Movie Name : Tunnel
Release Date : Sep 19, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Atharvaa Murali, Lavanya Tripathi and others
Director : Ravindra Madhava
Producer : A. Raju Nayak
Music Director : Justin Prabhakaran
Cinematographer : Hari Kiran
Editor : Kalaivanan R
Related Links : Trailer
Atharvaa and Lavanya Tripathi’s action thriller Tunnel is now out in theatres. Let’s see how the film is.
Story:
The movie begins with tense encounters between the Police and some bank robbers. Later, a gang headed by Ashwath Kakamanu starts eliminating the officers who were responsible for the encounters. Ashwath plots something big to create unrest among the Police department, and a newly recruited cop (Atharvaa) gets entangled in the unexpected chaos.
Plus Points:
Atharvaa Murali is earnest in his portrayal. As a carefree youngster and a sincere cop, he shows good variation. Instead of projecting him as a larger-than-life hero, the director presents him as a normal cop with vulnerability, which works well.
Ashwath Kakamanu fits the bill as the antagonist, delivering a convincing performance that makes him seem more powerful than the protagonist. His scenes with Atharvaa came out well. Visually, the film looks slick, especially during the slum sequences. Lavanya Tripathi is decent in her role. Artists who played Atharvaa’s friends did what was expected of them.
The film opens on an interesting note with an encounter between robbers and police. Later, a group of newly recruited cops gets stuck in a maze-like situation, making things interesting. The interval sequence builds tension fairly well, and action episodes are neatly executed.
Minus Points:
The romantic subplot in the first half derails the impact of a promising start. Though a few jokes land, the track mostly feels like filler and adds little to the main plot. The film regains momentum only after the flashback ends.
The main drawback of Tunnel is its done-to-death flashback in the second half, which is neither engaging nor has any surprising factor. To make things worse, it was presented in an animated format. Since we have seen the template umpteen times, there should be some freshness to root for the characters. There was no effort to bring some novelty.
As a result, the intended sympathy angle misses the mark, and the ending feels routine. Despite the short runtime, the pre-climax and climax portions are dragged heavily. There’s also some confusion in the Telugu version about the story’s setting.
Technical Aspects:
Justin Prabhakaran’s background score is fine in tense moments. There aren’t many songs, and the ones present are so-so. Sakthi Saravanan neatly captures the night-time action blocks with elegant visuals. The editing could have been better since the second half feels prolonged. The production values are fair.
Writer-director Ravindra Madhava has come up with an overly familiar story. Though he delivered some decent moments here and there, it all boils down to the routine flashback and social messaging, making the film underwhelming on the whole.
Verdict:
On the whole, Tunnel is a routine revenge drama with some decent moments here and there. This Atharvaa starrer had the potential to be a good thriller, but it stuck to the age-old revenge formula and didn’t provide the desired emotional depth. Atharvaa and Ashwath Kakamanu did a fine job, and action blocks look good, but the film falls short ultimately due to the run-of-the-mill backstory and a dragged climax.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team
Movie Name : Beauty
Release Date : Sep 19, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : Ankith Koyya, Nilakhi Patra, Vijaya Naresh Krishna, Vasuki Anand, Prasad Behara and others
Director : J S S Vardhan
Producer : Adidhala Vijaypal Reddy
Music Director : Vijay Bulganin
Cinematographer : Shrie Saikumaar Daara
Editor : Sb Uddhav
Related Links : Trailer
Ankith Koyya and Nilakhi Patra, in her Telugu debut, appear as a love pair in Beauty. Vardhan is the director of this movie, and director Maruthi presented it. It was released in theaters today and here is our review of the film.
Story:
Alekhya (Nilakhi Patra) is a college student. Her father Narayana (Naresh), a cab driver, pampers her a lot. She wishes for a scooter, and he hardly made it happen. On the other hand, the young girl falls in love with a stranger Arjun (Ankith Koyya), who met her unexpectedly. Things deepen and one day her mother (Vasuki) finds out her love matter. Afraid of that, Alekhya elopes with him to Hyderabad. Her father is on search for her and goes to Hyderabad. There comes a shocking twist in the tale. What happened to the couple? Are they safe? Did Narayana find them? Does it end up on a happy note? Watch the main movie to find out.
Plus Points:
Ankith Koyya delivers an okay performance, showing dual shades of his character reasonably well. Nilakhi Patra appears in a hyperactive role, and while a few of their combination scenes work, most fail to engage.
Veteran actor Naresh stands out as the caring father, and his emotions feel genuine. Fathers with daughters may connect to his portrayal. Vasuki fits adequately as a middle-class mother, though her role is limited.
The twist in the second half is somewhat interesting, offering a change in perspective, though it arrives too late to fully redeem the narrative.
Minus Points:
The story, despite having a relevant theme for the current generation and their parents, suffers from poor execution. The first half drags with unnecessary scenes, awkward interactions, and dialogues that often feel cringe-worthy. The lead pair’s over-the-top performances could have been toned down without losing the essence of their romance.
Even in the second half, until the twist unfolds, the characters behave as if they are on a vacation, and many situations feel unrealistic. By the time the twist arrives, the audience is largely disconnected.
Scenes like childish love tracks and repeated sequences add to the fatigue. Prasad Behra’s character contributes nothing meaningful, and some of the heroine’s irritating actions unintentionally provoke laughter rather than emotion.
Naresh’s performance is the only consistent factor that keeps the audience partially engaged. More focus on his bond with his daughter could have improved the film’s emotional impact.
Technical Aspects:
Director Vardhan attempts to tell a relatable story but falters in execution. The screenplay fails to hold attention, especially in the first half and in scenes between the lead pair. Cinematography by Shrie Sai Kumaar Daara is functional but unremarkable. Editing, particularly in the early portions and initial moments of the second half, slows down the narrative further. Vijay Bulganin’s music is average. A few songs are passable, but the background score does little to enhance the story. Production values are adequate but offer nothing noteworthy.
Verdict:
On the whole, Beauty is a love story that barely holds attention and fails to leave any impact. The minor positives, including Naresh’s natural performance and a twist that arrives too late, are not enough to save the film. The leads deliver uneven performances that fail to bring their characters to life, and their over-the-top acting in several scenes only makes the film harder to connect with. Repetitive sequences and flawed execution make it a tedious watch. It’s better to skip this one and explore other films for a more entertaining weekend.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team