Drive 2025

Drive (2025) Movie

Drive (2025) is a Telugu action-suspense thriller directed by Jenuse Mohamed, making his Tollywood debut. Released on 12 December 2025, the film features Aadhi Pinisetty as the lead, playing a powerful media baron whose life spins out of control when a cold-blooded hacker targets him. The movie mixes cybercrime, revenge, and family drama, aiming for high tension and modern relevance, but it struggles to keep viewers fully engaged.

Plot Summary

The film follows Jayadev (Aadhi Pinisetty), a successful media tycoon whose comfortable life takes a hit when an unknown hacker infiltrates his world. This shadowy figure threatens to reveal dark secrets that could destroy Jayadev’s public image, fortune, and family life. What begins as a tech-driven mind game turns into a dangerous personal conflict, pushing Jayadev into a fight for both survival and payback. The story leans on current fears about online security, with hacking, surveillance, car chases, and emotional confrontations trying to give the thriller a stylish, modern feel.

Cast

• Aadhi Pinisetty as Jayadev (lead)
• Madonna Sebastian (female lead)
• Raja Chembolu
• Kamal Kamaraju
• Anish Yohan Kuruvilla
• Several others in supporting roles

Performances

Aadhi Pinisetty anchors the film with a strong and focused performance, building on the menace he showed in Akhanda 2. He brings good intensity to the action scenes and sells Jayadev’s anger and helplessness well, which keeps the character watchable even when the writing lets him down. Madonna Sebastian offers a steady performance, giving some heart to the drama and balancing Aadhi’s aggression. The supporting actors, including Raja Chembolu and Kamal Kamaraju, do what the script asks of them, but the thin character writing means very few moments stay with you once the film ends.

Direction and Technical Aspects

Jenuse Mohamed shows a clear eye for style, with sleek frames and stylish lighting that suit the cybercrime theme. Abinandhan Ramanujam’s cinematography gives the film a glossy look, with plenty of neon and urban nightscapes. Osho Venkat’s background music helps raise tension in key scenes, and Prawin Pudi’s editing keeps the first half moving at a decent clip. The problems start to show in the latter half, when the narrative loses sharpness. Twists become easy to guess, emotional beats fall flat, and the story loses the urgency it builds up early on.

Strengths

Drive works best on paper, with a story built around hacking, privacy, and online blackmail that feels very current. The cybercrime angle suits a thriller and gives the film a clear hook. Some action scenes, particularly the chases and confrontations, are staged with confidence and provide short bursts of excitement. Aadhi’s committed performance keeps things afloat, and the slick visuals and sound design add some polish even when the script stumbles.

Weaknesses

The biggest issue is the lack of fresh ideas. The film leans heavily on routine revenge and redemption beats that feel borrowed from many other thrillers. The hacker’s backstory and reasons for targeting Jayadev don’t land with much weight and often feel forced, which weakens the mystery element. The middle part of the film drags, with repeated arguments, predictable twists, and scenes that add little to either plot or character. The writing never fully taps into the fear of online exposure or the scale of Jayadev’s power, which leaves the central conflict feeling smaller than it should.

Final Verdict

Drive (2025) is an average thriller that starts with a sharp concept but slowly runs out of steam. Aadhi Pinisetty’s performance, solid technical work, and a few engaging action stretches stop it from being a complete disappointment, yet it rarely rises above a standard revenge drama. Fans of Aadhi or simple action films might find it modestly watchable, but for most viewers, it will feel forgettable in a genre packed with stronger titles. Overall, it lands at about 2.5 out of 5, a film with clear potential that never fully hits its stride.

Trending:

Daaku Maharaaj Review: A Slick, Star-Driven Action