Akhanda 2 Movie Review
Cast: Balakrishna, Samyuktha Menon, Harshaali Malhotra, Kabir Singh, Saswata Chatterjee, and others.
Director: Boyapati Srinu
Producers: Ram Achanta, Gopi Achanta
Music Director: Thaman S
Cinematographer: C Ram Prasad, Santosh D Detake
Editor: Tammiraju
Directed by Boyapati Sreenu, starring the one and only Nandamuri Balakrishna, Akhanda 2: Thaandavam stormed into theaters on December 12, 2025, straight up as a sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Akhanda. With the spiritual and the sacred woven throughout the plot, Balakrishna brings back his dual roles as the explosive Aghora warrior Akhanda Rudra Sikandar & the more down to earth Murali Krishna, delivering a cranked up fantasy action thriller that'll leave you on the edge.
Not to be left out, Kabir Duhan Singh and the rest of the supporting cast bring some great added depth. Alongside them, you've got Samyuktha Menon shining in the lead role, Aadhi Pinisetty delivering some top notch villainy and Harshaali Malhotra dipping her toes in the world of acting as a child actor in a key part. Expect all out action, symbolic imagery, & some pretty weighty themes of right vs wrong with music that won't let up courtesy of Thaman S.
The Akhanda story picks up right where the first film left off & ups the ante even more. Akhandha, by this point a near-legendary defender of the faith, goes head to head against dark forces that are dead set on taking out the spiritual heart of India - taking us on a wild ride with a plot that spans the globe and the sacred Mahakumbh Mela. Mixing a healthy dose of loyalty, patriotism, and all-out action with an over-the-top visual approach, Boyapati Sreenu gives the film a massive mainstream appeal, boosting it with absurd set decorations, intense ritualistic images and some real conflict.
On screen, Balakrishna's commanding presence - especially when he's channeling the Aghora - dominates the show. In those real game changing moments like the interval block and the final showdown, his purely unbridled energy - & the way he delivers his lines - sends shivers down your spine. Thaman's soundtrack is the real highlight here - it ratchets up the tension with plenty of banging percussion, chanting & damru rhythms all designed to make you feel like you are right in the thick of divine retribution. The pre interval and second half set pieces in the action choreography are both dramatic & intense - that's exactly what the masses are always looking for.
The film does, however, have trouble finding its narrative mojo. Rather than crafting a solid screenplay, it relies heavily on stand out moments, which, although a real highlight, come at the expense of a plot that feels predictable and barely fleshed out. All too many of the character arcs don't quite have the impact they should, & at times the pace plods along, especially in the first half, where the set up is a bit stale and feels like we've seen it all before. Even when those deeper spiritual & emotional moments are attempting to make an impact, they sometimes come across as a bit too 'on the nose' or preachy and you can't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all, even in some of the most dramatic scenes.
Akhanda 2: Thaandavam is essentially a Balakrishna show because he is just a huge star and Boyapati Sreenu is a director who isn't afraid to go big or go home. If that's your cup of tea, you'll get exactly what you're looking for - all the high octane action, chest-thumping moments and over-the-top heroics that you could want. But for those of us looking for maybe a bit more coherence or some real depth, the film can be a bit overwhelming. Box office numbers are as expected, though - it's flying high on its first weekend & clearly its fans just can't get enough of it. And if nothing else, it shows once again that this particular brand of high-energy spectacle still has a place in the Telugu film world, even if it does have its flaws.