Sruthi  Ganapathy Raman

Sruthi Ganapathy Raman

Writer and Film Critic

A writer and critic who has been covering films from South India for the past eight years.

MORE FROM SRUTHI GANAPATHY RAMAN

A still from ‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’
Theatrical

‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’ Movie Review: A Fun Chiranjeevi Navigates A Trite Marriage Drama

Anil Ravipudi directs Chiranjeevi and Nayanthara in a drama that lets its lead star have unbridled fun—often against the backdrop of an antiquated marriage portrait

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Prabhas in 'The RajaSaab'
Theatrical

‘The Raja Saab’ Movie Review: Prabhas In A Haunting Misfire

Maruthi directs Prabhas in a horror comedy that is terrifyingly clichéd and over-the-top.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
A still from 'Dhandoraa'
Theatrical

‘Dhandoraa’ Movie Review: Telugu Social Drama Finds Its Footing Over Time

Murali Kanth Devasoth centres an anti-caste drama around themes of dignity in death.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Stills from 'Kantara: Chapter 1'. 'Mithya' and 'Elumale'
Insight

The Best Kannada Film Performances of 2025

From a vengeful princess to romantic late bloomer, Kannada cinema gave us a few unforgettable characters this year.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
A still from ‘45’
Theatrical

‘45’ Movie Review: A Surreal But Disjointed Take On Karma

Upendra and Shiva Rajkumar add freshness to a genre experiment that ultimately falls flat

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Stills from 'Kuberaa', 'Little Hearts' and 'The Girlfriend'
Insight

The Five Best Telugu Film Performances of 2025

The year was earmarked with big-ticket releases, but it’s the smaller, intimate dramas that showed up with surprising depth in the performances

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Stills from 'Kantara: Chapter 1,' 'Elumale' and 'Su from So'
Insight

Kannada Cinema in 2025: A Step Forward, Barely

Even as we're awaiting the releases of 'Mark' and '45', Kannada cinema saw unexpected wins this year — yet the industry remains wary of celebrating too soon.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Kichha Sudeep
Interviews

Kichcha Sudeep Interview on 'Mark': ‘Nothing Is Forever — and That Clarity Doesn’t Scare Me'

The Kannada film star on his upcoming film 'Mark,' the clarity that comes with knowing an actor’s shelf life, and whether he’d ever reprise the iconic antagonist from 'Eega'.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Varun Sandesh
Interviews

Varun Sandesh On Turning Mad Scientist In ‘Nayanam’ and The Perpetual Nostalgia of ‘Happy Days’

The actor will next be seen as an ophthalmologist who loves to peep into people’s lives in ‘Nayanam’

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
A still from 'Angammal'
Theatrical

‘Angammal’ Movie Review: A Sari Blouse Becomes the Thread for a Stunning Portrait of Motherhood

Geetha Kailasam headlines this beautifully rich portrait of a woman who struggles to make sense of the changing times and her children.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Ram Pothineni with Mahesh Babu P
Interviews

‘Andhra King Taluka’ Director On Syncing With Ram Pothineni And Why The Film Belongs In Theatres

Filmmaker Mahesh Babu P speaks about mounting a story of failure and hope in his latest feel-good Telugu drama, and why box-office collections matter.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Ram Pothineni in 'Andhra King Taluka'
Theatrical

‘Andhra King Taluka’ Movie Review: A Simplistic But Winningly Sweet Fan's Diary

Ram Pothineni and Bhagyashri Borse lead this charming drama, through all its niggles and tears.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Bhagyashri Borse in 'Kaantha'
Interviews

Bhagyashri Borse On ‘Kaantha’ And What Her Gentle Smile At The End Meant

The actor tells us about playing three intricate women in Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘Kaantha’, and why she’s looking forward to her next release 'Andhra King Taluka’.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
A still from 'Raju Weds Rambai'
Theatrical

‘Raju Weds Rambai’ Movie Review: Despite A Compelling Core, This Romance Stays Outdated

The Telugu romance attempts to portray the harsh realities of a romance opposed by families. In this pursuit, it forgets to address its own insensitivity.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Rahul Ravindran and Rashmika Mandanna on the set of 'The Girlfriend'
Interviews

Rashmika Kept Telling Me How Much ‘The Girlfriend’ Was Going To Move Women: Director Rahul Ravindran

The filmmaker discusses the need to write Dheekshith Shetty’s Vikram with empathy, and why Rashmika Mandanna was a perfect fit for the role.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
A poster of Nagarjuna in 'Shiva'; Ram Gopal Varma
Interviews

How Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Shiva’ Became a Telugu Action Classic Without Bloodshed

36 years after its original release, the Nagarjuna-RGV action classic is back in theatres on November 14. “Why hasn’t anyone made another ‘Shiva’ again?” asks the director.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
'Visaranai'
Insight

THR India's 25 in 25: A Powerful, Unsparing Procedural In 'Visaranai'

The Hollywood Reporter India picks the 25 best Indian films of the 21st century. Vetrimaaran's 'Visaranai' is a raw, unflinching procedural exposing systemic brutality and power.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
'Ulidavaru Kandante'
Insight

THR India's 25 in 25: Why 'Ulidavaru Kandante' Was A Film of Many Firsts

The Hollywood Reporter India picks the 25 best Indian films of the 21st century. Making the list is Rakshit Shetty's 'Ulidavaru Kandante', which shook Kannada cinema as we knew it through its form and content.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Dheekshith Shetty and Rashmika Mandanna in 'The Girlfriend'
Theatrical

‘The Girlfriend’ Movie Review: An Important, Introspective Relationship Drama

Rahul Ravindran directs Rashmika Mandanna and Dheekshith Shetty in a complicated romance that finally asks all the right, uncomfortable questions.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman
Stills from 'Baahubali: The Eternal War'
Interviews

Exclusive | Ishan Shukla on 'Baahubali: The Eternal War' And How SS Rajamouli's Trust Propelled Him

The teaser of the animated two-parter from the SS Rajamouli universe features the voice of Prabhas and Ramya Krishnan, who reprise their roles.

BY Sruthi Ganapathy Raman