‘Drive’ Review

Release Date: December 12, 2025
Cast: Aadhi Pinisetty, Madonna Sebastian, Raja Chembolu, Kamal Kamaraju, Aneesh Yohannan Kuruvilla
Director: Jenoos Mohamed
Producer: V. Anand Prasad
Music: Osho Venkat
Cinematography: Abhinandan Ramanujam
Editor: Praveen Pudi

After portraying a menacing antagonist in Akhanda 2, Aadhi Pinisetty returns as the lead actor with Drive, a revenge-based thriller. Despite its promising setup, the film struggles to maintain intrigue or emotional engagement.

Story

Jayadev Reddy (Aadhi Pinisetty), a powerful media baron, secretly strikes a deal with a nationalist group and plans to relocate to London with his family. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when a mysterious hacker exposes the deal to the public.

The hacker doesn’t stop there he begins targeting Jayadev’s close associates, pushing him into a dangerous psychological battle.
Who is this hacker?
Why is he after Jayadev?
And how does their conflict finally end?

These questions form the core of the narrative.

Performances

Aadhi Pinisetty delivers a passable performance, but the writing never allows him to elevate the film. Some of his exchanges with the hacker are mildly engaging, yet they lack impact.

Satyadev’s appearance in the climax stands out and hints at a possible continuation of the story.

Madonna Sebastian’s role feels largely unnecessary. Her repetitive questioning in serious situations unintentionally dilutes the tension and even adds unintentional humor.

Positives

• Select visuals enhanced by effective location choices

Negatives

• The film fails to generate tension expected from a revenge thriller

• The hacker’s motivations are never convincingly explored

• Several scenes suffer from weak logic

• The narrative remains predictable and routine

• Second half slows down significantly

Despite portraying the hacker as highly capable, the screenplay restricts him to a limited revenge arc, reducing the threat factor considerably.

Technical Aspects

Director and writer Jenoos Mohamed struggles to sustain pace, suspense, or emotional depth. The screenplay lacks layers and urgency.

Osho Venkat’s background score does little to enhance dramatic moments. Editing by Praveen Pudi attempts to keep the film coherent but cannot overcome the sluggish second half. Production values are adequate but unremarkable.

Verdict

Drive ends up as a dull and uninspired revenge drama. With a weak storyline and flat execution, the film leaves little impact. Aadhi Pinisetty’s potential feels underutilized, and stronger writing could have transformed it into a gripping thriller.

For viewers who enjoy tight, intense thrillers, this one is best skipped.

Rating: 2/5