Badmashulu (2025) Movie Review: A Breezy Rural Comedy With Genuine Warmth
In 2025, Telugu cinema has mostly chased big-budget action and spectacle. In the middle of all that noise, Badmashulu, directed by Shankar Cheguri, arrives like a slow, easy breath of fresh air. Released on June 6, 2025, this small-scale buddy comedy skips the usual commercial formulas and chooses a grounded, slice-of-life story that finds humor in daily struggles and the quiet strength of friendship.
The Story: Small-Time Mischief in Kothulagudem
The film is set in the fictional village of Kothulagudem, where we follow two middle-aged friends: Tirupati (played by Mahesh Chinthala), a trailer mechanic, and Mutyalu (Vidya Sagar Karampuri), the local barber.
The villagers call them the “Badmaashulu,” a label they seem to accept with pride. Both men drink heavily and pull off small thefts to fund their habits. They show little interest in their image in the community or in their duties at home. Their careless behavior soon attracts the attention of Constable Ramachander (played by Muralidhar Goud), who grows tired of their nonsense.
What starts as a string of comic episodes in the police station slowly changes tone when a school computer with important data goes missing. Suspicion falls on Tirupati and Mutyalu, and the two mischief-makers are suddenly forced to clear their names and face the mess they have created.
Performances: The Soul of the Film
Every good buddy comedy rests on the bond between its leads. Badmashulu gets this pairing right, thanks to Mahesh Chinthala and Vidya Sagar Karampuri.
- Mahesh Chinthala: Chinthala powers the film from start to finish. He brings restless energy to Tirupati, using sharp physical comedy and small quirks that stay in your mind. At times, he feels like a rural, modern-day echo of Charlie Chaplin from Telangana. His timing is sharp, and he turns what could have been an annoying drunk into someone oddly lovable.
- Vidya Sagar Karampuri: Sagar keeps his performance low-key, which works well beside Chinthala’s loud presence. His calm, grounded take on Mutyalu becomes the emotional anchor of the duo. Together, they create a friendship that feels lived-in, with shared history that you can sense even when they are quiet.
- Muralidhar Goud: As the weary constable dealing with their chaos, Goud brings a believable village cop attitude, full of irritation and dry humor. He becomes a strong counterweight to the leads’ carefree madness and gives their actions sharper impact.
Technical Aspects: Simple, Honest, and Grounded
Director Shankar Cheguri keeps the filmmaking style in tune with the story and setting, choosing a low-key approach instead of glossy tricks.
- Cinematography: Vineeth Pabbathi uses natural lighting and mostly steady frames, which lets the performances and the locations stand out. Kothulagudem feels like a real village that people live in, not like a decorated film set.
- Music: Composer Teja Kunuru leans on folk sounds and simple tunes. The music adds bounce and warmth, supports the rustic mood, and stays light enough that it never drowns out the scenes or the dialogue.
- Pacing: This is where opinions may split. At around 2 hours, the film unfolds at a relaxed pace. The middle stretch sometimes feels repetitive, as the pranks keep coming without much forward push. Viewers who prefer faster storytelling might feel restless, while others may enjoy the unhurried rhythm.
Why Watch Badmashulu?
In a year packed with Tollywood box office heavyweights, Badmashulu stands apart because it does not shout or preach. It avoids big speeches and dramatic lessons. No one turns into a hero, and no grand moral is hammered home.
Instead, the film settles on something smaller and more honest: a quiet understanding between these oddball men and the world around them. It accepts that life is hard for almost everyone, and sometimes a fragile peace between people feels better than strict justice.
“Badmashulu is not a laugh riot; it feels more like a long, gentle smirk. It stays with you longer than you expect, leaving a mild but warm aftertaste.”
Final Verdict: 2.5/5 Stars
Badmashulu is a modest, heartfelt film that finds humor in the messiness of ordinary lives. It celebrates flawed, small-town underdogs who rarely get the spotlight in mainstream Telugu movies.
If you liked character-driven rural comedies such as Pelli Choopulu or Jathi Ratnalu, and you do not mind a slower pace, this offbeat, mildly absurd village story is worth a relaxed one-time watch.