Movie Name : Madhushala
Release Date : March 31, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 1.75/5
Starring : Varalaxmi Saratkumar, Manoj Nandham, Annie, Ravi Varma, Inaya Sulthana, Tanikella Bharani, Raghubabu, Getup Srinu, Rocket Raghava, and others
Director : G Sudhakar
Producer : Potluri Satyanarayana
Music Director : Sebastian Vargheese
Madhushala is a Telugu movie that premiered directly on ETV Win. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar plays one of the key roles in this OTT film. Check out our review to find out how it is.
Story:
Set in 1991, Pallavi (Annie), the daughter-in-law of MLA Satyam (Goparaju Ramana), goes missing. The MLA claims that his opponent, Venkat Rao (Benarji), is behind her disappearance. Soon, it is revealed that several people, including Madhuravani (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar) and Durga (Manoj Nandham), are involved. Who are these individuals? Do they have any enmity with the MLA or Pallavi? What really happened to her? Is she dead? Who is the mastermind behind it all? The answers unravel in the main movie.
Plus Points:
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, despite her limited screen time, does an okay job. Negative-shaded roles suit her well, but unfortunately, her character lacks depth. Manoj Nandham also puts in a passable performance.
Other actors, including Raghu Babu, Getup Srinu, Goparaju Ramana, and Ravi Varma, perform decently within the limitations of their roles.
Minus Points:
Much like its 1990s setting, the story feels outdated. The narrative is uninspired, and the execution is weak, making it difficult to stay engaged.
Even with a simple story, strong characterisations could have elevated the film. However, artificiality dominates, and several characters feel completely miscast. Why waste a talented actor like Thanikella Bharani in such an insignificant role? What was the point of casting so many well-known actors only to underutilise them?
Scenes progress randomly without any coherence. A crime thriller should build tension and evoke emotions, but here, even when a serious incident occurs, the characters barely react. This lack of depth in writing is a major letdown.
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar’s performance is okay, but her character serves no great purpose in the story. It’s unclear why she accepted this role, as her scenes are poorly written and fail to add any intrigue.
Technical Aspects:
Director G. Sudhakar completely fails to make Madhushala even a passable crime drama. Weak writing and an uninspired screenplay ruin any potential the film might have had. Technically, the film is just average. The cinematography is decent, but the re-recording is terrible. For instance, the constant creaking sound of the wooden swing (Oonjal) is more irritating than atmospheric. The sound design, in general, makes the viewing experience even worse. Editing is another weak point – several unnecessary scenes should have been trimmed to improve pacing. Production values are also nothing special.
Verdict:
On the whole, Madhushala is a dull and lifeless crime drama that offers nothing exciting. Apart from a few moments from Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Manoj Nandham, the performances are forgettable, and the writing lacks engagement. The screenplay is weak, and the film never manages to create any real intrigue. Even the cast didn’t bother promoting this movie, which speaks volumes about its quality. It’s best to skip this forgettable film and watch something truly worth your time.
123telugu.com Rating: 1.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team