Popular actor Kiran Abbavaram has backed a small-budget film titled Thimmarajupalli TV, introducing several newcomers and fresh faces. Directed by Muniraju, this rural drama stars Sai Tej, Veda Jalandhar, Pradeep Kotte, Swathi and Amma Ramesh in the lead roles. The film hit the screens today along with a few other small films. Read our review to find out if the film matches up the hype created or not.
Story:
Set in 1996, Thimmarajupalli TV takes place in a small village where Satish (Sai Tej), a petty thief, is in love with Sharada (Veda Jalandhar). Every Maha Shivaratri, he arranges a television for the villagers, turning it into a festive gathering. Meanwhile, village head Ramachandrayya (Amma Ramesh) dreams of owning the first TV, but Rajappa (Kotte Pradeep) beats him to it. What starts as pride soon becomes a problem, as Rajappa’s house turns into a public hub for the entire village. Things take a turn when Satish and Rajappa clash, and the very next day, the TV goes missing. Satish is blamed, and the village council gives him two weeks to prove his innocence. His search for the truth forms the crux of the story.
What about on screen performances?
Kiran Abbavaram has introduced close to 40 actors with this film and this is the best part of Thimmarajupalli TV. Rather than going for popular stars, he has chosen characters that do justice to the mood of the film.
But this has also an adverse effect on the film as it takes a lot of time for the audience to adjust to these characters. If there would have been a few more noted faces, there would have been a lot of difference in the narrative.
Sai Tej, who plays Satish, delivers a sincere and grounded performance, perfectly fitting the tone of the rural backdrop. He carries his role with ease and brings a natural charm to the character, especially in emotional and situational scenes. His performance feels organic, as he avoids overacting and instead relies on subtle expressions and body language to convey emotions.
Pradeep Kotte, as Rajappa, brings a certain intensity to the character, making Rajappa stand out in the narrative. His screen presence is strong, and the way he delivers his dialogues adds weight to several scenes. Pradeep handles both emotional and serious moments with ease, ensuring that his character doesn’t feel one-dimensional.
Veda, in the role of Saradha, does a commendable job, portraying her character with simplicity and grace. She fits perfectly into the rural setting and brings a natural authenticity to the role. Her performance feels effortless, especially in scenes that demand subtle emotions rather than loud expressions. The way she balances innocence with emotional strength adds depth to her character, making Saradha both relatable and engaging.
Swathi, as Yellamma, is equally impressive, bringing a strong sense of authenticity to her role. She slips into the character with ease and delivers a performance that feels raw and rooted in the film’s rural backdrop. Her expressions and body language add depth to Yellamma, especially in emotionally charged scenes.
Amma Ramesh has perfectly fit into the role of a village head, delivering a very natural performance. He carries the character with great ease, making it hard to believe that he is a newcomer. There is no moment where he looks inexperienced or out of place. His expressions, body language, and dialogue delivery feel authentic and well-balanced throughout. He brings a strong screen presence without overdoing anything, which adds to the realism of the role. With this kind of performance, Amma Ramesh shows good potential and can definitely become a reliable choice for character roles in the industry.
What about off-screen performances?
A major highlight of the film is Vamsikanth Rekhana’s background score, which plays a crucial role in elevating key moments. Even in scenes where the emotional depth feels lacking, the music adds weight and helps maintain audience interest.
The use of the Chittoor dialect adds authenticity and enhances the rural flavor. While the film has its shortcomings, especially in pacing and emotional connectivity, it ends on a passable, feel-good note, making it a one-time watch for its rooted attempt.
As the title suggests, Thimmarajupalli TV is built around a television set, which acts as the central element connecting the narrative. Director Muniraju attempts to craft a story rooted in a rural setting, blending slice-of-life moments with a layered emotional core. Overall, he creates the village atmosphere very well and makes it feel real and natural. The village houses, rainy scenes, and muddy surroundings are all shown very effectively, and the period costumes for all characters are also presented very well.
However, the film takes a slow and rather underwhelming start. The entire first half is largely occupied with establishing the village atmosphere, incorporating comedy bits and a routine love track. While the intent is to create a grounded setup, the execution feels stretched, with several scenes lacking purpose and slowing down the narrative significantly.
The film finds its footing only in the second half, where the actual story begins to unfold. The introduction of the mystery element adds some intrigue, and a few sequences are handled with decent engagement.
Though the screenplay still has its share of inconsistencies, the narrative at least moves with clearer intent compared to the first half. The director manages to connect the dots towards the climax, which is presented in a fairly convincing and emotionally driven manner.
Akshay Ram Podishetti has done a good job with the cinematography, capturing the village backdrop nicely and adding to the film’s natural feel.
What’s Good?
Background Score
Basic theme
Sai Tej, Veda Jalandhar, Pradeep Kotte, Swathi and Amma Ramesh Performances
Production values
What’s Bad?
Slow pace
Mundane scenes
Dull Second Half
Verdict:
Overall, Thimmarajupalli TV is a sincere attempt that brings rural life to the screen with authenticity and strong performances from a fresh cast. The effort of Kiran Abbavaram in introducing nearly 40 new artists deserves special appreciation, as it gives meaningful opportunities to emerging talent. While the film scores with its atmosphere, music, and grounded storytelling, the slow pace and lack of engaging moments in the first half hold it back. The second half and climax offer some redemption, making it a passable one-time watch for those who enjoy rustic village dramas.
TeluguBulleting Rating 2.75/3