In an early moment from Neerraja Kona’s Telugu romance drama, Telusu Kada (meaning ‘You know it, right?’), we meet Varun (Siddhu Jonnalagadda), a demanding chef and restaurateur. He harshly criticizes his staff, driven by his perfectionism. His pragmatic friend, Harsha Chemmudu, points out the difference: Varun lives for his restaurant, while for his staff, it’s just a job.
Varun’s need for pristine order extends to his home, where he scolds domestic staff over minor imperfections. This intense focus on external control belies the turmoil within his personal life, especially his intricate relationships with Raaga (Srinidhi Shetty) and Anjali (Raashii Khanna).
Debuting as a writer and director, costume designer Neerraja Kona avoids typical romantic clichés. Telusu Kada is far from a cheerful love story; its narrative is fraught with ‘red flags’ from the outset, signaling a film likely to spark strong opinions. Despite excellent production design and V.S. Gnanashekhar’s cinematography creating visual appeal, these strengths can’t quite mask the underlying weaknesses in the script.
Telusu Kada (Telugu)
The film immediately establishes its central conflict. Conversations between Varun and Anjali during their initial meeting foreshadow future complications. Without revealing too much, the story revolves around the profound themes of family and parenthood. When events don’t unfold as anticipated, Varun’s poor communication exacerbates the situation. His reaction to his partner’s health crisis appears rooted more in self-pity than genuine empathy. Ultimately, Varun’s troubled past is presented as an explanation for his emotional volatility, portraying him as a man using machismo to conceal his fears. His recurring ‘testosterone versus estrogen’ remarks further highlight his deep-seated insecurities.
For a narrative built around three central figures, the writing feels underdeveloped. Under the guise of creative license, Telusu Kada often overlooks fundamental sensitivity, particularly when touching upon the subject of surrogacy. The portrayal of the female characters and their circumstances remains disappointingly superficial.
The story undeniably prioritizes its male protagonist. Varun’s internal conflicts are meticulously detailed, and Siddhu embodies them convincingly. Unlike his talkative roles in the Tillu series or the charming but troubled lead in Krishna and His Leela, Varun is a character difficult to connect with. Some of his dialogues, at times leaning towards misogyny, receive audience applause but reveal the film’s skewed perspective. While Siddhu delivers a strong performance, the script doesn’t adequately justify the struggles his partner endures.
Raashii Khanna’s character, Anjali, serves as the only voice of reason amid Varun and Raaga’s world, yet she remains insufficiently developed. Khanna portrays the role with commendable restraint and conviction, asserting herself when necessary. Srinidhi Shetty, taking on a complex and morally ambiguous character, adds a layer of depth, stepping beyond typical heroine roles and showcasing her acting range.
Despite commendable individual performances, the overall story lacks substance. Telusu Kada merely scratches the surface of the emotional complexities it introduces. It critiques Varun’s alpha-male tendencies but still grants him central narrative control. The female characters are given short shrift—one grappling with the guilt of not desiring motherhood, the other forced into marital compromises.
The film concludes on an ostensibly hopeful note, but the emotional scars depicted throughout are unlikely to heal so easily. While Telusu Kada bravely poses questions about love, ego, and the vital role of communication, it ultimately fails to deliver the honest answers it seemingly promises.