Paradha (22 August 2025) – A Veiled Journey Toward Liberation
Paradha 2025 inspiring women centric story Praveen Kandregula’s Paradha, released on 22 August 2025, endeavors to present a courageous, female-centric story rooted in social drama. Anchored by a compelling lead performance by Anupama Parameswaran, the film embarks on an emotionally textured journey, even as its execution struggles under the weight of its own ambitions.
Premise & Setting
Paradha 2025 inspiring women centric story
Set in the fictional village of Padati, Paradha follows Subbalakshmi (“Subbu”), who lives in a community bound by a peculiar and oppressive tradition: women must wear a paradha (veil) once they reach adolescence to appease the village deity, Jwalamma. Any woman who inadvertently reveals her face is considered cursed and risks dire repercussions. When Subbu’s veil is accidentally removed and captured by a photographer published in a magazine, her engagement is abruptly halted and she must go on a journey to clear her name venturing into the Himalayas accompanied by her aunt, Rathnamma, and Amishta (“Ami”) a resolute architect fighting societal bias.
The setup, though allegorical in intent, strains credibility. The collision of an archaic custom within a modern milieu smartphones, magazines, and present-day Andhra Pradesh sensibilities cannot fully ground the narrative. Critics have flagged this historical anachronism, making it difficult for audiences to suspend disbelief.
Performances
Paradha 2025 inspiring women centric story Anupama Parameswaran delivers a restrained yet expressive performance. Shrouded behind her veil for much of the runtime, she leans heavily on body language and subtle facial cues, building emotional resonance even before her character fully emerges. Many reviews call this one of her strongest outings to date.
Darshana Rajendran, making her Telugu debut as Ami, brings energy and authenticity to her role a grounded, career-driven woman navigating gender bias while offering pragmatic strength to Subbu’s emotional arc.
Paradha 2025 inspiring women centric story Sangeetha Krish as Rathnamma offers warmth and comic relief, her natural screen presence lending the film its most relatable moments.
Supporting players such as Harsha Vardhan, Rajendra Prasad, Rag Mayur, and a cameo by Gautham Vasudev Menon are serviceable, though underwritten and under-utilized.
Direction & Technical Aspects
Paradha 2025 inspiring women centric story
Praveen Kandregula treads boldly, clearly aiming to disrupt conventional Telugu narratives by centering women’s stories and challenging patriarchal norms. His world-building especially in establishing the village tradition and its oppressive atmosphere is immersive, particularly in the opening mela sequence.
Yet, structural flaws hamper the film. The first half shows promise, but momentum falters as it progresses. The second half, in particular, is criticized for its slow pacing, repetitive beats, and implausible conveniences landslides, last-minute video proofs, and contrived obstacles that feel more plot devices than organic obstacles.
Paradha 2025 inspiring women centric story Technically, the film is a mixed bag. Cinematography by Mridul Sujit Sen captures the rustic beauty of the village, but fails to fully harness the Himalayan scenery’s potential. Gopi Sundar’s music and BGM add moments of emotional lift, though not consistently impactful. Editing, by Dharmendra Kakarala, struggles to tighten the narrative, allowing scenes to drag and weaken the film’s pacing.
Strengths
- Bold Female-Centric Narrative – A rare Telugu film structured around three women rather than a traditional male-centric arc. Performances – Particularly Anupama’s nuanced portrayal, and the chemistry among the trio, bring heart to the narrative.
- Thematic Resonance – The film’s use of the paradha as a metaphor for patriarchy and suppression of autonomy is clear and purposeful, advocating for female agency and choice.
Weaknesses
- Credibility Issues – The premise feels dated and out of place in a contemporary setting, prompting disbelief.
- Pacing & Screenplay – A dragged second half and underdeveloped subplots dilute emotional impact.
- Technical Constraints – Limited visual scope, inconsistent score, and editing that doesn’t flow tightly.
Reception & Verdict
Paradha 2025 inspiring women centric story
Critics and audiences appear split while some praise its intent and performances, others lament its flawed execution. Indian Express rated it 3.5/5, noting its refreshing social ethos and anchored character arcs. Gulte gave it 2.25/5, calling the narration one-dimensional and slow. 123telugu rated it 2.75/5, citing weak execution despite the promising premise. Cinema Express echoed a 3.5/5, lauding its thematic bravery and aesthetic sincerity despite verbosity. Meanwhile, Great Andhra was harsher with 2/5, pointing to amateurish pacing and unconvincing storytelling.
“Strong concept, worst execution… Anupama performance stands out, but it couldn’t save the film.”
“Engaging first half… slow second half… still an absolute good watch!”
Final Thoughts
Paradha 2025 inspiring women centric story Paradha is a film of contradictions its heart beats strongly where it concentrates on female resilience, solidarity, and liberation. Anupama Parameswaran gives one of her most affecting performances, and the trio’s camaraderie provides genuine emotional moments. Kandregula’s intention to disrupt Telugu mainstream cinema norms should be lauded for its courage.
Yet, the film falters where execution falls short: a false premise that strains believability, a screenplay that loses grip mid-way, and technical unevenness that distances instead of immerses. If the film had embraced simpler, more grounded storytelling, and maintained tighter pacing, it could have been an unforgettable women-led landmark.
Paradha 2025 inspiring women centric story As it stands, Paradha is worth watching particularly for those seeking thoughtful female-driven cinema but be prepared for an uneven journey that sparkles in parts and trails in others.