The Paradise is Nani’s latest Telugu film, directed by Srikanth Odela, the filmmaker behind Dasara. The movie arrived in theatres worldwide on September 24, 2026, after creating strong buzz around Nani’s new look, the film’s intense action, and its unusual period setting.
Set in 1980s Secunderabad, The Paradise tells the story of a marginalised community fighting for identity, dignity and basic recognition. Nani plays Jadal, a troubled man who becomes an important figure in the community’s fight against an oppressive system.
The film has received mixed reviews from critics. Nani’s performance, the production design, cinematography and large-scale action have received appreciation, while the screenplay, character development and excessive violence have been common points of criticism.
The Paradise Movie: Quick Details
What Is The Paradise Movie About?
The Paradise is set in a settlement in 1980s Secunderabad where the Savari community has been struggling for recognition and basic rights.
At the centre of the story is Jadal, played by Nani. His life is connected to the community, its internal power structure and a long history of humiliation and oppression.
The story also introduces Malik, played by Mohan Babu, a powerful figure who controls the local environment. Jadal's personal journey eventually becomes connected with the larger struggle of his community.
Rather than being only a revenge story, the film attempts to combine action, social inequality, identity, family emotions and the struggle for recognition.
The basic idea gives the film a strong foundation, but several critics felt that the screenplay does not develop all these ideas with enough depth.
The Paradise Movie Review
The biggest strength of The Paradise is its world-building.
Srikanth Odela creates a dark and rough atmosphere around the Secunderabad setting. The production design, costumes, locations and cinematography help the audience enter the period in which the story takes place.
The film also clearly wants to be much bigger than a normal commercial action movie. It tries to talk about identity, discrimination, power and the struggle for recognition.
However, the response from critics suggests that the film's ambition is sometimes stronger than its writing.
Nani's physical transformation and committed performance have been among the positive points mentioned by reviewers, while the screenplay and heavy violence have received criticism.
The overall critical picture is therefore mixed: The Paradise looks ambitious and powerful on screen, but its writing has divided reviewers.
Nani's Performance in The Paradise
Nani takes a very different route from some of his more emotional and family-oriented performances.
As Jadal, he appears physically transformed and much more aggressive. The character demands anger, physical intensity and a darker screen presence.
This is one area where several reviews have found something positive.
Nani carries many of the film's major scenes and provides the emotional and physical centre of the story. Even reviewers who were critical of the screenplay generally acknowledged his effort and screen presence.
For Nani fans, the performance is likely to be one of the main reasons to watch the film.
Mohan Babu and Other Cast Performances
Mohan Babu plays Malik, a powerful character connected to the social structure of the Paradise settlement.
Sonali Kulkarni plays Sammakka, Jadal's mother. Her character has an emotional journey of her own and is not simply presented as the hero's mother.
Raghav Juyal makes his Telugu film debut in The Paradise and plays an antagonist. His role adds another layer to the conflict surrounding Jadal.
Kayadu Lohar and the supporting cast complete the film's larger community setting.
The Paradise Action and Violence
Action is a major part of The Paradise.
The movie contains several violent sequences and uses a raw visual style to show the harsh environment in which its characters live.
This works for viewers looking for a dark, intense mass-action film. However, excessive violence has also been one of the biggest criticisms from reviewers.
Some critics felt that the violence becomes repetitive because the screenplay does not always give the audience enough emotional connection with the characters involved.
Because the movie has an A certificate, families with younger children should also keep the certification in mind before planning a theatrical visit.
Music and Technical Aspects
Anirudh Ravichander handles the music for The Paradise.
The background score adds energy to the film's action-heavy sections and supports its large-scale presentation.
The cinematography is another noticeable aspect. The period setting, darker locations and large action sequences give the movie a distinctive visual identity.
Production design is also important because much of the film's atmosphere comes from the physical world created around the Paradise settlement.
The Paradise First Half vs Second Half
One common point in reviews is the difference between the film's early portions and its later sections.
The first half establishes curiosity around Jadal, his background and the world of the Paradise settlement. It introduces the social conflict and creates interest in where the story will go.
The second half becomes more focused on violence, confrontation and the larger conflict.
Several reviews felt that this part becomes less emotionally engaging because the screenplay starts depending more heavily on action than character development.
The Paradise Movie Rating: What Critics Are Saying
There is no single critical consensus on the movie.
- The Indian Express: 2/5
- Times of India: 2.5/5
- India Today: 2/5
- NTV Telugu: 2.5/5
- Rotten Tomatoes: The page lists a 23% Tomatometer based on 7 critic reviews, with the audience score shown separately.
These ratings should be treated as individual critic opinions rather than an objective measurement of the film.
