Movie: Anakapalli
Release Date: October 2, 2026
Cast: Vikram Sahidev, Sandhya Vasishta, Tarak Ponnappa, Trinadha Rao Nakkina, Indraja, Sangeetha Krish, Kandregula Naidu, Nandini Rai, Mahaboob Basha and others
Director: Khagesh Tammineni
Story & Screenplay: Trinadha Rao Nakkina
Producer: Trinadha Rao Nakkina, Kandregula Naidu
Music: Davzand
Cinematography: Kativarapu Vamshi Krishna
Editor: Sri Krishna Attaluri
Genre: Action, Romance, Drama
Runtime: 2 Hours 34 Minutes
Anakapalli Movie Review
Some movies try to impress the audience with a huge backdrop and complicated storytelling, while others depend on familiar characters and emotions. Anakapalli belongs more to the second category. Set in a rustic town environment, the film combines romance, family emotions, action and crime elements.
Vikram Sahidev plays the lead, with Sandhya Vasishta as the female lead and Tarak Ponnappa in a prominent negative role. The film marks Khagesh Tammineni’s directorial debut, while Trinadha Rao Nakkina has provided the story and screenplay.
So, does Anakapalli succeed as an emotional rural action drama? Let’s take a look.
Story
The story takes place in Anakapalli and revolves around Surya (Vikram Sahidev), a young man from a middle-class family. His father Samba Siva Rao (Trinadha Rao Nakkina) is an honest electricity department employee.
Surya’s life changes when he falls in love with Amrutha (Sandhya Vasishta). At the same time, the town is under the influence of Bullet (Tarak Ponnappa), a feared local gangster.
What begins as a relatively simple story gradually moves into the world of crime, relationships and revenge. Surya finds himself caught between his personal life, his emotions and the dangerous circumstances surrounding him.
The story also explores how the choices made by young people can change the direction of their lives. The second half brings more action and emotional conflict as the characters are forced to deal with the consequences of their decisions.
Performances
Vikram Sahidev gets a substantial opportunity to showcase different shades of his character. He handles the romantic, emotional and action portions with confidence. There is a noticeable change in his character as the story progresses, and that transformation is one of the interesting aspects of the film.
Sandhya Vasishta fits naturally into the town-based setting. Her character has an important place in the emotional side of the story, and she shares a comfortable screen presence with Vikram.
Tarak Ponnappa makes a strong impression as Bullet. His rugged appearance and controlled performance give the antagonist a threatening quality. His presence becomes particularly important once the story moves deeper into its conflict.
Trinadha Rao Nakkina, Indraja and the other supporting actors contribute well to the family and emotional portions. Mahaboob Basha also makes an impression in his role.
Direction and Screenplay
Director Khagesh Tammineni keeps the film rooted in its local setting instead of trying to make it look overly polished. The natural locations and rustic atmosphere help the story feel connected to the town where it takes place.
The screenplay by Trinadha Rao Nakkina follows a familiar romantic-action template. The film takes time to establish its characters before moving into the more serious conflict.
The interval portion provides a noticeable shift in the narrative, while the latter part concentrates more on revenge, relationships and consequences. However, the pacing is not equally strong throughout. Some scenes take longer than necessary, particularly when the story is establishing its characters.
A tighter screenplay could have made the emotional moments more effective.
Music and Background Score
Davzand’s music suits the film’s rural atmosphere. The songs are integrated into the narrative without completely taking the story away from its main track.
The background score works better in the action and emotional sequences. It adds energy when the story requires intensity and helps maintain the film’s rustic mood.
Cinematography
The cinematography is one of the elements that helps establish Anakapalli‘s identity. The film makes good use of natural locations and avoids making the town look artificial.
The visual treatment supports the grounded nature of the story, particularly during the village and family portions.
Editing
At around 154 minutes, the film has a fairly long runtime. The editing works well during the more engaging portions, but a few sequences could have been shortened.
A tighter first half and faster transitions between certain scenes would have helped maintain momentum.
Plus Points
- Vikram Sahidev’s performance
- Tarak Ponnappa’s villainous presence
- Natural rural setting
- Emotional family scenes
- Music and background score
- Interval twist
- Strong supporting performances
Minus Points
- Familiar storyline
- Slow portions in the screenplay
- Some predictable developments
- Runtime could have been tighter
- Certain emotional scenes could have had more depth
What Works for the Film?
The biggest strength of Anakapalli is its setting. Instead of relying completely on larger-than-life presentation, the film tries to remain grounded in the world of its characters.
The relationship between Surya and his family provides an emotional foundation, while the romance adds another layer to his journey. Once the gangster track becomes central to the story, the film shifts towards action and revenge.
The performances also help the film. Vikram Sahidev gets enough space to show different emotions, while Tarak Ponnappa provides the required intensity as the antagonist.
What Could Have Been Better?
The basic storyline is not particularly new. Telugu cinema has seen several stories involving love, family, local gangsters and revenge. Because of this, the screenplay needs stronger character development or unexpected turns to create a lasting impact.
Anakapalli has some good ideas, but the execution is uneven in places. The film could have benefited from a shorter runtime and more focused writing.
Final Verdict
Anakapalli is a rustic romantic action drama that combines love, family emotions, crime and revenge. Vikram Sahidev makes a sincere effort in the lead role, while Tarak Ponnappa stands out with his negative character. Sandhya Vasishta and the supporting cast add value to the emotional portions.
The film’s natural setting, performances and music work in its favour. At the same time, a familiar storyline and uneven pacing keep it from becoming a consistently engaging experience.
If you enjoy rural Telugu dramas with romance, family emotions and action, Anakapalli offers enough moments to keep you interested. Those looking for a completely fresh storyline may find the film somewhat familiar.
TeluguPalaka1.com Rating: 2.75/5
Verdict: A grounded rural action drama with good performances and emotional moments, but the familiar story and uneven screenplay limit its overall impact.
