Kaantha is a 2025 Tamil-language period drama thriller written and directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, released in Telugu with the same title. The film stars Dulquer Salmaan and Bhagyashri Borse in lead roles, while Samuthirakani, Rana Daggubati, Ravindra Vijay, Nizhalgal Ravi, Gayathri Shankar, Aadukalam Naren, Vaiyapuri, Bagavathi Perumal, Bijesh Nagesh, Thamizh Selvi and others appear in key supporting roles.
Music is by Jhanu Chanthar & Jakes Bejoy, cinematography by Dani Sanchez Lopez, and it is produced by Rana Daggubati, Dulquer Salmaan, Prashanth Potluri & Jom Varghese under Spirit Media & Wayfarer Films Entertainment.
Story:
Set in the 1950s, the film is built around the clash between a star actor and a respected filmmaker.
Ayya (Samuthirakani) dreams of making a film titled Shantha. Shooting begins with superstar TKM – T.K. Mahadevan (Dulquer Salmaan), but halfway through, the film gets stalled. After eight years, the producer wants to restart the same project with TKM again.
Ayya reluctantly agrees, but TKM slowly takes control of the project — he changes the climax, renames the film as Kaantha, and sidelines Ayya during the shoot.
A new comer, Kumari (Bhagyashri Borse) — trained by Ayya himself — plays the female lead. The ego clash between the director and the star hero grows stronger day by day.
On the final day of shoot, with only one scene left, a heated argument stops the filming again. On the same night, a murder occurs inside the studio.
Who was murdered? Why did it happen? What is the real conflict between Ayya and TKM?
What loss does Kumari face because of their egos? And how does officer Phoenix (Rana Daggubati) crack the mystery?
The second half answers these questions through an investigation.
Performances:
Dulquer Salmaan: Dulquer delivers one of the best performances of his career.
He brings TKM’s ego, charm, insecurity, arrogance, and emotional pain alive with absolute conviction. Mirror scenes, interval block, and the sequence where the heroine slaps him — all highlight his remarkable acting range. This is truly an award-worthy performance.
Bhagyashri Borse: Bhagyashri gets her career-best role and shines brilliantly.
Her monologue with Dulquer, and her varied expressions in a single take, prove her acting ability. Her screen presence and chemistry with Dulquer work very well.
Samuthirakani: Outstanding as Ayya. You forget the actor and only see the passionate 1950s director struggling with his fading authority. His ego clashes with Dulquer form the film’s strongest emotional core.
Rana Daggubati: Rana’s entry in the second half brings fresh energy and intensity.
His sarcasm, attitude and unpredictable presence make the investigative portions some interesting. He is also the main entertainment factor in the second half.
Others Gayathri Shankar is superb as TKM’s wife. Nizhalgal Ravi leaves a strong mark as the mediator. Ravindra Vijay, Aadukalam Naren, Vaiyapuri, Bagavathi Perumal, Bijesh Nagesh, Thamizh Selvi and others support the story well.
Direction & Writing: Selvamani Selvaraj delivers a refreshing and engaging story.
The screenplay is detailed, emotional, and rooted in the 1950s film industry atmosphere.
First Half: Ego conflict between hero and director Emotional drama, Kumari–TKM love track, Strong interval hook Except for a couple of unnecessary songs, the first half is highly engaging.
Second Half: The film turns into a pure investigative thriller. Rana’s entry lifts the momentum Some twists are interesting The motive is surprising even if the killer feels predictable However, Investigation scenes feel slow, Pacing drops, Several scenes (except climax) needed stronger writing. The director excels in performances and period detailing, but the narrative could have been tighter.
Technical Departments:
Music Janu Chanthar’s songs do not impress; ‘Pasi Manase’ feels too modern for the 1950s setting. Jakes Bejoy’s background score is very effective and elevates tension.
Cinematography Dani Sanchez Lopez delivers outstanding visuals. Lighting, framing, and color choices perfectly bring the 1950s era to life. Black-and-white sequences and classic aspect ratios are used brilliantly.
Editing is sharp in the first half but could have been tighter in the second half.
Art Direction Ramalingam’s team recreates the 50s studio environment with superb detail.
Sets look authentic and visually rich.
Production Values Top-notch. The film looks lavish and technically rich throughout.
What’s Hot?
- Dulquer’s exceptional performance
- Bhagyashri’s impressive role
- Strong performances by Samuthirakani, Rana
- Intense drama in first half
- Good twists and emotional climax
- Authentic 1950s film-studio setting
- Excellent cinematography, lighting, and production design
- Solid background score
- Confident direction
What’s Not?
- Long runtime
- Slow pace in second half
- Investigation scenes become dull at times
- Over-focus on ego clash between hero & director makes some portions repetitive
- Except climax, Some second-half scenes needed better writing
- No commercial elements — which may not appeal to all
Final Verdict:
Kaantha is a well-made period drama with outstanding performances and rich technical craft. However, its slow pacing, lengthy runtime, and art-film style narrative restrict its appeal to a limited audience. The film works as an acting masterclass, especially for Dulquer fans, but may feel heavy for those expecting modern commercial entertainment.
TeluguBulletin Rating: 2.75/5