The teaser of Allari Naresh’s upcoming thriller Alcohol is out, and it kicks off with what promises to be a twisted, crime-laced ride. Dropped with the tagline “When there’s a high, there’s a price,” the teaser not only teases the film’s karmic narrative but also confirms a New Year’s Day release. Alcohol hits screens worldwide on January 1, 2026.
Alcohol’s teaser opens on a corporate note, with Satya questioning Naresh’s character, a wealthy businessman, about why he abstains from alcohol despite earning in lakhs. “I don’t like Alcohol controlling my mind,” comes the reply. But irony takes over quickly, Naresh is soon seen committing bigger crimes that make liquor look tame. A few sharp cuts later, the businessman is slapping and stabbing Satya’s character, dancing through the streets, and plotting the murder of an unsuspecting party crowd.
Harshavardhan appears as Secret Sharath, Girish Kulkarni as Sound Sundar, with Kireeti Damaraju and Venkatesh Kakumanu as the twins Ramesh and Suresh. Ruhani Sharma shows up as Sanya, and her smirk suggests she may not be the innocent bystander one expects. Each character seems to add their own eccentric flavour to this chaotic night-time thriller.
Visually, the teaser brims with neon-lit chaos, amplified by Ghibran’s music and a thumping Punjabi rap that underscores the narrative’s wild streak. Chaitan Bharadwaj lends his touch with the background score, building up the tension between crime and comedy.
Written and directed by Meher Tej, who previously made the dark comedy OTT film Family Drama, Alcohol is produced by S Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, with Venkat Upputuri as co-producer. Jiju Sunny handles the cinematography, Niranjan Devaramane edits, and Vishal Abani oversees production design.
For Allari Naresh, who has oscillated between comedy and intense roles in recent years, Alcohol looks like a daring new chapter. With its blend of dark humour, crime and eccentric characters, the film seems to be positioning itself as a wild New Year starter for Telugu cinema audiences.
