Andhra King Taluka: A Star–fan Story With Good Moments, But a Muddled Mix

Director: Mahesh Babu P
Rating: 2/5 stars

Young actor Ram Pothineni plays a die-hard fan with full conviction and delivers an energetic performance. He idolizes a fading superstar (Upendra) and goes to extreme lengths—breaking theatre glass windows when denied tickets, celebrating wildly on release days, and living entirely for his matinee idol.

Director Mahesh Babu initially seems to aim for an honest exploration of the unique emotional bond between a star and his fan. However, the narrative gradually derails as he mixes in caste conflict, a workers’ uprising on an island, and a subplot where the oppressed eventually become theatre owners. This blend becomes outrageous and distracts from the film’s core idea.

The film-within-a-film concept has been overused in Telugu cinema, and while this movie captures the love, pain, and joy of fans in small towns quite well in parts, the fan’s exaggerated actions—especially his vow to build a luxurious theatre—feel unrealistic. A youngster from a poor village without electricity dreaming of constructing a grand cinema hall is simply too far-fetched.

While audiences may connect to the fan’s aspiration, the narrative soon feels forced and contrived.

The mandatory love story between Ram and Bhagyasree Borse, the daughter of a feudal theatre owner, moves on predictable lines. Their romance faces expected parental opposition, and as their struggles take center stage, the star–fan emotional thread grows weak. Eventually, the film becomes a mishmash of random elements, lacking genuine emotional depth.

Set in the 1990s, the story follows superstar Upendra, who is losing his market. His 100th film is stalled due to financial issues, and he is shocked when crores of rupees land in his account from an unknown source. This leads him to a remote village in search of his die-hard fan, Ram.

A flashback captures Ram’s college days: erecting cutouts, bursting crackers for new releases, clashing with rival fans, and falling in love with Bhagyasree. His dreams face constant obstacles.

Ram Pothineni, known for loud action films like Double iSmart and Skanda, shifts gears with a more grounded role here. He performs well as both fan and lover boy, though his character’s unbelievable goal undermines the realism he tries to bring. Bhagyasree Borse looks charming and handles her role with ease. Murali Sharma shows his villainous side effectively, while Rao Ramesh and Tulasi fit their characters perfectly.

Director Mahesh Babu showed promise with Miss Shetty Mr. Polishetty, where he balanced bold themes with humor and romance. But here, his ambitious attempt to elevate a fan to the same stature as his superstar results in an unrealistic and diluted narrative.

Andhra King Taluka has sincere moments and a strong central performance, but its confused screenplay and over-the-top ideas turn it into a muddled and emotionally underwhelming star–fan drama.