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India Today
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Junior review: Kireeti Reddy's film is a jack of all but king of none
When one thinks of a commercial entertainer, what comes to mind? A connecting plotline, a strong yet charming protagonist, a little love story, lots of singing and dancing, action sequences to spice things up, an occasion to rise up to, and loads of drama with a dash of twists. When these aspects are mixed in the right proportions, the organic chemical reaction concocts an entertaining and directed by Radha Krishna Reddy, 'Junior', starring debutant Kireeti Reddy in the lead alongside Sreeleela, Genelia Deshmukh and V Ravichandran, has all the aspects of a commercial entertainer mentioned above. However, finding the right balance between all of them is where the sweet spot lies. Has the team managed to hit the right spot? Let's find out!Abhi, short for Abhinav (Kireeti), enters college as a junior, running away from his father Kodanda's (Ravichandran) unconditional - and sometimes overwhelming - love. While Abhi's way of living life gets established through his friends narrating their college experiences, the real story begins when Abhi joins an internship at a Fortune 500 company, following his college romance, Spoorthy (Sreeleela). Vijaya (Genelia) is a terrifying authoritative figure at the company, and Abhi gets in her crosshairs from the very first moment of his journey there. In an attempt to showcase his talents to her, Abhi, while working on a project, uncovers a scam that the company has been party to. What happens when Abhi discloses this information? What actions does the company take to resolve the issue? How many more elements will this film add to its narrative? The answers to these questions - and more - make up the plot of the film.'Junior' is an entertainer, but only in parts. The film is packed with familiar emotional beats - echoes of 'Ranna' or 'Attarintiki Daredi' and 'Murari' can be felt in its family sentiments and the college drama, including the so-called romantic angle with Sreeleela, which is presented in a hashed-out template that is anything but new. While these tropes are used effectively to push the story forward, the film struggles with inconsistencies that bring a noticeable lag to the Radha Krishna Reddy seems to lose grip on his storytelling at regular intervals, resulting in a product that feels uneven and occasionally disjointed. The biggest let-down, however, comes in the climax - what should have been a high point of resolution ends up being underwhelming and anticlimactic, leaving behind a sense of dissatisfaction despite the film's scattered moments of charm.'Junior' has a launch vehicle written all over it, and debutant Kireeti makes the most of the opportunity. He showcases a wide range of talents, bringing a certain swag and almost ballet-like grace to his movements on screen. With this film, the industry has clearly found another exceptional dancer and his athleticism also allows him to pull off complex action choreography with surprising ease and the trailer here: In 'Junior', there are some moments where Kireeti's performance is absolutely flat, evidently struggling to match expressions with his experienced co-actors. While his inexperience and lack of commanding screen presence are hard to miss, what stands out is the visible growth in his performance, even within the same film. His noticeable improvement in acting proficiency from one scene to another speaks of his promising either due to the spike in her career or a packed shooting schedule, virtually disappears from the narrative post-interval, only to return for the dream sequence dance number 'Viral Vayari'. Genelia Deshmukh, on the other hand, makes a solid comeback to South Indian cinema with a neatly written role, delivering a composed and impactful performance. Veteran Kannada actor V Ravichandran serves as the emotional anchor of the film, and he brings both warmth and gravitas to the screen, doing full justice to his meaty technical crew of 'Junior' generated considerable buzz ahead of release, boasting top industry names like KK Senthil Kumar handling cinematography, Devi Sri Prasad composing the music, and several other seasoned technicians onboard. However, the output remains strictly average. While the technical aspects do blend with the narrative and serve the film adequately, they lack the spark or innovation one would expect from such a 'Junior' is a mixed bag - an ambitious launchpad that ticks all the boxes of a commercial entertainer but struggles to strike the right balance. It shines in parts, particularly in showcasing Kireeti's potential as a performer, but falters with an inconsistent narrative and underwhelming technical execution. Backed by familiar emotional beats and scattered moments of charm, the film offers a passable theatrical experience, though it never quite rises above the template it so heavily relies on.- Ends2.5 stars out of 5 for 'Junior'
