Paradha (2025) Movie: Anupama Parameswaran’s Best Performance Can’t Save This Social Drama

Praveen Kandregula’s latest film Paradha arrives with big promises and bigger ambitions. The Telugu social drama stars Anupama Parameswaran as a village woman who dares to question traditions that have kept her community bound for generations.

The story unfolds in a remote village where women live behind veils, supposedly protected from an ancient curse. When city visitors arrive and challenge these beliefs, our protagonist Subbu finds herself at a crossroads between blind faith and personal freedom.

The Story That Could Have Been

Paradha tackles the heavy subject of women’s rights wrapped in the guise of superstition and tradition. The basic plot has real potential – a woman discovering her voice against oppressive customs makes for compelling cinema when done right.

Director Praveen Kandregula sets up the story well in the first half. We get a clear picture of village life, the restrictions women face, and the fear that keeps these practices alive. The backstory of the curse is explained without being preachy.

However, the film struggles to maintain this momentum. What starts as an intriguing social commentary gradually loses steam, especially after the interval. The narrative feels stretched in places where it should have been tight and rushed where it needed more depth.

Anupama Parameswaran Carries The Load

Anupama Parameswaran delivers her career-best performance as Subbu. She brings genuine emotion to a character who could have easily become a stereotype. Her transformation from a submissive village woman to someone who questions everything feels natural and believable.

I was particularly impressed with how she handles the internal conflict scenes. The doubt, fear, and growing courage are all visible in her expressions. This is clearly an actor who has grown significantly from her earlier films.

Darshana Rajendran makes a solid Telugu debut as one of the city visitors. She brings a modern perspective without making her character feel like an outsider lecturing the locals. Sangeetha Krish provides good support in her role.

The veteran actors Rajendra Prasad and Gautham Vasudev Menon add credibility to their scenes, though their characters could have been written with more depth.

Technical Aspects Work Well

Gopi Sundar’s music fits the film’s mood perfectly. The background score supports the emotional beats without being overwhelming. A couple of songs actually enhance the narrative rather than stopping it cold.

Cinematographer Mridul Sujit Sen captures the village atmosphere beautifully. The visuals help establish the isolated world where these characters live. Some shots of the rural landscape are genuinely stunning.

The production values are decent for what appears to be a mid-budget film. The team has made good use of available resources.

Where The Film Stumbles

My biggest issue with Paradha is its uneven pacing. The film takes too long to get to its main point and then rushes through the resolution. Several scenes in the second half feel unnecessary and could have been trimmed.

Some supporting characters are introduced but never properly developed. Their motivations remain unclear, which weakens the overall impact. The film also struggles with tonal consistency – it’s never quite sure if it wants to be a serious drama or something lighter.

The climax feels rushed and doesn’t give proper closure to all the issues raised earlier. After building up so much tension, the resolution feels too neat and simple.

Critical Reception Mixed

Major publications have given Paradha mixed reviews. The Hindu praised its bold subject matter, calling it a “rare, brave film.” The Times of India was more generous with a 3.5 out of 5 rating.

However, Telugu cinema websites were harsher. Greatandhra.com gave it just 2 out of 5, citing weak execution as the main problem. Telugu360 was slightly better at 2.25 out of 5 but had similar complaints about pacing and character development.

The IMDb rating of 8.1 seems inflated given the limited number of reviews. Most audience reactions on social media have been mixed, with people appreciating the intent but criticizing the execution.

Worth Your Time and Money?

Paradha is a film that deserves credit for attempting something meaningful. In an era of mindless commercial entertainers, any attempt at social commentary should be welcomed.

However, good intentions alone don’t make a good film. The execution problems are real and they hurt the overall experience. I found myself checking my watch during the second half, which is never a good sign.

That said, if you’re someone who enjoys women-centric stories and doesn’t mind slower pacing, you might find something to appreciate here. Anupama’s performance alone makes it worth a watch for her fans.

For others, I’d suggest waiting for the digital release. This is the kind of film that might work better at home where you can pause when needed.

Final Thoughts

Paradha represents the continuing evolution of Telugu cinema’s willingness to tackle social issues. While it doesn’t fully succeed in its ambitions, it points toward more meaningful storytelling in regional cinema.

Anupama Parameswaran proves she’s ready for more challenging roles. Director Praveen Kandregula shows promise but needs tighter screenwriting in future projects.

The film works as a conversation starter about women’s rights and blind traditions. Whether it works as pure entertainment is debatable.

My Rating: 2.5/5