Anaganaga Oka Raju arrived in theatres this week as a Sankranti release and the early response makes one thing clear. The film belongs almost entirely to Naveen Polishetty. Directed by Maari, the Telugu comedy drama banks on a familiar setup but stays afloat because of its lead actor’s sharp timing and natural ease in front of the camera.
Polishetty plays Raju, an ordinary man caught in a series of personal and social complications as a wedding approaches. The plot itself is straightforward and rarely surprises. What works is how the actor inhabits the character, carrying long stretches of the film with dialogue driven humour and situational comedy that feels lived in rather than staged.
Audience reactions after the first shows pointed to the same takeaway. Many called it a clean family entertainer and described the film as a one man show. Social media chatter focused on Polishetty’s ability to hold scenes even when the writing dips, with viewers appreciating his controlled performance instead of loud punchlines.
The supporting cast does its job without getting in the way. Meenakshi Chaudhary has limited scope and functions mainly as a narrative anchor. The rest of the characters move the story forward but never threaten to steal focus. The music by Mickey J Meyer blends smoothly into the narrative and helps maintain the film’s light tone without becoming distracting.
The second half slows down and a few scenes stretch longer than needed. Some jokes land better than others and the writing could have used sharper editing. Still, the film does not lose its emotional thread and the climax brings things together neatly without forcing sentiment.
Anaganaga Oka Raju may not redefine the genre but it understands its audience. It is designed for festival crowds looking for uncomplicated humour and familiar emotions. For Naveen Polishetty, the film reinforces his standing as a performer who can carry a project on sheer presence and timing. The weekend numbers will decide its box office fate, but as of now, the word of mouth is firmly in his favour.