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Srivathsan Nadadhur

Independent Film Critic

Srivathsan Nadadhur is a senior entertainment journalist with over 11 years of media experience who writes about movies, literature, culture, and lifestyle and has contributed to The Hindu, Times of India, Deccan Herald, The News Minute and Film Companion in the past.

All reviews by Srivathsan Nadadhur

Image of scene from the film Kishkindhapuri

Kishkindhapuri

Horror, Thriller (Telugu)

(Written for The Hindu)

Bellamkonda Sreenivas’ horror thriller is watchable, but plays it safe

Fri, September 12 2025

Though director Koushik Pegallapati’s Telugu film offers a potent mix of drama, horror, humour and thrills, it doesn’t rise above the sum of its parts

Film after film, horror enthusiasts continue to get a raw deal as storytellers lazily rehash old tropes for cheap thrills — a haunted house, mysterious deaths, a ghost with a flashback, a possessed woman, and a man who braves it all to end the menace. However, Kishkindhapuri is at least forthright about not being any different, embracing its masala mishmash exterior earnestly. Kishkindhapuri, while showcasing glimpses of a tragedy at a radio station in the 1980s, shifts to a contemporary timeline with the story of a much-in-love couple, Raghav (Bellamkonda Sreenivas) and Mythili (Anupama Parameswaran), who offer spooky experiences in haunted houses through their ghost walking tours. The tours, while deceptively curated, bank more on their participants’ fears.

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Image of scene from the film Inspector Zende

Inspector Zende

Comedy, Drama (Hindi)

(Written for M9 News)

Manoj Bajpayee Shines, Film Falls Short

Sun, September 7 2025

After a notorious serial killer, Carl Bhojraj, escapes from Tihar Jail, Mumbai cop Zende, who had previously caught him 15 years ago, is tasked to find him again. With a small team, Zende pursues the elusive criminal across cities, using his instincts and old-school policing to track him down. The cat-and-mouse chase culminates in Goa, where the team uses their wits to capture Carl. Inspector Zende puts Manoj Bajpayee in a similar spot as The Family Man – a duty-bound officer, alternating between familial priorities and work, but with stronger moral support. He lends delicate, subtle comedy touches to the role and also shows Zende’s firmness about his stance, both at home and at duty. The balance that Bajpayee brings to the part is indeed one of the film’s sweeter spots.

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Image of scene from the film Kammattam

Kammattam

Crime (Malayalam)

(Written for M9 News)

Pacy Thriller Leads Nowhere

Sun, September 7 2025

Samuel Umman, a businessman involved in real estate, is killed in a road accident. Antonio George, entrusted with the case, smells something fishy. An investigation into Samuel’s life leads him to a confidante, Francis. He unearths an alleged loan scam in connection with a local cooperative bank. A thug Shaji, Samuel’s own son Ebin, and a few bank employees are also under the scanner. It’s Sudev Nair and Arun Sol, who enjoy bulk of the screen-time in the show. Sudev’s past appearances in both positive/negative roles work in favour of his casting, though Arun gets better scope to deliver a portrayal with space for histrionic talents. Akhil Kavalayoor, Ajay Vasudev, and Kalfan have one-note roles, and they deliver okayish performances. The women hardly have any prominence and get to make much impact.

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Image of scene from the film Little Hearts

Little Hearts

Comedy, Romance, Drama (Telugu)

(Written for The Hindu)

This young romance is a relentless laughathon

Sun, September 7 2025

An irreverent love story about two misfits, this Telugu film benefits from strong performances of its leads

Cinema, a melange of art and commerce, is no exception to the rule of demand and supply. As fascination with hyper-masculine angry men, larger-than-life missions, and the love for grey shades is on the wane, there emerges a need for cinema that is more relatable and inhabited by characters who don’t hesitate to poke fun at their own flaws and vulnerabilities. A few Telugu films this year — Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, Mad Square, Single, Subham, Sarangapani Jathakam — highlight this gradual shift, which is reiterated by this week’s release, Little Hearts, directed by Sai Marthand. It exemplifies an often-quoted perception among cinephiles on social media — a film aware of its own silliness is indeed intelligent. Little Hearts is a love story about two misfits (as deemed by their families). Unable to clear his engineering entrances, Akhil (Mouli Tanuj) is compelled to undertake long-term coaching due to his father’s (Rajeev Kanakala) insistence. Khatyayini (Shivani Nagaram), daughter of a medico, is no different — except she is attempting MBBS for the fourth time. The scenario is ripe for love to blossom.

