Racharikam 2025

Racharikam (2025) Telugu Political Drama Film

Racharikam is a 2025 Indian Telugu-language political drama that blends romance, family tension, and gritty village politics. Written and directed by Suresh Lankalapalli, the film looks at ambition, love, and the hunger for power in a crime-hit backdrop. Produced by Chill Bross Entertainment, the movie has a runtime of 135 minutes (2h 15m).

Plot Summary

Set in the 1980s in the troubled Rachakonda region of Rayalaseema, the story centers on siblings Bhargavi Reddy and Vivek Reddy. Raised in a powerful political family, both are pushed to carry forward their clan’s dominance in local politics. Their path changes when Bhargavi falls for Shiva, a fiery youth leader from the rival Mana Shakti Party, guided by the idealistic Kranthi.

This relationship sparks strong resistance from her father, Raja Reddy, and brother Vivek, who see Shiva as a threat to their political hold. What starts as a love story soon grows into a fierce clash between families and parties, filled with betrayal, ego, and shifting loyalties. The film highlights faction feuds, social divides, and the personal price that comes with chasing power.

Cast and Crew

• Director / Writer: Suresh Lankalapalli
• Main Cast:
  • Apsara Rani as Bhargavi Reddy
  • Varun Sandesh as Shiva
  • Vijay Shankar (credited as Vijay Ram Raju in some places) as Vivek Reddy
  • Mahaboob Basha in a supporting role
  • Supporting roles include key characters like Kranthi and Raja Reddy
• Music: Vengi composed the soundtrack, which features 5 tracks. The album includes the song “Nippuvi Ningi Egi”, sung by Harshitha Pasala.

Strengths

Performances:
Varun Sandesh stands out as Vivek, playing an ambitious and morally conflicted leader with strong screen presence. Apsara Rani gives Bhargavi a mix of softness and fire, and her pairing with Vijay Shankar brings a genuine spark during the romantic portions. Shankar is convincing as the ideal-driven Shiva, while the rest of the cast, including Vijaya Rama Raju, adds weight to the political drama.

Technical Aspects:
Vengi’s music captures the folk mood of the 1980s, with songs that feel earthy and rooted. Arya Sai Krishna’s cinematography paints Rachakonda as dusty, tense, and alive, which helps pull viewers into the setting.

Themes and Pacing:
The first half moves at a steady pace and keeps interest with a mix of humor, emotion, and light social commentary that never feels like a lecture. The action scenes are raw and suit the period and rural backdrop.

Weaknesses

Predictability:
The storyline follows familiar ideas like rural power battles, forbidden love, and long rivalries. Many turns are easy to guess, and the second half slows down at times, leaning more on melodrama than fresh plot moves.

Execution Issues:
Some dialogues feel like they exist only to explain the plot rather than sound natural. A tighter edit could have helped the slower parts. At a few points, the movie appears to celebrate violence instead of questioning it.

Appeal:
Racharikam will likely connect most with Telugu viewers who enjoy old-school political and family dramas. Urban or younger audiences may find the tone uneven or dated in parts.

Who Should Watch It?

If you like character-focused political dramas such as Leader (2010) or action-filled family sagas like Yevadu, this one is a decent choice for a weekend watch. It works well for viewers who enjoy sibling rivalry, village backdrops, and intense romance mixed with politics. Families can watch it together, though some scenes have strong violence.

Those who want high-energy action throughout or a light rom-com might not find it fully satisfying. The film is set to stream on major OTT platforms after its theatrical run.

In short, Racharikam is a heartfelt, if familiar, look at the political underbelly of Telangana, lifted by strong lead performances. It is worth a one-time watch for fans of political and family drama.

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