes his presence felt whenever he appears.

Yukthi Thareja gets a refreshingly different role. Bhargavi is written with grey shades, and she carries the emotional weight of the character quite well. It is certainly a welcome addition to her filmography. Muralidhar Goud is natural and effective in his limited role, while the supporting cast performs within the scope of their characters.

The film is built around an interesting idea, that circumstances shape people into either good or evil. It is a thought-provoking theme and one that had the potential to become an engaging emotional drama.

Minus Points:

The biggest issue lies not in the story but in the screenplay. Even a familiar premise can become compelling with engaging narration, but KJQ never finds that rhythm. The scenes keep moving, yet the story itself barely progresses, making the film feel considerably longer than its runtime.

While the central idea is okay, the emotional depth needed to support it is missing. The character arcs exist but aren’t explored enough to leave a lasting impact. A love track briefly adds freshness before making way for more violence, leaving the emotional drama underdeveloped.

Compared to the first half, the latter half offers a few better moments, but not enough to lift the overall experience. Characters played by Rekha Nirosha and Ankur Vikal deserved stronger writing, which could have generated more drama.

The songs are pleasant to listen to, especially a couple of melodies, but they don’t organically blend into the narrative.

Technical Aspects:

Kiran Kumar’s vision is evident in a few well-executed sequences, showing flashes of his directorial ability. However, the overall narration settles for a routine gangster drama instead of fully exploring its promising theme. Nagesh Banell’s cinematography gives the film a polished visual appeal, while Poornachandra Tejaswi’s music complements the mood effectively.

Saumit Deshmukh’s sound design also adds value during the action portions. The editing, however, is the weakest technical department. Several repetitive scenes affect the pacing, making a film that runs under two hours feel noticeably longer. The production values are good throughout.

Verdict:

On the whole, KJQ – King Jackie Queen is a below-par action drama that wastes a promising idea with weak execution and an uneven screenplay. Dheekshith Shetty impresses with a committed performance, Shashi Odela makes a confident debut, and Yukthi Thareja gets a refreshingly different role. However, sluggish narration, repetitive storytelling, and underdeveloped drama prevent the film from leaving any impact. Despite competent technical work, KJQ ends up as a forgettable outing.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

August 7, 2026

Review: Kiran Abbavaram’s K-Ramp – Only for a Few Laughs

by 123telugu October 19, 2025

Movie Name : K-Ramp

Release Date : Oct 18, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Kiran Abbavaraam, Yukti Thareja & Others.
Director : Jains Nani
Producers : Razesh Danda, Shiva Bommak
Music Director : Chaitan Bhardwaj
Cinematographer : Sateesh Reddy Masam
Editor : Chota K Prasad
Related Links : Trailer

Kiran Abbavaram is back with a commercial entertainer “K-Ramp” directed by debutant Jains Nani. Yukti Thareja played the female lead. The movie is now out in theatres, and let’s see how it is.

Story:

Kumar Abbavaram (Kiran Abbavaram) is a carefree youngster and the son of a millionaire who leads a lavish, carefree life. To bring some discipline into him, his father Krishna (Sai Kumar) sends him to a college in Kerala, where he meets Mersi Joy (Yukti Thareja) and falls for her instantly. Gradually, Mersi too develops feelings for him. However, a twist arises when Kumar learns about Mersi’s disorder. What is this disorder? What happens next? And how does Kumar find a solution? These questions form the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

Kiran Abbavaram is a livewire in K-Ramp. His high energy levels, effortless body language, and amusing expressions infuse liveliness and vibrance into the film. Though Kiran has played similar roles before, his performance here feels fresher and more impactful. The improvement in his acting is commendable.

Unlike regular commercial flicks, the heroine’s role here isn’t limited to songs or glamour, as the entire story revolves around the female lead. Yukti Thareja not only looks beautiful but also makes a solid impression with her performance. Playing a character with a rare disorder, she delivers her part convincingly.

After a below par first half, the latter half offers more entertainment with a good number of comedy sequences that keep us invested for the most part, though not entirely satisfying. The ending is fine and the chemistry between the lead pair is pretty good.

Minus Points:

The Kerala setting doesnt add much value to the story as the director doesn’t make use of the backdrop effectively, resulting in a lack of authenticity. The father sentiment in the second half is brought all of a sudden and feels forced too. Had the emotional scenes been presented well, the film could have been even more compelling.

The first half is uneven with formulaic and routine sequences. The love track feels generic, and there aren’t any standout moments in particular. Only a handful of scenes work in the first hour, while the remaining portions are flat. Though Naresh’s track is given a fair ending, it might be disturbing for a few sections.

