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The Paradise is a film where the craft often works better than the writing. It is a film for Nani’s fans.
Nani’s The Paradise is now in theatres.
The ParadiseU/A
2.5/5
Starring: Nani, Mohan Babu, Kayadu Lohar, Sonali KulkarniDirector: Srikanth Odela
The Paradise Review: Nani’s The Paradise is finally in theatres. Directed by Srikanth Odela, the film is a period action drama that attempts to create a raw and violent world around a marginalised community. It is set in 1980s Secunderabad and arrives with enormous expectations, particularly because Nani has once again stepped into an intense mass avatar. But is it worth watching? Let’s find out.
What Is The Paradise About?
The film revolves around the Savari community, a marginalised group living in the Paradise area of Hyderabad without proper recognition or identity. Their lives are controlled by Shikanja Malik (Mohan Babu), a powerful and ruthless figure who treats the community as his own territory.
Jadal (Nani), a member of the Savari community, initially appears reluctant to get involved in the larger battle around him. However, with time, circumstances involving his family and people close to him push him towards confronting the system that has kept his community under control.
The story then develops into Jadal’s transformation from an individual concerned primarily with his own survival into someone who takes up the larger fight of the Savaris. His confrontation with Malik and the forces working under him forms the central conflict.
What Works For The Paradise?
The biggest strength of The Paradise is its world-building. Srikanth Odela creates a dark, atmospheric setting and gives the film a distinctive visual identity. The production design, cinematography and action choreography add scale to the proceedings. The opening portions immediately establish the brutality of the world and give the audience a sense of what Jadal and his community are up against.
The first half of the film is considerably more engaging. It keeps you hooked to the screens and introduces all to the characters, Jadal’s transformation and the growing conflict. It also benefits enormously from Nani’s screen presence.
Anirudh Ravichander’s music and background score also contribute significantly to the film’s mass appeal. The songs provide moments of relief from an otherwise extremely grim narrative.
What Does Not Work For The Paradise?
It is the second half of the film which highly disappoints. The film begins to lose its grip and the screenplay becomes increasingly uneven. It also relies heavily on violence and action instead of developing the central conflict with enough emotional depth. Several sequences feel stretched, while some transitions even appear abrupt.
The film’s biggest weakness is that its core story is not particularly novel. The ‘oppressed community versus powerful oppressor’ template has been explored numerous times and The Paradise does not add anything new to it. The film desperately needed a sharper screenplay to make its familiar premise feel fresh.
Another issue with the film is the extreme violence. It contains several disturbing sequences involving physical torture and the abuse of women. While the brutality is intended to establish the harshness of the world, its repeated use can become exhausting.
What About Performances In The Paradise?
Nani is undoubtedly one of the film’s biggest assets. He completely commits to Jadal, both physically and emotionally. The actor carries the rugged, mass-heavy character with conviction. The action sequences also demand considerable physicality from him, and Nani handles them effectively.
Besides this, Nani also manages to bring vulnerability to Jadal’s character in the quieter moments. The emotional portions involving his mother and his relationship with his community allow the actor to move beyond the larger-than-life action image.
Mohan Babu also makes an impression as Shikanja Malik. His character is deliberately cruel and intimidating, and the actor uses his screen presence to establish authority. On the other hand, Raghav Juyal, making his Telugu debut as the antagonist, gets an interesting role and brings a different energy to the proceedings.
Kayadu Lohar plays the female lead in the movie opposite Nani and has comparatively less material to work with, while Sonali Kulkarni makes her presence felt in the emotional portions.
Verdict: Yay Or Nay?
Overall, The Paradise is a film where the craft often works better than the writing. It has scale, striking visuals, powerful performances and several whistle-worthy action moments. But its uneven second half and familiar narrative prevent it from becoming the hard-hitting, emotionally resonant action drama it aspires to be. For Nani fans, there is enough on screen to make the theatrical experience worthwhile, but the film’s ambition ultimately feels larger than the screenplay supporting it.
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Chirag Sehgal works as a Chief Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. He has a strong expertise in content creation, digital storytelling and social media strategy. Skilled in covering ce…Read More
September 24, 2026, 15:15 IST