If you look at Ravi Teja’s career, Dhamaka is the last film in which he scored a big hit, back in 2022. Since then, he has tried different directors and films, but most of them failed to make the desired impact. Now, he has teamed up with director Shiva Nirvana for Irumudi, which released on Friday. Priya Bhavani Shankar is the female lead, while Baby Nakshatra plays Ravi Teja’s daughter. Top production house Mythri Movie Makers has produced the film.
Before the release, the director and promotional material revealed that the story revolves around the bond between a father and daughter. Ravi Teja, who is known as Mass Maharaja, is seen in a subtle role for the first time in Irumudi. The Ayyappa Mala tradition is particularly popular in South India, where devotees observe a 40-day deeksha and follow strict practices. Director Shiva Nirvana cleverly uses this backdrop for a story that also deals with a socially relevant issue concerning girls.
Shiva Nirvana is known for handling emotions well, as seen in his earlier films Ninnu Kori and Majili. In Irumudi, apart from the father-daughter relationship, there is a much bigger subject at its core, which comes as a surprise to the audience.
Director: Shiva Nirvana
Cast: Ravi Teja, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sai Kumar, Baby Nakshatra, Ajay Ghosh, Meesala Lakshman, Swastika and others
Trinadh (Ravi Teja) is a happy man who lives with his wife Kaveri (Priya Bhavani Shankar) and their daughter Manikanta or Manemma (Baby Nakshatra) in a village near Sileru in Andhra Pradesh. Trinadh is an ardent devotee of Ayyappa Swamy, but he has one bad habit — he is a habitual drinker. However, he gives up alcohol whenever he wears the Ayyappa Mala.
Trinadh loves his daughter deeply and teaches her to tell him everything about what she sees or experiences, whether at school or at home. He treats every girl in the village like his own daughter and is always ready to help them whenever they face a problem.
Guru Swamy (Sai Kumar) is an experienced Ayyappa devotee and is respected by the villagers. Meanwhile, some unidentified people enter the village, and their behaviour scares the girls. Soon, a girl’s body is found in the bushes, shocking the entire village.
What kind of trouble does Trinadh face when Manemma tells him about an incident she witnessed? How does he protect the girls in the village? What exactly happened, and how does everything take an unexpected turn? The answers form the rest of the story.
Director Shiva Nirvana has looked at Ravi Teja from a completely different perspective and created Irumudi around that image. Audiences are familiar with Ravi Teja as a mass hero, known for his unique dialogue delivery, body language and mannerisms. But in Irumudi, Shiva makes him simply act and perform. If you look at Ravi Teja’s recent films, Irumudi stands apart, primarily because of his terrific performance. He doesn’t rely on his regular mannerisms, mass dialogues, action or commercial songs. Instead, Shiva presents him as a family man who loves his wife and daughter. The father-daughter bond is one of the biggest highlights of the film.
Shiva Nirvana has a strong understanding of emotional scenes, and he once again captures the bond between the father, daughter and the people around them beautifully. The emotions never feel completely disconnected from the story, and they play an important role in taking the narrative forward.
As the director mentioned before the release, the Ayyappa Deeksha is only a backdrop for the story, and the film is not about Lord Ayyappa. Instead, Shiva uses the backdrop to tell a socially relevant story and blends the two elements effectively. Another major strength is Shiva Nirvana’s writing and dialogues. One father tells his daughter that she should be afraid of certain things and stay within the limits of her home for her own safety. In contrast, Trinadh believes that girls should be brave enough to stand up against anyone who misbehaves with them.
This becomes an important thread in the story. Manemma tells her father everything without fear or hesitation, and Trinadh assures her that he will always be there for her and for the other girls in the village. This relationship gives the film its emotional core. Shiva stays focused on what he wants to tell and doesn’t deviate from the central theme. The first half establishes the village, the girls’ struggles to travel to a nearby town for school, Trinadh’s relationship with his wife and daughter, his bond with the villagers and the way the entire village comes together for the Ayyappa Pooja.
The decision to shoot in real locations around Sileru works extremely well. It allows the audience to immerse themselves in the world and connect with the characters. The natural surroundings also add to the film’s atmosphere and make the village setting feel authentic. The second half becomes more serious after a girl’s body is found and another girl drops out of school. A few more incidents unfold in the village. The people behind the trouble are waiting for Trinadh to wear the Ayyappa Mala, knowing that he cannot intervene once he begins his deeksha.
Once Trinadh enters the deeksha, the main plot gradually unfolds. Shiva maintains the seriousness of the film throughout. The truth about who is behind the problems faced by the girls is eventually revealed, although the proceedings become predictable at that point. However, the final 20 minutes are highly emotional, with Shiva delivering a strong climax.
The two songs associated with Lord Ayyappa create a good impact and even give goosebumps in theatres. Interestingly, Shiva completely sticks to his story, avoiding unnecessary songs, action episodes and forced comedy. It is a serious subject, and he narrates it with the same seriousness.
Cinematographer Vishnu Sharma deserves special mention for capturing the beauty of Sileru authentically. The visuals help the audience stay connected to the story, and this is one of the advantages of shooting in real locations instead of relying heavily on sets.
GV Prakash Kumar’s music is another major asset. His songs and background score complement the emotional and serious nature of the story. The film is not a typical commercial entertainer or romantic drama, and GV Prakash’s score reflects that mood effectively. The editing is neat and the production values are strong. Kudos to Shiva Nirvana for his direction, screenplay, writing and story.
Ravi Teja steals the show with his subtle performance. We have seen Ravi Teja in many different roles, but Irumudi presents a completely different side of him as an actor and performer. He completely becomes Trinadh without relying on his usual mass mannerisms or dialogue delivery. This is arguably one of the best performances of his career and a memorable character for the actor. Priya Bhavani Shankar is excellent as a wife and mother. She fits the role perfectly and delivers particularly well in a couple of emotional scenes. It is good to see her take up a role like this.
The other major pillar of the film is Baby Nakshatra. As Manemma, she is present throughout the film and delivers a confident performance. She handles the emotional scenes particularly well and proves to be one of the film’s biggest strengths. Her chemistry with Ravi Teja is one of the reasons the father-daughter relationship works so well. Sai Kumar gets a meaningful role as Guruswamy. He has played several characters in recent films, but this role has different shades, and he brings his experience to it. Swasika is another performer who makes an impact. Whenever she appears on screen, she creates an unsettling feeling, which suits her character perfectly. Ajay Ghosh and the other actors provide good support.
Despite a few logical loopholes and some predictable portions in the second half, Irumudi is a gripping family drama that blends a socially relevant subject, Ayyappa Deeksha and family emotions effectively. Ravi Teja’s excellent performance, Shiva Nirvana’s focused narration and dialogues, along with the cinematography, music and supporting performances, make it a worthwhile watch. Ravi Teja’s performance alone makes Irumudi worth watching.