What’s “Andhra King Taluka” about?
It is the year 2002. Popular star Surya (Upendra) is on the brink of a major career milestone, but the momentum is missing. His last seven films have been outright flops, and as a result, his landmark 100th film runs into serious financial trouble. While Surya struggles to revive the project and secure funds in Hyderabad, an unexpected deposit suddenly appears in his bank account. The money comes from a fan living in a remote village near Rajahmundry. Intrigued, Surya asks his assistant to dig deeper. They discover the fan’s name: Sagar.
Sagar (Ram Pothineni) is the president of the local fan association for “Andhra King” Surya. He comes from Godapalli Lanka, a village located in the middle of the Godavari River. His life is far from easy. The village lacks even basic amenities, and Sagar is constantly at odds with the local theatre owner because he has fallen in love with Mahalaxmi (Bhagyashri Borse), the theatre owner’s daughter.
How did a young man from a deprived village suddenly become wealthy? What pushed him to support Surya’s 100th film at any cost? The answers lie in the intertwined journeys of a devoted fan and the superstar he worships.
Analysis
Films centered on fan culture and celebrity worship are rarely explored in Telugu cinema. Even in Indian cinema, only a handful of films like Shah Rukh Khan’s “Fan” have ventured into this territory. In that sense, “Andhra King Taluka” arrives with a fresh premise. The Telugu states, particularly Andhra, are known for their intense fan culture where movie stars are adored as demi-gods, and this film captures that world with authenticity.
Director Mahesh Babu Pknown for “Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty,” chooses a story that mirrors the fan obsession deeply rooted in Andhra while still incorporating familiar commercial ingredients such as romance and drama.
The narrative begins by establishing Upendra’s character and the crisis he faces as a movie star. From there, the story gradually shifts to his fan, played by Ram Pothineni.
The film carries shades of Mammootty’s “Katha Parayumpol” and its remake “Kathanayakudu,” where a star reconnects with a long-lost friend. Here, the emotional pivot is not friendship but fandom. “Andhra King Taluka” explores the connection between a movie star and a devoted admirer. Director Mahesh Babu effectively intertwines the professional struggles of a star and the personal battles of his fan.
Why do fans who have never met their matinee idols admire them so deeply? What do they gain from this worship? The film attempts to answer these questions by showing how Sagar’s life is shaped by the inspiring dialogues delivered by Surya, even though he has never met him. The superstar initially believes his fan has helped him financially, but later realises that it is an act of sacrifice rather than mere support.
These portions stand out and add emotional weight to a film that otherwise suffers from inconsistent narration.
Although the theme is refreshing, the storytelling faces issues, particularly the long runtime and several sequences that feel overly convenient. The love story between the lead pair works quite well in the first half due to their chemistry, but it loses prominence later. Some emotional scenes do not land with the required impact. The episode in which an entire village without electricity suddenly becomes motivated after listening to a Ramayana recital by Rao Ramesh feels unconvincing and reminiscent of a moment from “Lagaan.”
Even with these flaws, the final act and the way the threads converge make the film a reasonably engaging entertainer.
Ram Pothineni fully invests himself in the role of an ardent fan. He shed weight and appears noticeably younger, which suits the character. It is refreshing to see him in a performance-driven role after a streak of mass-action films, and he delivers convincingly.
Upendra brings presence and dignity to the superstar role. His screen time may be limited, but he adds significant value. Bhagyashri Borse looks stunning, shares strong chemistry with Ram, and gives a neat performance. Among the supporting cast, Rao Ramesh stands out. Rahul Ramakrishna is adequate.
The music by Vivek and Mervin, who make their Telugu debut, is a major plus. “Nuvvente Chaley” has already become a viral hit and works well in the film. Their background score, however, is less impactful. Mahesh Babu has written several strong dialogues and the screenplay has its moments, but some sequences needed to be trimmed to achieve a tighter, more effective narrative.
Bottom line: “Andhra King Taluka” offers a refreshing premise rooted in the emotional bond between a fan and his idol. The film has genuine moments that resonate and a strong lead performance from Ram Pothineni, but the uneven narration and overlong runtime hold it back from becoming a truly impactful drama. Despite its flaws, it remains a decent and engaging watch.
Rating: 2.75/5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Movie: Andhra King Taluka
Cast: Ram Pothineni, Upendra, Bhagyashree Borse, Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma, Satya, Rahul Ramakrishna, VTV Ganesh, and others.
Music: Vivek – Mervin
DOP: Siddhartha Nuni
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Production Designer: Avinash Kolla
Fight Master: Pruthvi
Written and Direction: Mahesh Babu P
Producers: Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar
Release Date: November 27, 2025
