The Paradise Movie Review: Nani’s Intense Action Drama Is Visually Powerful but Uneven

The Paradise Rating: ⭐⭐ 2/5

Movie: The Paradise
Language: Telugu
Genre: Period Action Drama
Release Date: September 24, 2026
Runtime: Around 2 hours 53 minutes
Certification: A
Director: Srikanth Odela
Producer: Sudhakar Cherukuri
Music: Anirudh Ravichander
Cast: Nani, Mohan Babu, Kayadu Lohar, Raghav Juyal, Sonali Kulkarni, Sampoornesh Babu and others

Nani and director Srikanth Odela reunite after Dasara for The Paradise, a much larger and more violent film set against the backdrop of 1980s Secunderabad. The film follows Jadal, played by Nani, and the struggle of the Savaari community for identity, dignity and recognition.

The movie arrived with considerable expectations because of the Dasara combination, Nani's dramatically different appearance and the involvement of composer Anirudh Ravichander. It also took an unusual promotional route by reaching theatres without a conventional theatrical trailer.

What is actually new about The Paradise?

The basic story of an oppressed community confronting a powerful force is not new to Indian cinema. What makes The Paradise different is the way Srikanth Odela places that conflict inside a 1980s Secunderabad world, combining period atmosphere, community identity, political references, raw action and a larger-than-life protagonist.

Odela has also said that some elements were inspired by real incidents and experiences from his Telangana background. That gives the setting a connection to lived experiences rather than making it simply a generic fictional action world.

The biggest change from Dasara is scale. This is not simply another rural or gritty mass drama. The production design, action blocks and Nani's physical transformation attempt to create a much bigger cinematic universe.

Nani's Jadal is also considerably more aggressive and physically intense than many of the characters audiences associate with him.

What is the movie about?

The story takes place in the slums of 1980s Secunderabad and centres on a marginalised community facing discrimination and a struggle for basic identity and rights.

Jadal becomes an important figure in that conflict while confronting the powerful Shikanja Maalik, played by Mohan Babu.

The film therefore works on two levels:

• A personal conflict involving Jadal and the opposing power structure
• A larger struggle involving an entire community

The social backdrop gives the action a purpose, while the period setting helps create the film's distinctive visual identity.

Who is The Paradise for?

This is primarily for viewers who enjoy:

• Intense Telugu action dramas
• Nani in darker and more aggressive roles
• Raw, violent commercial cinema
• Period settings
• Mass action sequences
• Strong visual presentation
• Anirudh Ravichander's music
• Films built around community struggles and identity

It is not really designed as a light family entertainer. The film received an A certificate because of its violence and mature content.

Key features

1. Nani's transformation

Nani is one of the biggest reasons to watch the film.

His Jadal look is substantially different from his familiar screen image, with the physical transformation, hairstyle and styling helping establish the character's rough personality.

His performance is also one of the more consistently praised aspects across early reviews.

2. A distinctive period world

The 1980s Secunderabad setting is one of the film's strongest features.

The production design attempts to recreate an older, rougher urban environment rather than presenting a polished contemporary action world.

This gives the movie an identifiable visual personality.

3. Action

The action is clearly one of the film's major selling points.

Different reviews have highlighted the choreography, physicality and visual impact of the fight sequences, even when their opinions about the screenplay have been considerably less positive.

4. Anirudh's music

The soundtrack has generated attention before release, with songs such as “Aaya Sher” and “Yeshanagula” becoming part of the promotional conversation.

The reception to the background score, however, has been more divided. Some reviews have criticised its loudness and effectiveness during certain scenes.

5. A-rated content

The A certificate is not merely a marketing gimmick. The film contains substantial violence and mature material.

The CBFC certification process resulted in multiple modifications, including changes involving violent scenes, dialogue and other visual or textual elements.

Real-world advantages of watching it in theatres

If you're considering whether to watch The Paradise on the big screen, the theatrical format makes sense particularly for its action, sound and production design.

The scale of the action and the atmosphere of the period setting are better suited to a large screen than a small mobile display.

The film also has the kind of music and action moments that benefit from a theatre's sound system.

In other words, this is much more of a big-screen action experience than a quiet, dialogue-driven drama.

