Aadikeshava

Aadikeshava is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language action drama film directed by Srikanth N. Reddy in his directorial debut. The film stars Panja Vaisshnav Tej, Sreeleela and Joju George in the lead roles. The soundtrack and background score were composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar, while Dudley and Navin Nooli handled the cinematography and editing.

Aadikeshava was released on 24 November 2023 to generally negative reviews from critics, with most critics praising the cast performances (particularly Vaisshnav Tej's and Sreeleela's) and soundtrack, but critics panned its direction, writing, action sequences, screenplay, characterization, and predictability. The film did not do well at the box office.

Plot
Balu, who lives with his adopted parents and works at a cosmetics company, learns about the death of his biological father Rayalaseema-based MLA Maha Kaleswar Reddy. He returns to Rayalaseema to save his sister Vajra and the ancestral temple from a mining mafia boss, Chenga Reddy.

Cast

 * Panja Vaisshnav Tej as Balakotayya "Balu"/Rudra Kaleswar Reddy
 * Sreeleela as Chitravathi "Chitra", Balu's love interest
 * Joju George as Chenga Reddy
 * Aparna Das as Vajra, Rudra Kaleshwar Reddy's sister
 * Jayaprakash as Rudra Kaleshwar Reddy's adoptive father
 * Vinay Varma as Vijay Mohan, Minister for Mines and Geology
 * Radhika Sarathkumar as Rudra Kaleshwar Reddy's adoptive mother
 * Suman as Maha Kaleshwar Reddy, Balu/Rudra's biological father
 * Sadha as Parvathy, Rudra Kaleshwar Reddy’s cousin
 * Sudharshan as Sudharshan "Sudha", Balu's childhood friend
 * Anand as Chitra's father
 * Tanikella Bharani as Rudra Kaleshwar Reddy's uncle and Maha Kaleshwar Reddy's elder brother
 * Sudha as Balu's aunt and Maha Kaleshwar Reddy's sister-in-law
 * Shravan as Aadhikesava/ Real Rudra Kaleshwar Reddy

Soundtrack
The film's BGM and music were composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar. The first single "Sittharala Sithravathi" was released on 9 September 2023. The second single "Hey Bujji Bangaram" was released on 11 October 2023. The film's third single "Leelammo" was released on 25 October 2023.

Release
Aadikeshava was released on 24 November 2023.

Home media
The film's digital rights were bought by Netflix, and the satellite rights were bought by Star Maa. The film premiered on Netflix on 22 December 2023 in Telugu along with dubbed versions in Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Critical response
Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu found the film "unintentionally hilarious" and found it a relief that the film does not last very long. 123Telugu gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Aadikeshava is a mediocre action drama, introducing Panja Vaisshnav Tej in a new light. His comedy timing, performance in action scenes, Sreeleela’s glamour and the comedy scenes in the first half are the other positives, but the outdated storyline, over-the-top action scenes in the second half, and unnecessary scenes are the main drawbacks."

NTV gave the film 2/5 stars and wrote "Aadikeshava is one movie that seems like makers had belief in an old adage, “Watch 10 films and write one. The movie feels so outdated that even 90’s films look contemporary in comparison to this film. The twists and turns, trying to replicate Boyapati Srinu and Trivikram Srinivas styles, doesn’t mix well." Avad Mohammad of OTTPlay gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Aadikeshava is a very routine and outdated action drama that does not showcase anything novel. Barring a few romantic and comedy scenes featuring the lead pair, the action is so over the top that the masses will also find it difficult to sit through."

Raghu Bandi of The Indian Express gave 1.5/5 stars and wrote "The subject and the writing in Aadikeshava by debutant Srikanth N Reddy have nothing original to offer and feel bland. There is no need to hurry to the theatres to catch this film as it might reach OTT soon." Abhilasha Cherukuri of Cinema Express gave 1.5/5 stars and wrote "Aadikeshava still manages to remind one of how comforting tropes can be. It is only when the tropes are not spun well enough, the illusion of entertainment falls apart, only to find reality break and enter."