Title: Paradha
Director: Praveen Kandregula
Writers: Praveen Kandregula, Poojitha Sreekanti, Prahaas Boppudi
Cast: Anupama Parameswaran (as Subbu), Darshana Rajendran (Ami), Sangeetha Krish (Rathnamma), plus Rag Mayur, Harsha Vardhan, Rajendra Prasad in supporting roles.
Cinematography: Mridul Sujit Sen
Music: Gopi Sundar
Editing: Dharmendra Kakarala
Release Date: 22 August 2025
Runtime: 143 minutes
Plot Summary
Paradha is set in a remote village where there is a strong tradition: women must remain veiled, under the belief that this helps ward off a curse. Subbalakshmi (“Subbu”, played by Anupama Parameswaran) has mostly stayed within her village, bound by tradition. But after a troubling event, her devotion to these customs is questioned. She decides to journey to the Himalayas with her aunt, Rathnamma (Sangeetha Krish), and Ami (Darshana Rajendran), an architect who is dealing with her own challenges in the modern world. The journey forces Subbu to confront her beliefs, fear, identity, and the societal norms that have shaped her life.
What Works
1. Themes and Social Relevance
The film touches on powerful and timely topics: gender norms, tradition versus modernity, identity, and the burden of belief systems. These are explored with decent sensitivity.
2. Female-led Narrative
Paradha is anchored by strong female characters each representing different stages or perspectives in life. Subbu is someone deeply rooted in tradition; Ami is modern and questions norms; Rathnamma bridges generations. This gives the film scope to explore contrast and conflict.
3. Performances
Anupama Parameswaran delivers a committed performance as Subbu, especially in the parts where her character wrestles internally with tradition and fear. Darshana Rajendran as Ami brings freshness and energy. Sangeetha Krish as Rathnamma is convincing in her supportive yet strong role. Critics have singled out the performances as among the film’s better elements.
4. Cinematography & Setting
The film captures its rural village setting effectively. The cinematography during the village scenes is praised. The Himalayan portion, while ambitious, suffers in parts due to budget constraints, but still adds to the visual contrast between Subbu’s known world and the world she ventures into.
5. Metaphoric Touches
The screenplay uses metaphors—some more successful than others—to highlight how beliefs, curses (both real and symbolic), veils (literal and metaphorical) shape identity and freedom. These give the film moments of depth.
What Doesn’t Work as Well
1. Pacing & Execution in the Second Half
The first half sets up the premise well, building tension, mood, character background. But many reviewers feel the second half drags—some scenes get repetitive, emotional beats lose impact, and the narrative becomes less tight.
2. Underdeveloped Characters
While the three leads are fairly well-drawn, some supporting characters (and even certain arcs) don’t get enough depth. The film raises big questions but doesn’t always follow through for all characters. Some motivations, especially for antagonistic or traditionally conservative characters, feel simplified.
3. Emotional Impact
Despite its themes, Paradha sometimes fails to fully make the viewer feel what it sets up emotionally. The climactic moments have potential, but uneven editing and excess dialogue slow their momentum.
4. Predictability / Familiar Tropes
Some plot beats are predictable, especially the confrontation between tradition and modernity, the journey motif, etc. The film tries to subvert some expectations, but often returns to familiar territory. This lowers surprise value.
5. Budget Constraints Showing
Particularly in high-ambition visuals (e.g., scenic portions or locale shifts), one can notice where the film stretches its resources. These moments don’t always achieve their intended scale.
Overall Impressions
Paradha is a commendable effort in Telugu cinema toward telling a woman-centric story that deals with tradition, identity, and social taboos. It has strong performances, meaningful themes, and enough sincerity to make it worthwhile. However, it doesn’t fully escape the bounds of its genre. It loses pacing, sometimes pulls back on emotional intensity, and leans on familiar tropes.
If you enjoy dramas that explore social issues from a personal angle—and are okay with certain portions feeling slower or familiar—Paradha is a film that will likely resonate. It’s not flawless, but it represents a step in the right direction in terms of diversifying the kinds of stories mainstream Telugu cinema tells.
Final Rating
Performances: 4/5
Technical Aspects (Cinematography, Music, etc.): 3/5
Engagement / Pacing: 2.5/5
Overall: ~ 3 / 5
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