Badmashulu Movie Review

"Badmashulu" is a term commonly used in Telangana with a lighthearted meaning. A film with the same title has now hit the screens. Directed by Shankar Cheguri, the film stars Mahesh Chintala, Vidyasagar Karampuri, and Muralidhar Goud in lead roles. The trailer received a positive response, and with strong promotions, this small-budget movie gained decent attention. Released on June 6, it carried good expectations. So, how did it fare? Let’s find out in this review.

The film is a comedy entertainer set in a Telangana rural backdrop. The story revolves around two village drunkards, Tirupati and Muthyalu, whose characters reflect real-life people we might see in our own villages. Every supporting role in the film adds local flavor and humor. The director delivers a good message at the end, but it feels like the focus was more on comedy than story depth. Some scenes remind viewers of the film "Jathi Ratnalu." However, since the story runs around a single idea, the pace feels a bit slow despite the short runtime, and not all comedy scenes land effectively.

There are moments that generate laughs—like one character selling fabric meant for stitching clothes just to buy alcohol, or a barber who shaves only half a face before rushing to the bar. These characters have scope for more humor, but the director mostly used routine scenes that only partly worked. The story drags until a theft leads the characters to a police station. The comedy in the police station is fun, though the interval scene feels predictable. The second half again circles around the theft, which becomes tiresome. The climax delivers a thought-provoking message. The film is clean, with no vulgarity or double-meaning dialogues, making it suitable for family viewing. However, a stronger script could have delivered better results.