After getting introduced to Telugu audiences with the movie Amigos in 2023, Ashikha Ranganath started her New Year on a positive note with a big-ticket film — Naa Saami Ranga, which is releasing for Sankranthi.

The actor plays Vara in the film. “I’ll be portraying the character of Vara, and my role holds importance in the story. The character has two variations, and I am confident the audience will find my role entertaining.,” she quips.

Ashika Ranganath says Vara is an incredibly independent girl. The roles of heroines in village settings can be delicate but Varu’s character is somewhat rebellious.

“The viewers will find my character quite empowering. It was truly a thrilling experience to portray such a role. ‘Naa Saami Ranga’ is a wholesome commercial entertainer with a distinct Telugu flavour. I am sure it will not disappoint fans of Nagarjuna,” she told the media on Tuesday, 9 January.

Also Read: Anasuya Bharadwaj stylish looks in saree photos gallery.

A stroke of luck

The ‘Amigos’ actor notes that she is lucky to share screen space with a big star like Akkineni Nagarjuna.

“It is a stroke of luck for a newcomer like me to act alongside Nag sir. I was pleasantly surprised. I am lucky that 2024 ticked off with a Sankranthi film in Tollywood. What more can I ask for,” she was in awe.

Ashika Ranganath added, “Working with Nagarjuna sir was a wonderful experience. He is a charming and an amazing onscreen performer. He is a sweet person at heart.”

When asked to explain the chemistry she shared with Nagarjuna in the film, she replied: “Nagarjuna garu is renowned for diverse onscreen-romantic characters. In Naa Saami Ranga, romantic tracks drive the story forward. Additionally, there are unique romantic narratives for the characters portrayed by actors Allari Naresh and Raj Tarun. The characters are well-crafted and there are delightful combination scenes featuring Naresh and Raj Tarun. Altogether, I am sure these elements contribute to the fireworks when the film hits screens on Sankranthi.”

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On Keeravani and Vijay Binni

Billed as a wholesome family entertainer, Naa Saami Ranga is a period-drama film directed by Vijay Binni.

It stars Nagarjuna, Allari Naresh, Raj Tarun, Ashika Ranganath, and Jisshu Sengupta in the crucial roles. The film’s original soundtrack is composed by Oscar Award winner MM Keeravani.

Ashika says working with Keeravani has been a delightful experience for her.

“Having witnessed his exceptional work in films like Magadheera (2009), Baahubali (2015 and 2017), and RRR (2022) and hearing his songs, it’s a privilege to be associated with such a renowned music composer. The songs in Naa Saami Ranga are fantastic. The response to the already released songs has been excellent,” she quipped.

As for director Vijay Binni, despite being a newcomer, she revealed that she didn’t come across as talented as him. “He aced the project like a ‘pro’ by showing great finesse like an experienced filmmaker. Binni is quick in making decisions and he has a clear vision for the project,” she explained.

‘Pleasure to be compared with Anushka Shetty’

Despite her Kannada roots, Ashikha Ranganath found both Telugu and Kannada languages and the cultures quite similar as she enjoyed the vibe and atmosphere in Tollywood.

“Telugu language is new to me. So, the writers and direction department helped me a lot. I practised the voice notes to learn the lines and gave my best. I enjoyed the process,” she was all smiles.

About the striking similarities she has with senior star Anushka Shetty, the actor said, “I like Anushka very much. She acted in excellent films and portrayed good characters. It’s a pleasure to be compared with her.”

Ashikha Ranganath says she wants to do films with good scope for performance along with glamour. “I want to be part of a periodical film. If anything comes my way, I want to grab it. I want to be a part of SS Rajamouli’s film one day,” she signed off.

Release Date : April 21, 2023

Starring: Trinadh Varma, Bhavana Sagi, Mounika Reddy, Ravi Teja Mahadasyam

Director: Shravan Kumar

Producer: Vijaya Lakshmi Veluri

Music Director: Pratik Abhyankar and Anand Nambiar

Cinematography: Shashank Sri Ram

Editor: Shravan Kumar

Small budget movie Two Souls, starring Trinadh Varma and Bhavana Sangi hit the screens today. Check out our review to know how the film is.