Where the movie struggles

The biggest issue is the screenplay.

Several reviews have independently pointed to the same broad problem: the film has ambitious material and impressive individual sequences, but the story doesn't always connect those pieces smoothly.

The second half in particular has received criticism for becoming repetitive and excessively dependent on action.

Another issue is emotional investment.

The film wants viewers to care deeply about Jadal and his community, but some of the dramatic moments are surrounded by so much violence and spectacle that the emotional impact can become diluted.

The supporting characters also don't receive the same depth as Nani's central character.

Mohan Babu brings considerable screen presence as Shikanja Maalik, but reviews have noted that the character isn't explored as deeply as the central conflict might suggest.

Pros

✔ Nani delivers a committed performance
✔ Strong physical transformation
✔ Impressive period production design
✔ Powerful action choreography
✔ Distinctive 1980s Secunderabad atmosphere
✔ Two songs stand out
✔ Strong cinematography
✔ Big-screen presentation works in its favour

Cons

✘ Screenplay isn't consistently tight
✘ Second half can feel repetitive
✘ Heavy dependence on violence and action
✘ Emotional moments don't always land
✘ Some supporting characters feel underwritten
✘ Long runtime can test patience
✘ Loud background score may not work for everyone

Gulte's review gave the film 2/5, particularly criticising the screenplay, emotional disconnect, lengthy action portions, loud background score and runtime. Other reviews have reached similar conclusions about the narrative weaknesses while giving more credit to Nani, the action and visual world.

Ticket price / price range

Unlike a conventional product, The Paradise doesn't have one fixed price.

Ticket prices depend on the city, theatre, format and show.

For example, Telangana received approval for a ₹500 paid premiere, inclusive of GST, while temporary increases were also permitted for regular shows. Andhra Pradesh had different approved pricing for its premiere shows.

So viewers should check the price of their local theatre before booking.

Because this is an A-certified film, it is restricted to adult audiences.

Alternatives if you want something similar

If you're specifically looking for the same broad combination of Telugu action, intense characters and social conflict, viewers could also consider:

• Dasara – especially if you want to see the earlier Nani–Srikanth Odela collaboration.
• Devara: Part 1 – for a larger-scale Telugu action experience.
• Kantara – for a combination of social conflict, local culture and intense action.
• Pushpa: The Rise – for a raw protagonist and underworld-driven mass drama.

However, The Paradise has its own period-Secunderabad setting and community-focused storyline, so these are alternatives in terms of viewing style rather than direct story equivalents.

Who should watch The Paradise?

Watch it if you:

• Are a Nani fan
• Enjoy intense action cinema
• Like darker Telugu commercial films
• Prefer watching large-scale action on the big screen
• Enjoy period settings
• Don't mind violent or mature content
• Are interested in Srikanth Odela's filmmaking after Dasara

Who should avoid it?

You may want to skip it if you:

• Prefer light-hearted or family-friendly cinema
• Dislike graphic violence
• Prefer tightly written stories over spectacle
• Are sensitive to very loud action-heavy sound design
• Don't enjoy films approaching three hours
• Expect another Dasara-level emotional experience

Final Review

The Paradise is an ambitious film with a strong cinematic identity, but its execution doesn't always match its ambition.

The biggest achievement is the world Srikanth Odela creates around Jadal. Nani's transformation, the period production design, cinematography and action give the film a clear visual personality.

The weakness is that the screenplay doesn't always provide enough breathing room between those major moments. When the film focuses on character and atmosphere, it becomes interesting. When it repeatedly moves from one action high to another, the emotional connection can weaken.

The film therefore works better as a raw theatrical action experience than as a tightly constructed dramatic story.

⭐ My Rating: 2/5

Performance: 4/5
Story: 3/5
Screenplay: 2/5
Action: 4/5
Music: 2/5
Visuals & Production Design: 2/5
Entertainment: 2/5

Bottom line: The Paradise has the scale, atmosphere and Nani performance to make an impact, but its uneven screenplay and extended action stretches prevent it from becoming a consistently satisfying drama.

Verdict: A visually striking, intensely performed action drama that works best for audiences who value spectacle and atmosphere over a perfectly balanced screenplay.