NDTV
27-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Men From Higher Caste Beat Dalit Family Cultivating Field, Snatch Seeds
In an incident that has, once again, raised troubling questions about caste violence and land rights in rural India, a Dalit family has been brutally attacked with sticks while cultivating land they claim belongs to them. On Friday, members of the family were sowing seeds in their land in Narayanpura village of Madhya Pradesh's Lateri tehsil when some people, allegedly from the Gurjar community, attacked them. The men not only beat up members of the family, including two women, but also snatched their soybean seeds and sowed them in their own field. Four people, including the women, suffered serious injuries and were admitted to the Lateri Government Hospital. A video of the attack has gone viral, triggering outrage and an attack on the government from the opposition. The victims, from the Ahirwar community, say the assault was unprovoked and targeted. Bhagwat Singh Ahirwar, who is among the injured, said, "We were sowing seeds on our own land when Murari, Hansraj, Gudda, Parvat, and Bunty came and started beating us. They hit the women too. They took away our seeds and later sowed them in their field as if to assert their dominance." Authorities have said a portion of the land in question could be government property, and that may have led to a dispute. The Ahirwar family, however, said the land legally belongs to them and that they were repeatedly pressured by the accused not to cultivate it. Vidisha Superintendent of Police Rohit Kashwani said: "There was a dispute between two parties. We are investigating based on the medical report. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty." The Congress has slammed the ruling BJP government and called the attack another example of rising atrocities against Dalits in Madhya Pradesh. District Congress President Mohit Raghuvanshi said, "This is not just a land issue - it is caste oppression. The Dalit family was cultivating their own land when they were attacked. The Congress stands with the victims and demands immediate arrest of the culprits." Vidisha Collector Anshul Gupta also hinted that part of the land may be government-owned. "The ongoing case between two parties would be decided expeditiously and no encroachment on government land will be allowed by anyone," he said.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
S S Rajamouli recreates Varanasi city in Hyderabad for Mahesh Babu's next, leaked pictures go viral
Director SS Rajamouli, who is known for making films on a massive scale, has been aiming with each forthcoming project to take the grandeur a notch higher. He is now shooting for his upcoming film featuring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead roles. Two key schedules of the film have been wrapped up, and a fresh schedule will start in Kenya soon. A fan of Mahesh Babu? Stream his films Murari and Okkadu on OTTplay Premium A source close to the unit tells us that a key incident in the film is set in Varanasi. As it is tough to shoot in the real location, Rajamouli has asked his team to construct a key portion of Varanasi in Ramoji Film City. The set work is nearing completion, and images of the massive set have already leaked on social media. The source goes on to add that the makers have spent close to ₹50 crore on these sets alone. Every detail is being paid attention to, and knowing Rajamouli, he is not leaving any stone unturned to make the set look authentic. Reports suggest that a few key scenes and a massive action sequence featuring the lead, Mahesh Babu, will be canned on this set. Like his previous films that featured extensive scenes shot against the green mat backdrop, the upcoming film too will follow suit. A few top VFX companies from Hollywood are working on the film's graphics, and crores of rupees are being spent on the same, informs the source. The big-budget action-drama has a Ramayana connection, as news has emerged that Mahesh Babu's character goes on a hunt for a special jadi buti (medicinal herbs and roots) across the world. With the mythological angle also being part of the film, this untitled project is much-anticipated, and some huge numbers are being quoted by the makers for its theatrical rights.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Father's Day special: Sitara's adorable selfies; Fans gush over Mahesh Babu's long-hair look