Story:

Akhil (Trinadh Varma) is a carefree young man who believes that his girlfriend Priya (Mounika Reddy) is cheating on him and decides to commit suicide. He survives the attempt and ends up in the hospital, where he realizes that his soul leaves his body. He meets Priya (Bhavana Sagi), the only soul he can see. Who is Priya? What happened to her? Is there any connection between them? What happened next between them? Did they finally meet in reality?

Plus Points:

The point the director Shravan Kumar wanted to convey is so good. Though it is his debut film, the director neatly handled the film and to say, he also takes care of the crafts like editing and DI.

Actor Trinadh Varma looks good and his on-screen behaviour is neat. He performs fine as a disturbed person who missed his mother followed by his girlfriend.

Young actress Bhavana Sagi also delivers a fine performance. She may sound hyperactive on screen but it is how the character is and she gave her best. On the other hand, she looks good. Ravi Teja Mahadasyam and Mounika Reddy have limited screen presence but did justice to their roles.

The climax portion is fine. The visuals and the background score are really good. The beauty of Sikkim is showcased well in the film, especially in the second hour.

Minus Points:

These kinds of films which are merely based on conversations need to be engaging throughout. Otherwise, they give enormous boredom to the audience. Unfortunately, Two Souls lacks such an engaging dialogue exchange.

The director wants to build an emotional connection between the characters Akhil and Priya with beautiful conversations. However, the conversations which need to be engrossing generate boredom in places.

The conversations in the first half are not that much impressive. Maybe, the director intentionally wanted to make better conversations in the latter half. Alongside, some of the conversations give repetitive feels.

Director Shankar should have taken better care of narration in the first half. Also, he should have shown some backstory related to the leads, which might have helped the film. The songs are melodious but a proper promotion before the release could have helped them earn more attention.

Technical Aspects:

The way the debutant director Shravan Kumar handled the movie is okay but he should have written better conversations to make Two Souls a better movie. It is important to mention that the director handled the climax very well.

Cinematography by Shashank Sri Ram is good. Music by Pratik Abhyankar and the background score by Anand Nambiar are fine. Production values are neat and the editing should have been crisper. There is a lot of room for trimming many scenes in the first half. Also, a crisp runtime should have helped the film big time.

Verdict:

On the whole, Two Souls has a nice concept that executed in a bad manner. Though it has a neat climax and decent performances from the lead actors, the screenplay and boring conversations in the first hour made the film a below-par fare.

Sai Dharam Tej stars in the highly anticipated 2023 Telugu film Virupaksha. You may have been anticipating this movie for a while if you enjoy mysteries or Dharam Tej. The movie Virupasksha will be available in theaters across all of India on April 21 in a variety of languages, including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Before you see this suspenseful murder mystery, read the Virupaksha movie review in its entirety. 

Storyline: In a village, mysterious deaths occur as a result of an unknown person’s occult practice. The entire town is terrified of these killings. Will they track down the person responsible for the deaths? The rest of the story is about the difficulties encountered during the process. 

Virupaksha Overall Rating – 7.5/10 

Full Review – “Virupakash” is a thrilling murder mystery movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the last moment. The film delivers mind-bending twists and a captivating story with a perfect blend of action, thriller, drama, and mystery. 

The movie follows the incidents in a village where some mysterious deaths occurred recently. Then Sai Dharam Tej comes to the village and investigate the incident and suffers some unexpected events in his life. You will see how he successfully catches the real killer and save the villagers from chronological murders. 

Key Points of Virupaksha film review:

The director Karthik takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns, leading to a shocking and unexpected climax. The cast of Virupakash movie is superb and Sai Dharam, Sunil, and Ajay give goosebumps performances. The supporting cast also did good work. 

The direction and cinematography are everything in a thriller mystery and both are executed well by the makers. The dark tone and horror sound enhance the suspense and excitement in the movie. 

You Should Watch or Not – According to our Virupakash Movie Review Expert: “Virupaksha” is a must-watch for fans of thriller and mystery, and Sai Dharam Tej. It’s a gripping and thrilling ride so everyone will enjoy this movie. 

