Arjun S/O Vyjayamanti, which released on April 18, 2025, brought Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and the wonderful actress Vijayashanti in an emotional action drama. Directed by Pradeep Chilukuri, the film promises to impress us with its story revolving around the bond between a mother and son, with action and emotions. However, did this film really live up to expectations? Here is how I felt after watching this film, telling you about its strengths and weaknesses.
The story is...
In this story set in the backdrop of Visakhapatnam, Arjun Vishwanath (Kalyan Ram) is a young man who dreams of becoming an IPS officer. His mother Vyjayamanti (Vijayashanti), a righteous police officer, wants her son to work for justice with the same principles as hers. But, in an unexpected twist, Arjun gives up his dream of becoming an IPS officer, becomes a vigilante, and runs a parallel government in Visakhapatnam as a gangster. This decision leads to a rift between the mother and son, and Vijayanthi does not accept his path and breaks off the relationship.
While Arjun protects the locals and fights injustice, a criminal named Pathan (Sohail Khan) comes to the fore with a grudge against Vijayanthi. Why did Arjun choose this path? Will the mother and son come together? What are the secrets hidden behind their bond? The story revolves around these questions with action and emotions.
Actors Performance
Kalyan Ram really impressed as Arjun. On one hand, he is busy fighting as a vigilante, and on the other hand, he does well in emotional scenes as a son who yearns for his mother's agreement. His performance is especially eye-catching in the climax. Vijayashanti, after all these years, appeared on screen again and impressed as Vijayathi. The dignity she shows as a police officer and the sensitivity she shows as a mother are the strength of the film. Just by appearing on screen, the story gains weight.
Saiee Manjrekar appears as Arjun's wife Chitra, but her role does not have much scope and is a bit disappointing. Sohail Khan seems okay as a villain, but there is nothing new in that role—he seems like a typical Bollywood villain. Supporting actors like Srikanth, Bablu Prithviraj did well in their roles, but they did not feel new—regular type characters like supporting commissioner, trusted friend.
About direction and writing...
Pradeep Chilukuri seemed to have played a safe game with this film. The formula that works well in Telugu mass films is followed—hero entry, fights, slow-motion shots, emotional scenes, clash with the villain. The screenplay written by Srikanth Vissa initially sets up the mother-son bond well, but as it continues, it takes the expected path. The hero’s elevation, the drug mafia, the betraying close friends—all these give the feeling of having seen it somewhere.
But, the twist in the climax really surprises. Those scenes add emotional strength to the film, lift the story that was a bit routine. However, the path to that twist felt a bit stretched. Some scenes in the second half felt repetitive, and some emotional scenes failed to touch the heart due to routine writing.
Technical Team Work...
Talking about the visuals of the film, Ram Prasad's cinematography impressed me. He captured the rough and tough side of Visakhapatnam city and the beautiful locations at the same time. The action scenes, choreographed by the team of Peter Hein, Ramakrishna, and Ravi Varma, give a full kick to the mass audience. But, some of the fights seemed over-the-top—the logic is lost when you think about how a character can survive.
Ajaneesh Loknath's background music worked out well in the action and emotional scenes, but the songs are not very memorable. Tammiraju's editing seems okay for the 144-minute runtime, but it would have been faster if some scenes were cut in the second half. Ashoka Creations and NTR Arts' production values made the film look grand.
Likes, dislikes...
Likes:
Kalyan and Vijayashanti's acting: Both carried the film on their shoulders. Especially their chemistry in the climax touched the heart.
Climax twist: The last 20 minutes gave an unexpected emotional high and saved the film.
Action scenes: Fights that gave full entertainment to the mass audience.
Vijayashanti's comeback: Her cop role reminded me of old films, and she did a great job as a mother too.
Dislikes:
Routine story: There is nothing new in the story, it feels like something you have seen somewhere.
Minor characters: Saiee Manjrekar, the villain's characters would have been better if they had been written strongly.
Stretched scenes: The second half was a bit boring, it felt repetitive.
Old style: Some dialogues and scenes may not connect with the audience today.
What are the audience saying?
On social media and review sites, the reactions are mixed. Kalyan Ram and Vijayashanti fans praised their performances and the climax, saying, “Mass cinema lovers should watch it once.” However, some criticized the lack of novelty in the story and the old style story, saying, “Just okay” or “Missed chance.” This movie will connect well with those who like mass action movies, but it will be a bit of a disappointment for those who want a new story.
Conclusion
Arjun S/O Vijayashanti is a classic Telugu mass movie, impressive with Kalyan Ram and Vijayashanti’s performances and the emotional bond between mother and son. The climax is really the highlight and emotionally touching. But, the story is mostly predictable and the routine formula doesn't make it feel new. Mass movie fans and those who like movies that remind them of Vijayashanti's cop roles will like this movie. But, those who want something different may find it to have a limited appeal.
Rating: 2.75/5
Suggestions: Kalyan Ram can watch it for action and Vijayashanti's comeback, but if you are expecting a totally new story, keep your expectations in check. This movie is a decent treat for mass action fans!