Movie: Raju Weds Rambai
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Dolamukhi Subaltern Films, Monsoon Tales
Cast: Akhil Uddemari, Tejaswi Rao, Shivaji Raja, Chaitu Jonnalagadda, Anitha Chowdary, Kavitha Srirangam and others
Director of Photography: Wajid Baig
Editor: Naresh Adupa
Art director: Gandhi Nadikudikar
Producers: Venu Udugula, Rahul Mopidevi
Written and directed by: Saailu Kaampati
Release Date: November 7, 2025
The makers of “Raju Weds Rambai” have gone all out with promotions despite the film not featuring any big stars. Adding to the buzz, the director boldly declared that if the film receives negative feedback, he would walk wearing nothing but his underwear, a statement meant to reflect his confidence in the content.
Let’s find out whether the film truly justifies such strong conviction.
Story:
Set in a Telangana village in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, the story follows Raju (Akhil Uddemari), who makes a modest living by performing with his local band. He is in love with Rambai (Tejaswi Rao), the compounder’s daughter at the local government clinic.
Having loved her for years, Raju finally proposes to her. Rambai, charmed by his band skills, reciprocates his love even though her father insists she marry only a government employee.
The film then tracks the hurdles the couple faces as Rambai’s father fiercely opposes their relationship. Whether their love withstands these pressures and what unexpected twists await them forms the crux of the story.
Artistes’ Performances:
Both the lead actors, Akhil Uddemari and Tejaswi Rao, fit their roles well. Akhil’s performance has shades reminiscent of Sumanth Prabhas, yet he brings his own sincerity and conviction to the character.
Tejaswi Rao is effortlessly natural, and she shines particularly in the climax portions.
Chaitu Jonnalagadda superbly portrays both sides of the character: the superiority complex stemming from his government job and the insecurity rooted in his physical disability.
Kavitha Srirangam as his wife, along with Shivaji Raja and Anitha Chowdary as the hero’s parents, contribute effectively with their grounded performances. The actor playing “Damber” manages to generate some laughs.
Technical Excellence:
The film is made on a modest budget, and the camerawork is decent, capturing the village and natural locations effectively.
Suresh Bobbili’s music works well for the film, with the songs adding emotional weight. However, the editing, particularly the lack of sharpness in crucial sequences, and the uneven screenplay stand out as major drawbacks.
Highlights:
Natural performances of the lead pair
The climax portion
Certain episodes
Drawback:
Inconsistency
The ‘story theme’ is overused
Prolonged narration
Analysis
New director Saailu Kaampati presents a story inspired by real incidents he witnessed years ago. He has long wanted to bring the lives of Raju and Rambai to the screen, and he narrates their journey in a grounded, realistic manner.
For viewers who walk in without prior knowledge, the climax comes as a genuine surprise. It is evident that the director has placed considerable trust in that final twist.
Once the heroine’s father appears, it becomes obvious that he will be the main antagonist in their love story. Even so, the central twist is neatly preserved and revealed at the right moment. The issue lies in the road leading up to it.
The screenplay needed more grip and emotional force to elevate the drama. This is where the director, his writing team, and the editor stumble.
The film opens in a familiar tone, similar to recent rural Telangana dramas that highlight wedding mutton jokes, carefree heroes who wander around the village, or characters who drink with their friends. Here, the protagonist is shown drinking with his buddies but also portrayed as someone responsible enough to earn a living through his band performances.
For a change, the heroine’s attraction is tied not to singing, dancing, poetry, or charm, but to the hero’s band beating skills. Their romance that blossoms through band music is engaging in the beginning. The comic bits involving the hero’s friend who gets excited about the movie Aruguru Prativatalu or watches adult clips on his phone also land well. But the narrative begins to lose direction after a point.
Certain sequences are troubling, especially the scenes where the hero hits the heroine with a stick. The depiction of Chaitu Jonnalagadda’s character abusing his wife and daughter also feels uncomfortable. The film drags through stretches of uneven scenes until it reaches the final act.
Some moments work, others do not. This lack of consistency becomes the film’s biggest drawback. The core message and thematic idea have been explored in several recent films, including the latest “Dude,” yet the final twist and the underlying message here are still impactful.
Overall, “Raju Weds Rambai” is another attempt at a realistic rural drama that leans heavily on its climax. While the message and ending land well, the uneven narration, overly long sequences, and a protagonist who is hard to relate to dilute the experience.
Bottom-line: Rural Drama