Plus Points:

The first half is mostly racy except for the romantic track. The movie begins on an interesting note as the director wastes no time in setting up the plot. One would get involved in the proceedings right from the very first frame. Sukumar shows his brilliance with the screenplay in the first hour. The amount of effort put in by the production design team to take us into the world of Rudravanam is brilliant.

The sound effects in Virupaksha are scintillating and are sure to send chills down the spine. Not one, but there are many sequences in the film that are brilliantly executed with the help of these sound effects. The first half will thrill and scare the viewers at the same time. The makers made sure not to miss out even on the minute detailing and thus enhances the viewing experience.

Sai Dharam Tej sheds his mass image and plays his part neatly. He, as a person who tries to unravel the mystery in the village, did a fair job. The mega actor has shown a lot of maturity in his performance and did what exactly the script demands from him.

Samyukta Menon gets a meaty role, and she did a spectacular job as well. Samyukta played the village girl role with utmost conviction, and the film has ample scope for the actress to display her acting prowess. The gorgeous beauty grabbed the opportunity with both hands and gave it her all.

The writing is trenchant in most places, and the terrific background score elevates the proceedings superbly. The characterizations are strongly written, and even those who appear for a brief time will drive the story forward. Ajay, Sai Chand, Shymala, Soniya Singh, and Brahmaji did their roles well.

Minus Points:

After a very good first half, one would obviously expect the second half to have the same momentum, but this part disappoints slightly. Though it has a couple of well-executed twists, the pacing dips, weakening the impact. The climax also could have been a bit better.

The romantic track in the initial parts of the movie is a bit boring. The scenes that come in this regard could have been written better. The routine nature of the love track and the song here come as a speed breaker for the film’s flow. The movie is not for the faint-hearted, as it has gore sequences.

Technical Aspects:

Virupaksha is one of the well-crafted movies technically. The background score by Ajaneesh Loknath is top-notch, and it keeps one haunted till the end. It won’t be an overstatement to say that Ajaneesh Loknath is the second hero of Virupaksha. Kudos to the team for such exhilarating sound effects, which were made an integral part of the story. The cinematography by Shamdat is fantastic and gives the required depth. The production values are excellent. The editing could have been slightly better.

Coming to the director, Karthik Dandu, he has done a good job with the movie. The way he penned the story and the amount of depth in his writing is awesome. He made fantabulous use of technical values to present his story effectively on the screen. Sukumar’s association with the film is the icing on the cake. However the second half and climax were not that great.

Verdict:

On the whole, Virupaksha is an engaging mystical thriller that is high on technical values. A good storyline, commendable performances by the actors, pulse-pounding sound effects, and neat direction are its trump cards. Barring the slightly slow second half, this movie very much deserves a theatrical experience for its incredible technical values. Recommended.

Other details about the movie Virupaksha review 

Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Mystery 

Duration: 2h 35m 

Director: Karthik Varma Dandu 

Writer: Sukumar 

Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Sunil, Samyuktha Menon, Brahmaji, Ajay

Audience rating summary

Source : Google

• Does Samantha Ruth Prabhu smoke: Yes

• Does Samantha Ruth Prabhu drink alcohol: Not Known

• Samantha is of mixed origin as her mother Ninette is from Kerala while her father Joseph hails from Andhra Pradesh.

• She was a bright student and used to top the class all the time.

• Samantha’s family wasn’t financially well-off, and thus in order to generate some extra pocket money, she decided to take up modelling at a very young age.

• In 2012, due to an immune system disorder, she had to take a long break from movies; the use of antibiotics had further deteriorated her condition. Owing to this period, she lost a lot of film offers.

• The same year, she underwent a nose job surgery, to enhance her looks. 

• She was diagnosed with diabetes in 2013.

• Samantha, a philanthropist, is the founder of the charitable trust Pratyusha Support. The trust provides medical support for women and children from the financially weaker sections. 

