Pothugadda

Pothugadda 2025 is a Raw, Gripping Rural Revenge Saga

Pothugadda is a 2025 Telugu-language political thriller drama, written and directed by Raksha Veeran in his first outing as a filmmaker. After several postponements from its original November 2024 schedule, the film finally premiered directly on the OTT platform ETV Win on 30 January 2025.

The film follows a young couple, played by Prudhvi Dandamudi and Vismaya Sri, who run away from home and board a bus for a secret romantic trip. What they do not know is that the same bus is being used to transport a huge stash of cash meant for election bribery in the fictional town of Pothugadda.

Once the money is discovered, local political rivals, including an MLA (Aadukalam Naren) and his challenger (Shatru), jump into the fray. Their clash leads to a hijacked bus, high-stakes confrontations, and a desperate fight for survival. Caught in the middle of faction politics, corruption, romance, and betrayal, the couple must find a way to stay alive as power-hungry leaders close in.

The movie blends romantic drama, political intrigue, and survival thriller elements, with most of the tension-filled scenes set inside the cramped space of the bus.

Pothugadda Cast

• Shatru (of Pushpa fame)
• Aadukalam Naren
• Prudhvi Dandamudi
• Prashant Karthi (also credited as Prasanth Karthi)
• Vismaya Sri
• Aadvik Bandaru
• Supporting cast, including Venky Lingam

Pothugadda Movie Review: A Raw, Gripping Rural Revenge Drama

(Approximate word count: 650)

Released on 12 December 2025, Pothugadda is a rustic Telugu action-revenge drama that has quickly turned into a strong box-office winner. Directed by debutant Ramesh Raparthi, the film features Prashanth Kalakoti and Aarthi Kanagala in the lead roles, with Vishwa, Getup Srinu, and Raghava of Jabardasth fame in key supporting parts. Produced by Sandeep Vankatesh under the Sri Venkateswara Cine Creations banner, the movie has recovered its costs in most territories within two days, thanks to strong word-of-mouth from audiences.

Plot

Set in the harsh, faction-driven villages of Rayalaseema, the story centres on Pothu Raju (Prashanth), a carefree buffalo herder whose nickname, “Pothugadda” (Buffalo Boy), comes from his daily life with the animals. His days pass in a light-hearted way until a dominant landlord (Vishwa) and his cruel son insult and shame Raju’s family in public over a small land dispute.

What starts as an argument turns into a life-changing tragedy that tears his world apart. Pushed into a corner, Raju is forced to choose violence. He goes from a cheerful, easy-going youth to a man fuelled by rage and a need for revenge. The second half shifts gears into full action mode, with back-to-back fight sequences, bold twists, and a powerful interval stretch that has audiences roaring in theatres.

Performances

Prashanth Kalakoti delivers a standout performance that could define his career. His shift from innocent, playful youth to broken, furious avenger feels natural and believable. You can feel his anger and pain in every crying scene, shout, and punch.

Newcomer Aarthi Kanagala shines as the village girl who loves Raju. She brings charm to the romantic portions and shows good depth in emotional scenes. Vishwa is convincing as the cold-hearted landlord, and his screen presence adds real weight to the conflict.

Getup Srinu brings well-timed humour in the first half, which helps balance the heavy emotional load. Raghava and the rest of the supporting cast add authenticity and make the village setup feel lived-in and real.

Technical Aspects

Ramesh Raparthi proves that a strong story and rooted characters can carry a film even without star power. His writing stays loyal to the Rayalaseema culture. Faction fights, honour issues, and caste-related tensions are shown in a grounded way, without glamour.

The interval sequence stands out as a major highlight. Prashanth’s fierce dialogue delivery, combined with a thundering background score, has been widely praised by viewers and critics. Many are calling it one of the more memorable interval moments in recent Telugu cinema.

SM Srinivas’s cinematography captures the rough charm of the region, from bright sunflower fields to dark, blood-stained village streets. His frames give the film a raw, earthy look. Composer Charan Arjun lifts the mood of every key scene with his background music. The mass theme used in the action episodes is particularly catchy. His songs fit the situations and do not distract from the pace of the story.

Highlights

• Explosive interval block and an engaging pre-climax twist that gives goosebumps
• Prashanth’s intense acting and gritty action scenes
• No forced glamour or out-of-place comedy tracks; every scene has a purpose
• Honest depiction of village faction violence and social tension
• Strong audience response from Tier-2 and Tier-3 centres, boosting box-office numbers

Drawbacks

The initial 15 to 20 minutes move at a slightly slow pace, as the film takes time to set up the characters and the village world. Some viewers, especially in multiplexes, may find this stretch a bit leisurely.

A few action scenes are quite graphic and may feel disturbing to sensitive viewers. The heroine’s character is impactful, but her screen time in the second half feels a little limited and could have been expanded to deepen the emotional connection.

Box Office & Audience Response

With no big releases to compete with it that week, Pothugadda opened to packed houses in B and C centres. Social media is full of clips showing crowds cheering, whistling, and clapping during the interval and the climax.

Trade circles are predicting that the film can comfortably cross the 20 crore mark in its full run, which is a remarkable result for a small-budget project reportedly made for under 4 crores. Many theatres have already added extra shows to handle the growing demand, especially during evenings and weekends.

Final Verdict

Pothugadda is the kind of Telugu rural action drama that banks on raw emotion, sharp dialogues, and bold mass moments. It has a few rough edges, but it feels honest and gripping, and it leaves you emotionally exhausted in a satisfying way.

If you enjoyed rustic, mass-heavy films like Pushpa, Kantara, or Rangasthalam, this one is worth watching on the big screen for its intense performances and powerful high points.

iBbomma Rating: 3.75/5

Trending:

Racharikam (2025): Power, Passion, and a Political Freefall