A Familiar Tale with Emotional Sparks
Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi, the latest Telugu action drama starring Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and veteran actress Vijayashanti, hit the big screens on April 18, 2025, and started streaming on Prime Video as of May 16, 2025. Directed by Pradeep Chilukuri, this film marks Kalyan Ram’s return after a year-long hiatus, following his experimental ventures like Amigos and Devil. With a premise centered on a mother-son relationship strained by conflicting ideologies, the movie promises an emotional rollercoaster laced with mass action sequences. But does it deliver on its potential, or does it get bogged down by its conventional storytelling?
The story follows Arjun Vishwanath (Kalyan Ram), an aspiring IPS officer and the son of Vyjayanthi (Vijayashanti), a highly respected and disciplined police officer. Despite acing his IPS exams, Arjun’s life takes a drastic turn when his mother cuts him off, leading him to abandon his dreams of law enforcement. Instead, he transforms into a vigilante gangster in Vizag, protecting the city’s underbelly while running a parallel justice system. The plot thickens with the entry of Pathaan (Sohail Khan), a vengeful antagonist who seeks to destroy Vyjayanthi for reasons rooted in her past. The narrative unfolds with questions: Why did Vyjayanthi abandon her son? What drives Pathaan’s revenge? And can Arjun and his mother reconcile amidst the chaos?
At its core, Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi is an emotional action drama that attempts to balance heavy-duty sentiment with commercial elements. The mother-son dynamic is the film’s emotional anchor, and both Kalyan Ram and Vijayashanti deliver commendable performances in their respective roles. Kalyan Ram fits the bill as a volatile yet righteous gangster, excelling in high-octane action sequences and emotional outbursts. His portrayal of a man torn between his love for his mother and his self-imposed duty to protect Vizag’s people is one of the film’s highlights. Vijayashanti, as the stoic and duty-bound cop, brings gravitas to her role, reminding audiences of her commanding screen presence from her heyday. Her scenes, particularly those involving her internal conflict as a mother and a police officer, resonate deeply.
However, the film struggles to break free from the shackles of a dated and formulaic storyline. As noted in reviews from 123telugu.com and The Hindu, the plot feels all too familiar—a classic trope of a mother and son divided by a flawed system, with the son taking the law into his own hands. While the premise had potential for a gripping clash of ideologies, the execution falls short. The screenplay, though neatly structured according to 123telugu.com, often leans on predictable beats, making the narrative feel foreseeable. Emotional scenes, which should have been the film’s backbone, lack the depth needed to leave a lasting impact. The mother-son bonding moments, as highlighted by Gulte, could have been better written to elevate the emotional stakes.
One of the film’s saving graces is a shocking twist towards the climax, which The Hindu mentions as a moment that showcases how far Arjun is willing to go to protect his loved ones. This twist injects some much-needed intensity into the proceedings, but it arrives too late to salvage the overall experience. By then, the film has already dragged through repetitive sequences, including tiresome action blocks and fan-service moments that feel more obligatory than organic. The discussions about Arjun’s parallel justice system versus Vyjayanthi’s adherence to the law remain surface-level, missing the opportunity to explore these themes with the nuance they deserve.
Visually, the film has its moments. The poster shared by OTT Trackers. featuring two characters at a table with flames between them, encapsulates the fiery tension at the heart of the story. The action sequences are well-choreographed, catering to fans of mass cinema, but they often overshadow the emotional core, making the film feel uneven. Sohail Khan’s Pathaan, while menacing, doesn’t get enough screen time to fully develop into a formidable antagonist, leaving his motivations feeling underdeveloped.
Overall, Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi is a passable action drama that offers glimpses of brilliance but is ultimately weighed down by its adherence to a conventional template. Kalyan Ram and Vijayashanti’s performances are the film’s strongest assets, making it a watchable experience for fans of emotional dramas and mass entertainers. However, as Gulte points out, the age-old plot and lack of innovation in storytelling prevent it from standing out in a genre that has seen far better explorations of similar themes. If you’re looking for a no-frills Telugu action drama with a touch of sentiment, this might be worth a stream on Prime Video. But don’t expect it to leave a lasting impression.
Rating: 3/5
A familiar tale with strong performances but missed opportunities for emotional depth. Stream it for the leads, but temper your expectations.
A familiar tale with strong performances but missed opportunities for emotional depth. Stream it for the leads, but temper your expectations.