Name – Keerthy Suresh

Other Name – Keerthy

Date of Birth – 17/10/1992

Age – 24 years (2016)

Native Place – Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Profession – South Indian Actress, Indian Film Actress

Father – Suresh Kumar 

Mother – Menaka

Sister – Revathi Suresh

Nationality – Indian

Ethnicity – Indian / Asian

Religion – Hindu

School – Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram

College – Pearl Academy, Chennai

Education – Degree in Fashion Design

Sun Sign / Zodiac Sign – Unknown

Height – 5’0” / 152 cm / 1.52 m 

Weight – 49 Kg / 108 lbs

Figure Measurements – 34-24-35

Bra Size – 34C

Shoe Size – 8 (US)

Body Shape – Hourglass

Body Build – Slim

Hair Color – Black

Eye Color – Black

Affairs / Boyfriends – Unknown

Filmography –
Pilots (2000), Achaneyanenikkishtam (2001), Kuberan (2002), Geethaanjali (2013), Ring Master (2014), Idhu Ennamaayan (2015), Nenu Sailaja (2016), Rajini Murugan (2016), Paambhu Sattai (2016), Thodari (2016), Remo (2016), Vijay 60 (2016), Darboni (2016)

Awards –
Asianet  Film Awards (2014), South Indian International Movie Award (2014), Voyalar Film Award (2014), Nana Film Awards (2014), Edison Awards (2015)

Name – Keerthy Suresh

Other Name – Keerthy

Date of Birth – 17/10/1992

Age – 24 years (2016)

Native Place – Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Profession – South Indian Actress, Indian Film Actress

Father – Suresh Kumar 

Mother – Menaka

Sister – Revathi Suresh

Nationality – Indian

Ethnicity – Indian / Asian

Religion – Hindu

School – Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram

College – Pearl Academy, Chennai

Education – Degree in Fashion Design

Sun Sign / Zodiac Sign – Unknown

Height – 5’0” / 152 cm / 1.52 m 

Weight – 49 Kg / 108 lbs

Figure Measurements – 34-24-35

Bra Size – 34C

Shoe Size – 8 (US)

Body Shape – Hourglass

Body Build – Slim

Hair Color – Black

Eye Color – Black

Affairs / Boyfriends – Unknown

Filmography –
Pilots (2000), Achaneyanenikkishtam (2001), Kuberan (2002), Geethaanjali (2013), Ring Master (2014), Idhu Ennamaayan (2015), Nenu Sailaja (2016), Rajini Murugan (2016), Paambhu Sattai (2016), Thodari (2016), Remo (2016), Vijay 60 (2016), Darboni (2016)

Awards –
Asianet  Film Awards (2014), South Indian International Movie Award (2014), Voyalar Film Award (2014), Nana Film Awards (2014), Edison Awards (2015)

Name – Soundarya

Other Name – Savitri of Modern Telugu Cinema

Real Name – Soundarya Raghu

Date of Birth – 18/07/1972

Died – 17/04/2004 (Bengaluru, India)

Born Place – Mulbagal, Karnataka, India

Profession – Indian Film Actress, Telugu Actress and Producer

Husband – G. S. Raghu (2003-2004)

Father – K. S. Satyanarayan (Industrialist and Kannada Film Writer)

Mother – Not Known

Brother – Not Known

Sister – Not Known

Nationality – Indian

Religion – Hindu

Height – 5’6” / 167 cm / 1.67 m

Weight – 58 Kg / 127 lbs

Body Measurements – 34-26-35

Bra Size – 34B

Waist Size – 26 inches

Hip Size – 35 inches

Eye Color – Brown

Hair Color – Black

Affairs / Boyfriends – Not Known

Languages Known – Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, English, Hindi

Favorite Actor – Amitabh Bachchan

Favorite Actress – Rekha

Favorite Food – Hyderabadi Biryani

Hobbies – Listening Music, Watching Movies, Dancing

Net Worth – Not Known

Filmography –
Gandharva (1992), Baa Nanna Preethisu (1992), Ponnumani (1993), Number One (1993), Mayalodu (1993), Inspector Jhansi (1993), Madam (1994), Hello Brother (1994), Allari Premi Kudu (1994), Top Hero (1994), Super Police (1994), Priyaragalu (1997), Ammoru (1995), Bhale Bullodu (1994), Raja Simham (1995), Pavitra Bandham (1996), Sipayi (1996), Senathipathi (1996), Taraka Ramudu (1997), Arunachalam (1997), Choodalani Vundi (1998), Pelli Peetalu (1998), Doni Saagali (1998), Anthapuram (1998), Dongata (1998), Kaathala Kaathala (1998), Raja (1999), Premaku Velayara (1999), Padayappa (1999), Sooryavansham (Hindi, 1999), 

Annayya (2000), Jayam Manade Raa (2000), Azad (2000), Devi Putrudu (2000), Ravanna (2000), Sri Manjunatha (2001), 9 Nalalu (2001), Adhipati (2001), Thavasi (2001), Premaku Swagatham (2002), Yathrakarude Sradhakku (2002), Gelupu (2002), Ivan (2002), Chokka Thangam (2003), Prema Donga (2003), Dweepa (2003), Shwetha Naga (2004), Madhumathi (2004), Shiva Shankar (2004), Apthamitra (2004)

Awards –
Filmfare Awards (2003, 2004, 1999, 1998, 1995), Karnataka State Film Awards (1998, 2003), National Film Awards (2003), Nandi Awards (1995, 1996, 1998)

Name – Soundarya

Other Name – Savitri of Modern Telugu Cinema

Real Name – Soundarya Raghu

Date of Birth – 18/07/1972

Died – 17/04/2004 (Bengaluru, India)

Born Place – Mulbagal, Karnataka, India

Profession – Indian Film Actress, Telugu Actress and Producer

Husband – G. S. Raghu (2003-2004)

Father – K. S. Satyanarayan (Industrialist and Kannada Film Writer)

Mother – Not Known

Brother – Not Known

Sister – Not Known

Nationality – Indian

Religion – Hindu

Height – 5’6” / 167 cm / 1.67 m

Weight – 58 Kg / 127 lbs

Body Measurements – 34-26-35

Bra Size – 34B

Waist Size – 26 inches

Hip Size – 35 inches

Eye Color – Brown

Hair Color – Black

Affairs / Boyfriends – Not Known

Languages Known – Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, English, Hindi

Favorite Actor – Amitabh Bachchan

Favorite Actress – Rekha

Favorite Food – Hyderabadi Biryani

Hobbies – Listening Music, Watching Movies, Dancing

Net Worth – Not Known

Filmography –
Gandharva (1992), Baa Nanna Preethisu (1992), Ponnumani (1993), Number One (1993), Mayalodu (1993), Inspector Jhansi (1993), Madam (1994), Hello Brother (1994), Allari Premi Kudu (1994), Top Hero (1994), Super Police (1994), Priyaragalu (1997), Ammoru (1995), Bhale Bullodu (1994), Raja Simham (1995), Pavitra Bandham (1996), Sipayi (1996), Senathipathi (1996), Taraka Ramudu (1997), Arunachalam (1997), Choodalani Vundi (1998), Pelli Peetalu (1998), Doni Saagali (1998), Anthapuram (1998), Dongata (1998), Kaathala Kaathala (1998), Raja (1999), Premaku Velayara (1999), Padayappa (1999), Sooryavansham (Hindi, 1999), 

Annayya (2000), Jayam Manade Raa (2000), Azad (2000), Devi Putrudu (2000), Ravanna (2000), Sri Manjunatha (2001), 9 Nalalu (2001), Adhipati (2001), Thavasi (2001), Premaku Swagatham (2002), Yathrakarude Sradhakku (2002), Gelupu (2002), Ivan (2002), Chokka Thangam (2003), Prema Donga (2003), Dweepa (2003), Shwetha Naga (2004), Madhumathi (2004), Shiva Shankar (2004), Apthamitra (2004)

Awards –
Filmfare Awards (2003, 2004, 1999, 1998, 1995), Karnataka State Film Awards (1998, 2003), National Film Awards (2003), Nandi Awards (1995, 1996, 1998)