Paradha (2025)

Paradha is a 2025 Indian Telugu-language drama that tackles gender inequality, blind faith, and women’s rights in rural India. Directed by Praveen Kandregula (of Cinema Bandi fame), it follows a young village woman who dares to question suffocating customs in her tightly controlled community. The film has been praised for its powerful female characters and bold social themes, though overall reviews are mixed, with an iBomma rating of 6.0/10.

Plot Summary

In a secluded village, women must wear a paradha (veil) to protect the community from an age-old curse tied to their local deity. Subbu (Anupama Parameswaran), a deeply religious and sheltered young woman, follows these rules without question. Her world turns upside down when her veiled face appears by accident in a national magazine. The villagers panic, whisper about the curse, and talk of harsh punishment, with disturbing nods to the old Sati practice.

To clear her name and protect her people, Subbu sets out on a life-changing trip across the country to track down the photographer who took the picture. She is joined by her caring but firm aunt Rathnamma (Sangeetha Krish) and Ami (Darshana Rajendran), a blunt, city-bred engineer from Delhi. Together, they challenge outdated rules, dig into the true history behind the paradha tradition, and push Subbu to find her own voice. The film mixes folk beliefs, puppetry-based storytelling, and a road-trip style narrative to spotlight sisterhood and the fight against rigid patriarchy.

Cast and Crew

• Director: Praveen Kandregula
• Writers: Praveen Kandregula, Poojitha Sreekanti, Prahaas Boppudi
• Producer: Ananda Media
• Music: Gopi Sundar (includes tracks like “Yatra Naryasthu” and “Yegareyi Nee Rekkale”)
• Cinematography: Mridul Sujit Sen
• Editing: Dharmendra Kakarala

Key Cast

• Anupama Parameswaran as Subbu (lead; praised for her shift from fragile obedience to inner strength)
• Darshana Rajendran as Ami (marks her return to Telugu films after about 10 years) stands out in both humor and emotional scenes.
• Sangeetha Krish as Rathnamma (adds strong emotional weight as the protective aunt)
• Rag Mayur in a supporting role

The film has a runtime of around 144 minutes and carries a UA 16+ rating, recommended for viewers above 16 years of age.

Performances: Three Strong Leads Amid Familiar Tropes

Paradha’s biggest highlight lies in its core female performances, which give the story real emotional power. Anupama Parameswaran delivers what many call her best work yet as Subbu. She moves from quiet obedience to firm conviction in a way that feels honest and grounded. Her eyes, often the only visible part of her face under the veil, show fear, curiosity, and a slow-burning defiance.

Critics have called Subbu “one of the best-written female characters of 2025,” and viewers have echoed that praise. Parameswaran handles heavy emotional scenes without slipping into loud melodrama, which makes Subbu’s journey feel personal and believable.

Themes: Feminist Storytelling or Heavy-Handed Preaching?

Kandregula frames Paradha as a bold feminist drama that celebrates “sisterhood and gender sensitivity in myriad hues,” as one review put it. The film pulls apart how traditions like the paradha rule, shown here as a Hindu village ritual, restrict women while pretending to protect them. The setup has sparked online debate about real-world customs that hide behind religion and morality.

Key ideas include control over one’s own body, questioning myths that police women’s choices, and a shared awakening among the women in the story. Dialogues such as “A tradition designed to cage them, fearing predators outside” leave a sharp impact. The climax brings together intense sound design and striking visuals to offer a sense of release, placing personal choice above forced obedience and nudging viewers to ask what they might be giving up in their own lives.

Reception

Reviews from both critics and audiences sit in the middle. Many appreciate the fearless feminist stance, the focus on a women-led cast, and the attempt to shift away from hero-worship and mass-action clichés common in Telugu cinema. At the same time, some feel the writing in the second half slips into preaching, with rushed scenes and less subtle messaging.

Even with these flaws, Paradha is often described as a welcome change of pace. It shines a light on women’s friendships, their quiet support systems, and the burden of tradition in rural India.

Final Verdict on Paradha: A Veil Worth Removing

Paradha is not perfect. It’s slow build, scattered pacing in parts, and occasional on-the-nose dialogue keep it from reaching true greatness. Yet it still stands as an important film in the growing body of Telugu stories centered on women, mentioned in the same breath as titles like Telusu Kada and The Girlfriend.

Anupama Parameswaran’s standout performance, the strong chemistry among the three women, and the film’s clear, unflinching look at rigid customs give it lasting impact. Many reviewers have settled on a solid 3 out of 5 rating. Fans describe it as an “award-winning” effort and hope for a wider pan-India release.

For viewers tired of formula-heavy plots, over-the-top action, and hollow romance, Paradha offers something more thoughtful. It invites audiences to watch for the message of empowerment, then stay for the quiet, personal truths that come to light. In the films of 2025, Paradha feels like a necessary story, reminding everyone that sometimes the real curse is blind conformity, not the myths people hide behind.

Those interested can stream Paradha on Prime Video. For trailers or any remaining theatrical shows, platforms like BookMyShow or Fandango are the best places to check.

Trending:

Thammudu (2025): A Sibling Saga That Falls Short