Gurram Papireddy - Decent Performances, Uneven Narrative!

Release Date: December 19, 2025

Cast: Naresh Agastya, Faria Abdullah, Brahmanandam, Yogi Babu, Jeevan, Raj Kumar Kasireddy, Vamsidhar Goud, John Vijay, and others
Director: Murali Manohar
Producers: Venu Saddi, Amar Bura, Jayakanth (Bobby)
Music: Krishna Saurabh Soorampalli
Cinematography: Arjun Raja
Editor: Karthik Srinivas

Among the films that hit theatres this week, apart from a big-ticket release like Avatar 3, there was little competition from other industries. In such a scenario, Telugu cinema saw the release of the crime-comedy Gurram Papireddy, starring young and talented actor Naresh Agastya.

Story Background
Naresh Agastya plays Gurram Papireddy, while Faria Abdullah appears as Saudamini. Along with their gang Goyyi (Jeevan), Chilipi (Vamsidhar Goud), and Military (Raj Kumar Kasireddy) they hatch a plan to bring a corpse from Srisailam and swap it with another body at a cremation ground in Srinagar Colony. Whose body is it, and why is the exchange necessary? These questions drive the narrative forward. Meanwhile, royal family members Higheeva (John Vijay) and Neelagriva (Pradeep Rudra) target Gurram Papireddy and begin hunting for him. Who exactly is Gurram Papireddy? What did he do to them? Why is he after their property? Who ultimately gains and who loses? The answers unfold on screen.

Strengths
What works to an extent in the film are the sporadic comedy sequences that generate genuine laughs. The director designs each character distinctly and builds comic tracks around them, which offer decent entertainment. The first half, especially the opening 30 minutes, moves smoothly with solid fun and keeps the audience engaged. Among the comedy tracks, Jeevan’s portrayal of Goyyi stands out for its innocence and effective performance. Raj Kumar Kasireddy as Military also delivers good laughs. The cremation-ground sequence and the fun scenes with Yogi Babu in the climax are enjoyable. Naresh Agastya delivers a decent performance with good timing, while Faria Abdullah impresses with both glamour and acting. The lead actors’ use of prosthetic makeup in certain scenes reflects their dedication. Overall, the comedy portions provide fair entertainment, with a few twists working reasonably well.

Weaknesses
Despite having decent fun and a few twists, the narration often feels overstretched, testing the audience’s patience. After an engaging first 30–40 minutes driven by comedy, the film loses strength once it enters the main plot. The storyline feels routine and reminds viewers of recent fun crime thrillers, which may disappoint those seeking novelty. Songs interrupt the narrative flow, editing could have been tighter, and several plans executed by the lead characters feel unrealistic and silly. Comedians like Yogi Babu and Brahmanandam are underutilized. As a result, while the film has some appealing elements, the boring aspects outweigh them.

Technical Analysis
The production values are decent, and the budget spent by the makers is evident. Production design works well, Krishna Saurabh’s music is pleasant, and Arjun Raja’s cinematography is a plus. Karthik Srinivas’s editing is acceptable to an extent, but lagging scenes and songs should have been trimmed further. Niranjan Ramireddy’s dialogues, especially the comedy writing, are effective. Director Murali Manohar handles the comedy tracks well, but the core story lacks depth and emotional impact. The dragged narration reduces the overall effect; with tighter scenes, this crime-comedy could have been far more impactful.

Verdict
Overall, Gurram Papireddy features decent performances from the lead cast and delivers some genuinely funny moments. However, the film would have benefited from a more gripping narrative to match the comedy. Viewers who are fine with a few laughs despite noticeable lag can try the film with modest expectations.
Rating: 2.5/5