It is only during the interval that the movie turns interesting with the introduction of the key twist. The proceedings are quite slow at times, and the editing could have been sharper.

Technical Aspects:

Chaitan Bharadwaj’s songs are decent overall, with the Kalale Kalale song standing out from the rest. The background score is quirky, matching well with the film’s theme. Sateesh Reddy Masam’s cinematography is neat, and the colorful frames bring a festive vibe. The production values are good, while the editing needed improvement.

Coming to director Jains Nani, he did an okay job with his debut project. While the first half has many issues, he tries to makes up for it with an entertaining second half but succeeds only partly. An important psychological problem is addressed in a commercial manner.

Verdict:

On the whole, K-Ramp tries to be a full-on fun entertainer with an emotional touch but succeeds only to an extent. The first half feels routine and isn’t engaging, while the second half fares better with some comedy episodes. Kiran Abbavaram is a bundle of energy in K-Ramp, and Yukti Thareja complements him well. However, the emotional scenes don’t pack enough punch, limiting the film’s overall impact. Hence, K-Ramp ends up being just an okay watch.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

October 19, 2025

Review : Unni Mukundan’s Marco – Strictly for action lovers

by 123telugu January 1, 2025

Movie Name: Marco
Release Date : January 01, 2025

Rating: 2.75/5
Starring : Unni Mukundan, Ishaan Shoulath, Abhimanyu S Thilakan, Yukti Thareja , Kabir Duhan Singh, Siddique, and others

Director: Haneef Adeni
Music Director: Ravi Basrur
Editor: Shameer Muhammed
Producer: Shareef Muhammed
Cinematographer:Chandru Selvaraj
Related Links:Trailer

After creating a sensation in Mollywood, Unni Mukundan’s violent action movie Marco hits the big screens today in Telugu states. Check out the review to find out how the film fares.

Story:

After Victor D’Peter (Ishaan Shoukath), a blind man, is brutally murdered by Russell (Abhimanyu S Thilakan) and his gang, Victor’s foster brother Marco D’Peter (Unni Mukundan) returns from Italy, driven by a thirst for vengeance. As Marco uncovers the truth behind his brother’s death, he learns that Russell is the one responsible. But who exactly is Russell, and why did he kill Victor? What dark secrets lie behind Victor’s tragic end, and how far is Marco willing to go in his quest for vengeance? The movie holds the answers.

Plus Points:

Unni Mukundan’s portrayal of Marco stands out with his intense performance, marking a departure from his previous roles. His physical transformation is evident, and he executes brutal action sequences precisely.

The action scenes, especially in the second half, are well-choreographed and provide an adrenaline rush for action enthusiasts. Kalai Kingson deserves credit for designing these sequences, which are not only well-executed but also disturbingly graphic, adding a shocking element to the film.

Though he has limited screen time, Kabir Duhan Singh makes a strong impact, especially in his face-off with Mukundan. The supporting cast also contributes positively to the film.

Minus Points:

While successful in the action department, Marco struggles with its narrative. The plot is straightforward and lacks the depth to make it memorable. The emotional weight of Marco’s quest for vengeance feels underdeveloped, leaving little for the audience to connect with emotionally.

The protagonist’s motive is simplistic, limiting emotional investment and weakening the stakes of his mission. Additionally, the film’s graphic violence and gory sequences may be overwhelming for family audiences and those sensitive to explicit visuals.

While the excessive violence is integral to the story, it may be off-putting to viewers who aren’t accustomed to such intensity. Moreover, while introducing many characters, only a few receive sufficient development, leaving the rest feeling underutilized.

Technical Aspects:

From a technical standpoint, the director’s ambition to create a violent, action-packed film is clear. However, the lack of a strong narrative weakens the emotional impact. A more developed emotional core could have balanced the intense action and made the film more engaging.

The music, composed by Ravi Basrur, serves its purpose but doesn’t significantly enhance the film’s intensity. Some tracks feel recycled from his earlier works, reducing their impact.

The film’s impressive cinematography and production values contribute to its visual appeal. However, the editing, particularly in the first half, could have been more concise.

Verdict:

On the whole, Marco is a violent action film aimed at a niche audience. Unni Mukundan gives an acceptable performance, and the action scenes are intense. However, the graphic violence makes it unsuitable for family audiences and faint-hearted people. While the action is engaging, the film lacks emotional depth and a strong story. It will appeal to those who enjoy brutal action, but its simple plot and emotional gaps may not connect with everyone.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

January 1, 2025

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