Release Date: October 17, 2025
Director: Neeraja Kona
Cast: Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Raashii Khanna, Srinidhi Shetty, Harsha Chemudu, Ravi Mariya, and Rohini
Music: Thaman S
Production House: People Media Factory
Introduction
There are love stories that make you smile, and then there are love stories that make you think. Telusu Kada falls in the second category. It is not your regular boy-meets-girl film with happy songs and predictable endings. This one comes packed with a lot of emotions, confusion, and modern-day relationship drama that tries to stay real.
Directed by Neeraja Kona, who is known for her work as a stylist and costume designer in Tollywood, Telusu Kada marks her bold step into direction. The movie stars Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Raashii Khanna, and Srinidhi Shetty in the lead roles, forming a love triangle that’s both complicated and touching at the same time.
Storyline (Without Spoilers)
Varun (played by Siddhu Jonnalagadda) is a young, ambitious man who seems to have his life sorted but is emotionally confused deep inside. His world takes a turn when two very different women enter his life — Anjali (Raashii Khanna), a confident and strong-minded woman, and Raaga (Srinidhi Shetty), who is sensitive, calm, and carries her own emotional baggage.
What starts as a simple connection slowly becomes a web of emotional decisions. Varun finds himself caught between love, loyalty, and personal identity. The film doesn’t glorify any side; instead, it focuses on how relationships can be messy, real, and filled with shades of gray.
Unlike most romantic films that try to end on a happy note, Telusu Kada dares to explore heartbreak and how people evolve after love ends.
Cast Performances
Siddhu Jonnalagadda as Varun
Siddhu once again shows his effortless charm. He brings life to Varun, a man who looks confident from the outside but fights emotional storms inside. His dialogues, especially during the emotional breakdown scenes, hit hard. Some fans even say it’s his most mature performance till date.
Raashii Khanna as Anjali
Raashii shines bright and surprises the audience. Her character isn’t the typical love interest — she’s bold, self-aware, and speaks her mind. In one interview, she mentioned that the climax scene made her cry for real, and you can feel that emotion onscreen. She balances grace and intensity beautifully.
Srinidhi Shetty as Raaga
Srinidhi, who impressed everyone in KGF, gets a softer and layered role here. She brings a certain calmness to the chaos of Varun’s world. Her eyes say a lot more than her dialogues, and she manages to hold her ground in front of two strong co-stars.
Supporting Cast
Harsha Chemudu brings the much-needed comic touch, while Ravi Mariya and Rohini add maturity and depth in their brief roles. Everyone fits perfectly in Neeraja’s emotional world.
Direction – Neeraja Kona’s Fresh Touch
For a first-time director, Neeraja Kona does a pretty solid job. You can see her background as a stylist reflecting in every frame — the visuals are classy, and the characters always look naturally beautiful.
She focuses more on the feelings than the dialogues, which makes some scenes stay in your mind long after they end. However, some portions in the second half could have been trimmed because the pacing drops a bit. Still, Neeraja deserves full credit for bringing a woman’s perspective into Telugu romantic dramas.
Cinematography and Visuals
The film is shot by Gnana Shekar V. S., and the cinematography is definitely one of its strongest points. From rainy city roads to dimly lit apartments, every frame looks visually appealing. The use of warm tones adds emotion and nostalgia to the story.
There are several montage sequences with Thaman’s background score that blend emotions with visuals perfectly. The camera work gives Telusu Kada that “big screen feel” while keeping it emotionally intimate.
Music and Background Score
S. Thaman, known for his energetic scores, goes for a more soulful tone this time. The songs “Mallika Gandha” and “Sogasu Chudatharama” are already chartbusters, and they sound even better when seen in context with the movie.
The background score is subtle but emotional. It doesn’t overpower the dialogues but quietly adds to the mood. Especially during emotional breakdown scenes, Thaman’s strings and piano notes give a haunting feel.
Editing and Technical Work
Editor Naveen Nooli could have been a little sharper in the second half, as a few scenes stretch longer than needed. But overall, the film maintains good continuity. The costume design (by Sheetal Sharma) is top-notch — you can clearly feel Neeraja’s fashion sense.
The production design by Avinash Kolla deserves a shout-out too. The locations, homes, and cafes look modern yet relatable, reflecting the lifestyle of today’s young adults.
What Works in Telusu Kada
- Fresh Concept – Instead of typical love-triangle clichés, the film explores emotions and heartbreak in a realistic way.
- Performances – All three leads deliver strong performances, especially Siddhu and Raashii.
- Visuals & Music – Stylish visuals and Thaman’s music elevate the story.
- Emotional Depth – Some scenes really hit you with raw emotions and relatable pain.
- Women’s Perspective – Neeraja’s storytelling gives female characters more depth and individuality than seen in many Telugu romances.
What Doesn’t Work
- Pacing Issues – The second half drags a little, especially during emotional confrontations.
- Too Much Drama – A few scenes feel overly sentimental and stretched.
- Urban-Centric Story – The movie might not connect much with mass audiences expecting fun or action.
- Predictable Ending – While emotional, the climax could have been more surprising.
Public and Critical Reception
Upon release, Telusu Kada received mixed-to-positive reviews from both audiences and critics. The first half was praised for being engaging, modern, and emotionally gripping. However, some reviewers felt the second half became slow and too introspective.
Social media reactions were more positive, especially praising Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s natural acting and Raashii Khanna’s performance. Many called it a “beautifully made emotional drama” that feels closer to life than fantasy.
Some fans even compared the film’s tone to Hindi movies like Tamasha and Dear Zindagi, where emotions play a bigger role than the plot itself.
My Honest Review
As someone who watches a lot of Telugu films, I found Telusu Kada refreshing. It may not be perfect, but it’s genuine. It talks about people like us — who are confused, emotional, and still trying to figure out what love really means.
The movie doesn’t spoon-feed emotions; it makes you feel them. Some scenes are beautifully written, especially when Varun tries to balance what he wants with what’s right. The chemistry between the three leads feels real and not forced.
Yes, it slows down in the second half, but I guess that’s life too — sometimes the heart takes its time to understand. The film feels relatable, mature, and even a bit poetic at times.
So, if you enjoy films like Geetha Govindam, Majili, or Dear Zindagi, you’ll probably appreciate Telusu Kada too.
Final Verdict
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Telusu Kada is an emotional romantic drama that feels both stylish and heartfelt. Neeraja Kona makes an impressive debut as a director, and Siddhu Jonnalagadda delivers one of his most honest performances.
It’s not a film for everyone — those who want full-on comedy or action may not connect — but for viewers who appreciate meaningful stories, deep emotions, and great music, Telusu Kada is definitely worth watching.
In simple words: It’s a story about love, loss, and the truth we often hide from ourselves.
