Andhra King Taluka (2025) Movie ft. Upendra, Bhagyashri, and Ram

Ram Pothineni teams up with Kannada star Upendra and Bhagyashri Borse for a romantic drama that dives deep into fan devotion. Mahesh Babu Pachigolla directs this tale that tries something different for Ram, who desperately needed a winner after a string of disappointments.

Mythri Movie Makers backs the project with solid production quality. Vivek-Mervin, the Tamil composer duo, makes their Telugu cinema debut with the music. Hitting theatres on 27 November 2025, the film attempts to merge a fan’s unwavering dedication with a sweet romance.

What Happens in the Film

Meet Sagar, a young man whose world begins and ends with his screen idol ‘Andhra King’ Surya Kumar. The timeline shifts to 2002, when Surya battles a career low with nine back-to-back disasters and can’t finish his landmark 100th project due to financial troubles.

Things take a surprising turn when 3 crores magically shows up in Surya’s bank account. The money trail leads to Sagar, who lives in Godapalli Lanka, a forgotten village in Godavari with barely any modern facilities. Surya’s journey to find this mysterious benefactor reveals the depths of true fandom.

Ram Reinvents Himself

This is Ram’s strongest work to date, no question. You won’t spot the familiar energetic hero here – just Sagar, a simple fan living his truth. The absence of mass sequences and loud punch dialogues shows real courage.

For someone who built his career on high-octane commercial entertainment, this shift feels brave. Ram brings Sagar’s pure devotion to life with remarkable subtlety. Watching him draw inspiration from movie dialogues and apply them to real life feels genuine, not forced.

The Supporting Players Deliver

Upendra owns every frame he appears in, despite his brief role. His screen time barely crosses 20 minutes, but his emotional weight during the finale leaves a mark. Playing a fading star who finds purpose through his fan’s sacrifice, he makes it look effortless.

Bhagyashri Borse handles her part competently in what’s only her second Telugu outing. She shares good moments with Ram, bringing warmth to Mahalakshmi without going overboard. Rao Ramesh and Murali Sharma demonstrate their mastery in character roles once more.

The Film’s Strengths

Vivek-Mervin’s music stands out as a major plus. The melodious tracks provide soul to the narrative, while the background score supports the emotional beats effectively. Tracks like Nuvvunte Chaley and Chinni Gundelo struck a chord with listeners even before release.

The core emotion between the star and his admirer hits the right notes. Ram and Bhagyashri’s pairing clicks naturally. Director Mahesh shows restraint by avoiding the temptation to stuff the film with commercial gimmicks just to please the gallery.

The second half picks up steam, especially the final 30 minutes. The temple sequence featuring Rao Ramesh and the interval moment with Murali Sharma stay with you. The ending brings all threads together in a manner that justifies the wait.

Problem Areas

The sluggish pace hurts the film badly, mainly during the opening hour. Things drag on unnecessarily while establishing the world. I reckon cutting 10-15 minutes from the first half would have tightened things considerably.

The narrative follows a familiar path. The romance between Sagar and Mahalakshmi offers little surprise, and most plot turns are telegraphed. The love angle also fades into the background after intermission, weakening its payoff.

Certain situations push logic too far. The idea of running a cinema hall on a remote island reachable only by boat seems far-fetched for the 90s setting. The visual effects, particularly during the ferris wheel scene, look unconvincing.

How Critics and Audiences Reacted

Greatandhra.com handed it 2.5/5, appreciating the concept but calling out the excessive length. Cinejosh gave 2.75/5, commending Ram while pointing to predictability issues. IMDb viewers scored it 7.9/10, suggesting audiences warmed to it more than critics.

Deccan Herald described it as compelling despite predictability, crediting performances and music. Most reviewers agreed the emotional sincerity compensates for technical shortcomings. Viewers from Andhra Pradesh seem to relate to it better given the cultural references and sensibilities.

My Take

Andhra King Taluka works primarily because Ram steps out of his comfort zone completely and the director treats fan culture with respect. Sure, the pacing drags and you can guess what’s coming, but the emotional truth in the second half redeems it.

The film understands the special relationship Telugu audiences share with their cinema heroes. The technical departments – music, cinematography, production design – deliver quality work. Supporting actors, especially Rao Ramesh and Murali Sharma, elevate key moments.

If you can sit through the testing first half, the payoff arrives in the emotional second half. It’s not flawless by any stretch, but it feels sincere – and that counts for something.

For those who follow Ram, love cinema, or appreciate stories about dedication, this film has enough going for it.

Rating: 3.5/5