Title: 23 (Iravai Moodu)
Rating: 2.25/5
Cast: Teja, Tanmai Kushi, Jhansi, Pawon Ramesh, Thagubothu Ramesh, Praneeth
Music: Mark K Robin
Cinematography: Sunny Kurapati
Editor: Anil Aalayam
Producer: Venkat Siddareddy
Director: Raj R
Release Date: 16 May 2025
Though a small film with new faces in lead roles, 23 was promoted well — primarily because director Raj R is already known for his acclaimed film Mallesham. The trailer generated attention, giving the impression that this would be another gripping courtroom drama highlighting the brilliant facets of law, justice, and the system.
Let's delve into the content of the film.
Story:
Sagar (Teja) is a young man from a backward community in a village in Guntur district. His love interest, Susheela (Tanmai Kushi), comes from a similar background.
When Susheela becomes pregnant before marriage, Sagar faces pressure to earn money quickly to marry her and care for their future child.
Unable to find a livelihood, he heeds his friend Dasu’s suggestion and attempts a bus robbery disguised as a Naxalite act. They pour petrol inside the bus and threaten passengers. However, the passengers fight back, realizing they are not Naxals but thieves.
To help Dasu escape from the mob, Sagar lights a matchstick and threatens further. Though he doesn’t intentionally throw it, the bus catches fire, killing 23 passengers.
Sagar and Dasu escape, but are soon caught. The rest of the film revolves around the court case — who actually lit the fire, how responsible the two are, and what punishment they deserve.
What happens to Sagar and Susheela’s relationship forms another emotional layer.
Artistes’ Performances:
Teja fits the role, but often appears dull and underplays his emotions with a morose expression.
Tanmai Kushi impresses with her screen presence and ease in performance, but her accent wavers. It lacks the authentic Guntur tone and occasionally slips into a Rayalaseema dialect, which is a bit distracting.
The actor who plays Dasu is a good fit. Other supporting roles are passable, though not particularly effective. Jhansi is a perfect fit for her role, but the character’s potential wasn’t explored deeply enough.
Technical Aspects:
Two to three situational songs stand out — they’re touching and elevate the film's emotional quotient. The background score, however, is formulaic and uninspired. Cinematography is functional, but lacks any standout visuals or artistic framing.
On the dialogue front, there’s inconsistency in regional accents — especially between the leads. This affects immersion and authenticity. Adding to that, the liners based on poetry by the protoganist are sometimes fine and many times boring.
Highlights:
- A couple of emotionally effective scenes
- Some well composed songs
Drawbacks:
- Forced subplots
- Inconsistent focus
- Formulaic presentation
Analysis:
The core idea of the film — that upper-caste individuals escape punishment while lower-caste individuals face harsh consequences — is flawed in its framing. It’s not caste alone, but power and influence that often bend the system. If the director had focused on that nuance, the film could have achieved greater realism and conviction.
While the film begins with a strong premise, it loses direction, diverting into scattered tracks and unfocused emotional subplots. The performances, casting, and direction fail to create the grip needed for a strong courtroom drama.
The track featuring Jhansi as a psychology professor had potential, but its execution is dull and drawn out. Similarly, the library and books subplot drags the narrative and disrupts emotional momentum. The advocate battling cancer may be rooted in reality, but it feels forced in the storytelling.
A film’s story doesn’t need to strictly follow real-life events. Ultimately, it’s about delivering the best emotional experience to the audience.
Several moments — like the hero’s reaction to the question in the court whether he threw the matchstick, are unconvincing.
That said, not everything falls flat. One touching moment toward the climax — where the protagonist meets his daughter — is genuinely moving, although it too could have been more emotionally layered.
A seemingly trivial character, Suresh, feels inspired by Maddelacheruvu Suri’s real-life story. References to car bomb and TV bomb make that influence apparent.
23 (Irvai Moodu) has an interesting concept but falters in execution. It lacks the gripping narration seen in films like Jai Bhim. Courtroom dramas require tight scripts and emotional weight, which this film fails to consistently deliver. The director’s intent to portray real-life inspirations is clear, but the overambition to incorporate multiple elements ends up diluting the cinematic experience.
The climax reminds audiences of Chiranjeevi’s Abhilasha, but fails to recreate a similar emotional impact. This film may appeal to those interested in serious, law-and-justice-themed dramas and might spark a discussion—but not much beyond that.
Bottom Line: Works in Parts
