A Familiar Concept with a Telugu Spin
Drive 2025 is a high-pressure, countdown-style thriller that has always had a clear hook. From Speed to Phone Booth, the idea of a hero trapped in a moving vehicle or tight spot, controlled by an unseen voice, promises instant tension.
Januse Mohammed Majeed’s Drive (2025) brings that setup into Telugu cinema, placing the ever-reliable Aadhi Pinisetty in the hot seat of a sleek, high-tech car. The film starts strong and feels sharp, but now and then the script loses its way and the momentum dips.
The story feels current and easy to latch onto. Aadhi Pinisetty plays Jay, a successful media tycoon who seems to be winning at life. He has money, power, and a caring fiancée, played by Madonna Sebastian. He is all set for a fresh start in London, ready to leave his messy past behind.
That clean break never arrives. On what should be a simple drive, Jay’s smart car is taken over by a cold, faceless hacker. With the car under remote control, Jay is forced into a brutal game of “Simon Says”, where ignoring instructions comes with deadly consequences.
Aadhi Pinisetty Holds the Film Together
Aadhi is the backbone of Drive. He smooths over many of the script’s rough edges with a performance that feels real and raw. Known for shifting easily between different kinds of roles, he gives Jay a solid emotional weight.
Jay is not a standard action hero. Aadhi portrays him as a man who is paying for his own arrogance. Early scenes show Jay as someone who trusts in power and technology a bit too much. That makes him an ideal victim for an enemy who can take both away with a single command.
His journey from smug and self-assured to shaken and desperate gives the film its strongest emotional thread.
Januse Mohammed Majeed shows clear confidence in staging scenes inside the car. Keeping most of a film locked in one location is a big challenge. It demands creative camerawork and sharp editing so the audience doesn’t get bored staring at the same space.
With cinematographer Abinandhan Ramanujam, Majeed turns the car into a tight, threatening cage. City lights bounce off the glass, while the cold glow of digital displays adds to the sense of dread. The look leans into a neo-noir feel that fits the cybercrime angle very well.
Where the Script Starts to Wobble
A thriller like this lives or dies on two things: its villain and its logic. This is where Drive starts to struggle.
The first half runs like a well-oiled machine. The hunt for the hacker’s identity and purpose keeps you curious. The stakes keep rising, and the tension stays high.
Once the film moves into the second half, some of that tight control slips. The script transforms the hacker into an almost god-like figure, capable of executing digital tricks that seem closer to magic than technology. When the film bends rules of physics and basic cybersecurity too far, it becomes harder to stay fully invested, even for viewers who are ready to suspend disbelief.
Motives, Pacing, and Supporting Characters
When the villain’s motivation is finally laid out, it feels weaker than expected. The reason behind all the chaos does not match the scale of the havoc we see on screen.
The pacing also loosens a bit. After a gripping first hour, the middle stretch loses steam before building towards a finale that, while packed with action, feels a touch familiar.
Madonna Sebastian does what she can with what she is given, but the script does not give her much room. Her character functions mainly as emotional leverage against Jay, rather than as a strong presence with her own arc. It is a missed chance to add depth to the story.
On the technical front, Drive looks and sounds polished. Osho Venkat’s background score pumps energy into the chase scenes and tense stand-offs. The music keeps your pulse up, even when the writing slips.
The sound design is a highlight. The growl of the engine, the surrounding traffic, and the eerie, distorted voice of the hacker all add to the sense of unease. These details help the audience feel trapped in the car right alongside Jay.
Overall Impression
Drive (2025) is a stylish addition to Tollywood’s thriller line-up. It does not try to completely change the genre, but it handles a familiar template with flair and confidence. The film focuses more on adrenaline and suspense than deep character study, and for a runtime under two hours, that choice mostly works.
At its core, the film taps into a simple fear: when everything is connected to technology, even your own car can turn against you.
Verdict
A sleek, engaging cyber-thriller that rides heavily on Aadhi Pinisetty’s gripping performance. The logic wobbles in the final act, but the tension, visuals, and sound keep it watchable.
iBomma Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Director: Januse Mohammed Majeed
Cast: Aadhi Pinisetty, Madonna Sebastian, Raja Chembolu, Kamal Kamaraju
Genre: Cyber-thriller / Action
Runtime: 1h 47m