Nani’s The Paradise, directed by Srikanth Odela, opened worldwide on September 24, 2026. The pair’s second film after Dasara arrived with one of the year’s strongest Telugu pre-sales and packed premiere shows. Set in 1980s Secunderabad, the period action drama follows a marginalised community fighting for identity and recognition.
The story centres on the Savari people living in the Paradise settlement without official recognition or citizenship. Landowner Shikanja Malik (Mohan Babu) rules the area, while his son Vikram (Raghav Juyal) seeks greater power. Jadal (Nani) returns from prison to confront the system, alongside his mother Sammakka (Sonali Kulkarni).
Reviews have praised Nani’s physical transformation and committed performance. He appears with braids and a beard, and adopts a leaner frame and harder gait for Jadal. The first half establishes a gritty local world, backed by production design and cinematography by CH Sai.
Mohan Babu brings a commanding presence as Malik, while Sonali Kulkarni gives weight to the mother’s role. Anirudh Ravichander’s songs and stretches of the background score add energy. References to Paradise biryani and Liberty Café, along with a tribute to poet Gaddar, root the film in its Telangana setting.
Most reviewers said the film loses momentum after the interval. They pointed to repetitive scenes, extended violence and an emotional core that does not fully develop. Supporting characters, including Kayadu Lohar as Subbu, received limited space, and several reviews called the climax anticlimactic.
Critics also noted that the film takes on identity, revenge, politics and resistance without always binding them into a focused story. Political references and cameos were seen by some as adding little to the plot. The runtime of nearly three hours was frequently cited as a pacing problem.
Ratings: Telugu360, The Indian Express and India Today gave the film 2/5. Telugu Cinema rated it 2.25/5, 123Telugu 2.75/5, and Filmfare and Only Kollywood 2.5/5. Mathrubhumi was among the more favourable reviews at 3/5.
Box office: Day-1 India advance bookings crossed ₹20 crore excluding blocked seats. Live India net collections were tracking around ₹12–16 crore by early afternoon, with the Telugu version leading. Paid premieres were held on September 23, and special ticket pricing was approved in Telangana. Hyderabad emerged as the top market. The film is screening across Telugu states and in multiple languages.
Verdict: The Paradise has scale, a committed Nani performance and a distinctive first-half world. It falls short of the expectations created by Dasara because the second half and writing do not match the ambition. Watchable in parts, but a mixed opening-day verdict.
Telangana Tribune Rating: 2.5/5