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Image of scene from the film Shodha

Shodha

Thriller (Kannada)

(Written for M9 News)

Modestly Watchable Thriller

Fri, August 29 2025

Rohith, a lawyer by profession, arrives at the police station to claim that his wife, Meera, is missing. After a work trip, he’d returned home to surprise Meera on her birthday. Meanwhile, Meera’s sister Aditi takes charge of the situation at home, shielding his daughter Tara from the confusion. A woman, claiming to be Rohith’s wife, lands at home, whom he asserts is an imposter. Where’s the case headed? Shodha doesn’t demand much from its cast, for it barely settles down, not giving any performance enough time to register well. Pawan Kumar (who also helped with the adaptation), as the protagonist, gets the maximum screen time and plays a multi-layered role minus any overt exaggeration. Yet it isn’t a performance you’d call memorable; it fits the bill and that’s about it.

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Image of scene from the film Songs of Paradise

Songs of Paradise

Music, Drama, Family (Hindi)

(Written for M9 News)

Inspiring Story, Dull Biopic

Fri, August 29 2025

Songs of Paradise is a film based on the life and journey of Padma Shri awardee Raj Begum, the first female singer of Radio Kashmir. The story follows Noor Begum (name changed) who defies societal norms to pursue her passion for music. It is a tale of her resilience and the struggles she faced to break free from the shackles of a conservative society to become a celebrated artist. With a solid lineup, but none of the familiar faces deliver any meaningful performances. Soni Razdan’s presence barely captures the aura of a legendary singer. Saba Azad looks mostly confused and struggles to embody the character’s rebellious spirit. Sheeba Chaddha is one of the major disappointments, saddled with a one-dimensional and unsubstantial role.

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Image of scene from the film Tribanadhari Barbarik

Tribanadhari Barbarik

(Telugu)

(Written for The Hindu)

Sathyaraj leads a taut, self-aware redemption drama

Fri, August 29 2025

Smart screenplay and well-written character arcs lend a new appeal to a worn-out, formulaic story in Mohan Srivatsa’s Telugu film

There is a certain degree of freedom that storytellers enjoy with a film that is not tailored to suit an actor’s image. One can sense that liberation in director Mohan Srivatsa’s Telugu film Tribanadhari Barbarik, which, despite being a done-to-death redemption drama centred on a missing child, rises above the limitations of its genre, thanks to crisp storytelling and well-etched characters. The title, Tribanadhari Barbarik, is a reference to Ghatotkacha’s son in the Mahabharata; he is a gifted warrior who vows to support the losing side in the war. The film’s protagonist, Shyam Kathu (another name for Barbarik, played by Sathyaraj), a psychiatrist, is a warrior-like figure for his granddaughter Nidhi, who goes missing one night. The grandfather will not rest till he finds her.

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Image of scene from the film Sundarakanda

Sundarakanda

Romance, Comedy (Telugu)

(Written for The Hindu)

Nara Rohith’s romcom is a mixed bag

Fri, August 29 2025

Director Venkatesh Nimmalapudi’s Telugu film has a quirky concept, good situational humour, but is too inconsistent to be engaging

In Sundarakanda, Siddharth (Nara Rohith) faces a quintessential problem common to most middle-aged protagonists in Telugu cinema’s romcoms. The parents are worried that their ageing son may never get married, while the typical man-child will not agree to a girl unless she matches his specific requirements. However, the Nara Rohith starrer gives this idea a cheeky little twist and playfully subverts it. The film’s title is a throwback to Venkatesh’s 1992 hit by the same name, and there is enough thematic similarity between the two to establish a clear connection. While the former featured an unconventional equation between a male teacher and a feisty student, the 2025 film is a tale of a man who turns a teacher to woo his lady love (creepy, yes), tackling ageism with tongue-in-cheek humour.

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