Picture Credit: Instagram Mahesh Babu 's daughter, Sitara Ghattamaneni share a couple of mirror selfies with her superstar father, today on Father's Day . Selfie with her father The 12-year-old shared two fun-filled photos on her Instagram handle with her father. In one of the pictures, Sitara flashes a cheerful 'V' sign with her fingers. The second photo includes a Mahesh Babu with only half of his face visible, as he stands beside his daughter. The actor is seen in long, fizzy hair for his upcoming role in the SS Rajamouli directorial 'SSMB29'. In the caption, Sitara wrote, "happy fathers day nana i love u so much" Young star in the making At just a young age, Sitara Ghattamaneni is already a fan-favourite on social media. She enjoys a massive social media following, with 2.2 million followers on Instagram alone. She also runs a YouTube channel with 339K subscribers, where she shares lifestyle content, travel vlogs and more. Sitara also features in promotional content alongside Mahesh Babu, including viral advertisements and brand endorsements. During an interview with iDream Media, she once revealed that she often bunks school "half the time" because of her father. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Sitara explained, "Half the time I bunk school is because of my dad. On days he doesn't have work…I don't know how he does it; he persuades my mother (Namrata Shirodkar) to let me not go to school. It's great and lovely, we have fun together." She described how, despite seeing her father as a hero on screen, at home he is simply "just my dad." She also mentioned that she enjoys watching all his films in theatres, including classics like 'Murari' during its re-release. On the work front, Mahesh Babu was last seen in 'Guntur Kaaram' and is now engrossed in the upcoming mega film 'SSMB29' directed by SS Rajamouli. The movie also stars Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
News18
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Mahesh Babu's Fan Brings Real Snake To Khaleja Screening, Rattles Vijayawada Theatre
Last Updated: Mahesh Babu's fan tried to re-create his entry scene from Khaleja and brought a live snake to the theatre. Mahesh Babu's 2010 film Khaleja was re-released in theatres on Friday, May 30. While some fans expressed their excitement by dancing in the theatres and cheering for the actor, one fan took this a notch higher by reportedly bringing a real snake to the cinema hall. As per reports, a fan in Vijayawada carried a real, live snake to the theatre to re-create a scene from the film. Khaleja features Mahesh Babu walking in a desert with a snake- one of its most popular scenes. In an attempt to pay homage to the actor, his fan brought a live snake to the movie theatre. At first, people thought that it was fake, perhaps a toy. However, when the animal moved on its own, people realised it was a live snake. Actor #MaheshBabu mass fans, celebrates the #KhalejaReRelease in Telugu States, by throwing paper cuttings in theatres.A crazy Mahesh Babu fan took fandom to a wild level on #Khalej4K a viral video a crazy fan was holding a snake inside the fully packed theatre,… — Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) May 30, 2025 Murari – Marriage Invitation cardsMufasa – CatSVSC – Flower potKhaleja – Snake #Khaleja4KFromMay30th — S S Karthikeya🧢 (@PavanFANofMB) May 17, 2025 This triggered panic in the Vijayawada theatre. Videos of the incident have gone viral across social media platforms. The videos feature the fan holding the snake and dancing with the animal. His face was covered by a cloth. While it was unclear whether the snake was poisonous or not, it rattled the audience in the theatre. About Khaleja Released in 2010, Khaleja is a Telugu action-comedy film that showcased a different side of superstar Mahesh Babu. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas, the movie was produced by C. Ashwini Dutt under the banner of Vyjayanthi Movies. Co-starring Anushka Shetty as the female lead, the film also featured prominent actors like Prakash Raj, Shafi, and Rao Ramesh in pivotal roles. In Khaleja, Mahesh Babu plays a rugged taxi driver who stumbles into a remote village plagued by a mysterious illness. As he uncovers the truth, he is drawn into a larger-than-life conflict involving corruption, spiritual belief, and environmental degradation. Trivikram's screenplay infused the narrative with witty dialogues, philosophical undertones, and a blend of action and humour. While the film received mixed reviews upon its release and had an average run at the box office, it has since achieved cult status among fans. First Published:
