Irumudi movie review: Director Shiva Nirvana and actor Ravi Teja return with an emotionally driven Telugu film centred on the safety and empowerment of girl children. Released in 2026, the 147-minute film also features Priya Bhavani Shankar and child actor Nakshatra in key roles.
Set in a village in Andhra Pradesh, the story follows Trinath, played by Ravi Teja, a protective father who considers every girl child in his village as his own daughter. The film explores the contrasting approaches of parents when children face danger and highlights the importance of allowing children to speak openly without fear.
The narrative begins with an incident involving corporal punishment at a school. As the story develops, several characters and situations gradually point towards a hidden danger affecting the children in the village.
Trinath is portrayed as a small-time trader who observes a 41-day Ayyappa deeksha. The devotional element also plays a role in establishing his relationship with his daughter Manemma, also known as Manikanta, played by Nakshatra.
Ravi Teja delivers a restrained performance, particularly in the father-daughter portions. The film avoids relying heavily on the actor’s usual mass action style, while Nakshatra’s portrayal forms a key emotional part of the story.
Priya Bhavani Shankar plays Trinath’s wife Kaveri, while Sai Kumar appears as his family friend Guru Swamy. Both actors contribute to the family drama with their performances.
Irumudi also deals with sexual assault and its impact on children and their families. The film presents the emotional consequences of abuse, including heartbreak, guilt, anger and fear, while underlining the need for parents to listen patiently when children speak about their experiences.
GV Prakash Kumar’s music supports the devotional and suspenseful portions of the film. Cinematographer Vishnu Sharma, production designer Sahi Suresh and costume designer Rajesh Kamarsu are also part of the technical team.
The film has some drawbacks, including the limited presence of law enforcement in situations involving serious crimes and the single-note characterisation of a teacher. Despite these issues, the Irumudi movie review finds the film to be an emotionally effective drama with a strong father-daughter relationship at its centre.
Director: Shiva Nirvana
Cast: Ravi Teja, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Nakshatra
Runtime: 147 minutes
