Movie: Andhra King Taluka
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Mythri Movie Makers
Cast: Ram Pothineni, Upendra, Bhagyashri Borse, Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma, Satya, Rahul Ramakrishna, Tulasi, Harshavardhan, Ravjee Kanakala, VTV Ganesh, Raghu Babu, and others
Music: Vivek & Mervin
DOP: Siddhartha Nuni
Additional DOP: George C Williams
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Production Designer: Avinash Kolla
Fight Master: Pruthvi
Producers: Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar
Story - Screenplay - Direction: Mahesh Babu P
Release Date: November 27, 2025
Ram Pothineni has invested significant time and energy into this film and promoted it aggressively, displaying immense confidence in the project. His on-screen chemistry with Bhagyashri Borse also sparked dating rumors, which further contributed to the strong buzz around “Andhra King Taluka.”
Now the question is: does the film live up to the expectations?
Story:
The story is set in between 1987 to 2002 in a village near Rajahmundry. Sagar (Ram Pothineni) is a die-hard fan of superstar Surya (Upendra). He is in love with his college mate Mahalaxmi (Bhagyashri Borse), who is also the daughter of the local theatre owner, Purushottam (Murali Sharma).
The village lacks proper electricity, and the villagers are often looked down upon by people from the nearby town. Purushottam not only opposes Sagar and Mahalaxmi’s relationship but also humiliates Sagar repeatedly.
In response, Sagar challenges him, declaring that he will build a theatre in his own village by the time his favourite star Surya releases his landmark 100th film.
The rest of the story explores how Surya’s life becomes interconnected with Sagar’s journey and whether Sagar and Mahalaxmi’s love story finds a happy ending.
Artistes’ Performances:
Ram Pothineni appears more at home in roles like these than in his mass-action characters such as “iSmart Shankar.” His chemistry with Bhagyashri Borse is refreshing, and their romantic track works well. In emotional moments too, Ram delivers with sincerity and conviction.
Bhagyashri Borse looks beautiful as Mahalaxmi, a rural Andhra girl, and performs the role with honesty. Her acting is convincing, and she shares a warm screen presence with Ram.
Upendra is an excellent choice to play superstar Surya. His image as a good-hearted person adds credibility to the character. His performance in the crucial climax portions is outstanding. Though his screen time is limited, he makes a strong impact.
Murali Sharma fits effortlessly into his role. Rao Ramesh gets a few good moments. Tulasi is adequate. Rahul Ramakrishna does a neat job, while Satya is okay.
Technical Excellence:
Vivek–Mervin’s music is good. “Nuvvente Chale” and “Chinni Gundelo” are standout tracks and look beautiful on screen.
The cinematography is sharp, capturing the scenic beauty of the Godavari region with rich and appealing visuals.
Production design and overall production values are solid. However, the film is noticeably overlong and would have benefited from significant trimming.
Highlights:
Freshness in story
The final moments
Ram Pothineni and Bhagyashri Chemistry
Drawback:
Prolonged narration
Dips and downs at many places
Analysis
The title “Andhra King Taluka” might initially seem like an attempt to cash in on the recent “Deputy CM Taluka” trend that surged after Pawan Kalyan’s political victory in Andhra Pradesh. While the naming does appear commercially driven, it is still connected to the story.
The film offers a narrative that stands apart from the usual love stories or the kind of entertainers typically chosen by mid-range stars like Ram Pothineni.
The central premise, where a hero accepts a challenge to earn money and prove himself worthy of marrying the antagonist’s daughter, is familiar territory.
From Chiranjeevi’s “Challenge” onward, Telugu cinema has explored this theme several times. What sets “Andhra King Taluka” apart is director Mahesh Babu P’s attempt to weave this conventional thread with another: the emotional bond between a movie star and his ardent fan.
These two strands, the love story between Sagar and Mahalaxmi and Sagar’s connection with his idol Surya, merge in a way that builds towards an engaging climax. This becomes the film’s core strength.
The film opens with Upendra’s arc as a superstar struggling through multiple flops and financial troubles surrounding his hundredth film. A life-changing incident pushes him to seek out his die-hard fan Sagar. From here, the narrative shifts to Sagar’s life in a remote village, gradually revealing how his journey runs parallel to Surya’s, even though the two characters do not meet until the end.
The first half revolves around predictable elements such as fan group rivalries, village antics, and a blossoming romance. It takes its time getting to the central conflict. However, the interval portions, especially the kiss sequence and the challenge setup, finally inject some energy into the proceedings.
The second half feels familiar with scenes that show the hero motivating villagers to pursue development, rapidly earning money to build a theatre, and confronting unexpected obstacles. These episodes do not break new ground, but they manage to hold interest. The climax is handled with confidence.
Where the second half falters is in its stretched narration and the overly convenient resolutions to major problems. The romantic track also moves to the background, which reduces its emotional impact.
Overall, despite its relatively fresh theme, the film feels forced, with unconvincing ideas like building a theatre on a remote island where people can commute only by boat. It’s hard to believe that a touring talkies setup in the late ’90s could pull such large crowds from nearby villages. “Andhra King Taluka” is a genuinely good concept, but the execution falters for the most part. The last 30 minutes, however, make it worthwhile to watch. That said, audiences don’t come to the theatre just to enjoy the final half hour, they expect the entire film to be thoroughly engaging.
Bottom-line: Climax works!