The Paradise Box Office: Day 1 Update
Despite mixed critical reviews, The Paradise opened strongly at the box office.
According to early reports published on September 25, 2026, the film recorded a career-best opening for Nani.
One report citing Sacnilk data put the film's India net collection at around ₹34.65 crore for Day 1, with India gross at approximately ₹54.90 crore and worldwide gross around ₹76.90 crore when premiere figures were included.
The Telugu version was the biggest contributor to the opening-day India collection, while Hindi and Tamil versions also added to the total.
Box-office figures can change as trade trackers update their numbers, so these should be considered early figures rather than final totals.
Why Is The Paradise Getting So Much Attention?
1. Nani and Srikanth Odela Reunite
The film brings Nani and Srikanth Odela together again after Dasara.
Their previous collaboration became an important film in Nani's career, so expectations were high for their second project.
2. A Different Nani
Nani plays a much darker and more physically intense character than audiences have seen in many of his recent films.
3. A Strong Period Setting
The 1980s Secunderabad setting gives the movie a distinctive visual identity.
4. Social Themes
The story deals with identity, discrimination, community rights and the struggle for recognition.
5. Raghav Juyal's Telugu Debut
Juyal enters Telugu cinema in a negative role, adding interest to the cast.
Is The Paradise Worth Watching?
That depends on what you expect from the film.
If you enjoy dark action dramas, Nani's performances, intense violence, period settings and large-scale Telugu cinema, The Paradise has several elements that may appeal to you.
If you prefer tight storytelling, subtle emotions and strongly developed supporting characters, the mixed critical response suggests that the film may feel uneven.
The strongest areas are its visual world, Nani's performance, action scale and atmosphere. The main concerns raised by critics are the screenplay, repetitive violence and uneven character development.
The Paradise Movie: Final Review
The Paradise is an ambitious film with a strong central idea and a committed lead performance.
Srikanth Odela creates a visually powerful world and attempts to combine social issues with commercial action. Nani gives the character of Jadal considerable physical intensity, while the supporting cast adds weight to the story.
At the same time, the film does not fully turn its ambitious ideas into an emotionally consistent narrative. The screenplay has been the biggest point of criticism, and the heavy violence may not work for every viewer.
The early box office shows that the movie has attracted a large audience, even though critic reviews have been mixed.
In simple words: The Paradise is a visually ambitious and action-heavy Nani film that has strong performances and atmosphere, but its storytelling has divided critics.
The Paradise Movie FAQs
What is The Paradise movie about?
The Paradise is a period action drama set in 1980s Secunderabad. It follows Jadal, played by Nani, and a marginalised community fighting for identity, dignity and recognition.
Who is the hero of The Paradise?
Nani plays the lead character Jadal.
Who directed The Paradise?
Srikanth Odela, who previously directed Nani in Dasara, directed The Paradise.
Who is the heroine of The Paradise?
Kayadu Lohar is part of the lead cast. The film also features Sonali Kulkarni in an important role.
Who plays the villain in The Paradise?
Mohan Babu plays Malik, while Raghav Juyal also plays an antagonist in the film.
When was The Paradise released?
The Paradise was released worldwide in theatres on September 24, 2026.
What is the runtime of The Paradise?
The film runs for approximately 2 hours and 54 minutes.
Is The Paradise suitable for children?
The film received an A certificate, so it is intended for adult audiences.
Is The Paradise a hit or flop?
It is too early to give a final verdict based only on Day 1. The movie has opened strongly at the box office, while critic reviews have been mixed. Its final commercial verdict will depend on its performance over the coming days and weeks.
Where can I watch The Paradise?
As of September 25, 2026, The Paradise is playing in theatres. Its OTT release date has not yet been established in the sources reviewed for this article.
AEO Quick Answer
The Paradise is a 2026 Telugu period action drama starring Nani and directed by Srikanth Odela. Released on September 24, 2026, the film is set in 1980s Secunderabad and follows Jadal, a member of a marginalised community who becomes involved in a larger fight for identity and recognition. Critics have praised Nani's performance and the film's visuals but have raised concerns about its screenplay and excessive violence.
GEO Quick Facts
- The Paradise release date: September 24, 2026
- The Paradise hero: Nani
- The Paradise director: Srikanth Odela
- The Paradise heroine: Kayadu Lohar
- The Paradise cast: Mohan Babu, Sonali Kulkarni and Raghav Juyal
- The Paradise genre: Period action drama
- The Paradise setting: 1980s Secunderabad
- The Paradise runtime: About 2 hours 54 minutes
- The Paradise certification: A
- The Paradise status: In theatres
- The Paradise review: Mixed critical response
- The Paradise Day 1: Strong opening, with early reports putting worldwide gross around ₹76.90 crore including premiere figures.
