Telusu Kada Review: Siddhu Shines, But Story Lacks Soul

Story Overview

Telusu Kada traces the emotional journey of Varun (played by Siddhu Jonnalagadda) as he navigates love, marriage, and self-discovery. The film explores how his ambitions and relationships shape his identity, especially after a breakup and subsequent marriage. Things take a complicated turn when his former lover reappears, causing emotional turmoil between Varun, his wife (Raashii Khanna), and his ex (Srinidhi Shetty). Whether Varun ultimately attains the happiness he dreams of forms the emotional core of the movie.

Performances

Siddhu Jonnalagadda, as Varun, leaves a strong impression from the very first frame. His confident screen presence and understated charisma give depth to his character. Siddhu’s styling and demeanor perfectly suit the role, and his performance in emotionally charged scenes feels authentic. His energy anchors the film throughout, making it far more engaging than it might have been otherwise.

Raashii Khanna plays her role with poise but lacks a standout emotional moment that truly lingers. The same goes for Srinidhi Shetty — both actresses perform competently, but their characters don’t leave a significant impact once the film ends.

Analysis

Director Neeraja Kona, known primarily as a stylist, makes her directorial debut with Telusu Kada. She takes a familiar relationship-driven storyline and attempts to infuse it with emotional layers and a modern attitude through the lead character.

The setup is clear from the beginning — we’re introduced to Varun’s personality, his heartbreak, marriage, and the complications that follow. The screenplay moves neatly at first, and the conversational writing keeps things engaging despite the small cast.

However, the first half struggles to feel natural. Conflicts come across as predictable or contrived, and certain scenes — such as why Srinidhi Shetty’s character Raga stays at Varun’s home — feel overly staged. The result is a setup that feels designed rather than organic.

Musically, the songs fit nicely into the flow, and visually they’re presented with polish. The snappy dialogue and Siddhu’s personality help sustain interest through the first half, even without a major interval twist. Overall, the beginning half feels breezy and watchable, if somewhat conventional.

The second half, however, falters. The central conflict begins when Raashii Khanna’s character makes a defining decision about her relationship, but this turning point is handled abruptly, without emotional weight. The narrative that follows lacks authenticity, and the exchanges between the trio feel mechanical rather than heartfelt.

The later songs don’t match the earlier ones, and an attempt at comedy during a family function disrupts the emotional flow. By the time the film reaches its conclusion — with Varun finally achieving his dream of a perfect family — the moment fails to evoke genuine emotion, underscoring how forced the entire arc feels.

Neeraja Kona’s attempt to offer a fresh take on modern relationships is commendable, but the uneven writing and lack of emotional depth keep the film from leaving a strong mark.

In short, Telusu Kada works best if you go in with modest expectations — mainly to enjoy Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s confident performance and the few refreshing ideas sprinkled throughout. It’s a one-time watch for fans of relationship dramas, though not everyone will connect with its approach.

Supporting Cast

Among the limited supporting characters, Harsha Chemudu stands out. This time, his comic timing and natural ease are utilized well, breaking away from his usual typecast roles. His performance brings lightness and charm to several moments, and the writing gives him enough room to shine — a pleasant surprise in a film so focused on its leads.

Technical Aspects

Music: S. Thaman provides the soundtrack, with two songs in particular standing out in the first half. They’re well-shot and complement the narrative flow. His background score maintains a mellow, moody tone that fits the emotional nature of the story — a departure from his usual energetic soundtracks, but effective nonetheless.

Cinematography: Gnana Shekar captures the film with rich visuals, adding to its aesthetic appeal.

Production: Backed by People Media Factory, the film’s production values are neat and polished, aligning with its romantic-drama tone.

Highlights

• Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s powerful presence and natural attitude
• Engaging first half setup
• Well-written dialogues
• Two visually appealing songs

Lowlights

• Forced and predictable conflicts
• Weak emotional core in the second half
• Underdeveloped female characters
• Artificial dramatic moments

Verdict

Telusu Kada shines in parts but stumbles in execution. Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s performance is easily the film’s biggest strength, but the emotional writing doesn’t quite live up to its potential. With a tighter script and more authenticity in the relationships, this could have been a more impactful romantic drama.

Rating: A decent one-time watch.