Paradha Review: Anupama Parameswaran, Darshana Rajendran shine in this otherwise predictable social drama

Paradha Review: Anupama Parameswaran and Darshana Rajendran give wonderful performances in this film, which has an ambitious premise and a great cast, but the writing and emotions are forced.

Paradha review

Paradha Story

Paradha is set in a remote village where women cover their faces with a veil due to a superstition imposed by the village heads after a deadly curse that once killed infants. On the other hand, Subbu (Anupama Parameswaran) is a young girl preparing to tie the knot. On the day of her engagement, a magazine reaches the village showing Subbu without her Paradha, and hell breaks loose. The villagers throw her out and demand that she return only with proof that she was not involved in featuring in the magazine. The rest of the story follows how Subbu travels to Dharamshala to meet the photographer and encounters the characters played by Darshana Rajendran and Sangeetha.

Paradha Review

Paradha is written and directed by Praveen Kandregula, who last made the hit films Cinema Bandi and Subham. He is known for narrating social dramas with satirical comedy and fun elements, but with Paradha, he takes a serious route and tells the story of a woman bound to follow a superstition that sounds strange in today's day and age.

The story is quite routine, but how Praveen sets it in the small village and builds the backstory is quite good. How the veil of the heroine is removed, a photographer taking her snap without her knowledge, and all hell breaking loose in the village is showcased in a gripping manner.

But once this is showcased and the moment Anupama's character starts her journey to meet the photographer, things get bogged down. How the characters of Darshana Rajendran and Sangeetha are woven into the setup is good, but the coming-of-age drama, the way Anupama realises the norms of society, and the emotions needed to convey these aspects do not bring any depth to the proceedings.

Darshana Rajendran's character has comedy and a lot of intent, but as the film moves forward, she does not have much to do apart from being a supporting character. If you look at the characters of Sangeetha and Darshana, they have been written quite well, but when it comes to the chemistry between the three women, it is completely missing. Things do not happen organically, and the scenes showcasing the way the girls get close to each other look forced.

On top of this, the character arc of Anupama Parameswaran is not that great. She is completely in sync with her traditions and follows them to the T, but the way she suddenly realises that things are wrong and that a woman should lead her life as she wants is not properly etched by the director. This time, Praveen's writing is a bit weak.

Many scenes look good, especially the ones featuring Darshana and her office mates, the banter between Sangeetha and her husband, and the way Anupama is insulted in her village. But when things need to click in the second half, they don’t. The story is predictable, the coming-of-age drama is routine, and the emotions do not strike a chord.

However, the performances are impressive. Anupama Parameswaran gets the best character of Subbu and excels in it. Her village belle look, the way she showcases her emotions in the first half, and especially in the climax, are quite good and show her at her best.

But it is Sangeetha and Darshana who steal the show. Darshana Rajendran makes her Telugu debut and gets the loudest cheer in the theater on her entry. The way she portrays today’s woman, fights with men, and showcases her grit and attitude is very good.

On the other hand, Sangeetha, as a mature housewife who goes all the way to help Anupama, is amazing. Her track with her husband, Harshvardhan, is superb and evokes some fun moments. Their conversations and Sangeetha’s acting make things look so natural.

Rather than focusing on characters like Rajendra Prasad and doing moral policing, the makers should have added more scenes that show bonding between the women and create stronger chemistry; then things would have been much better.

The visuals are top-notch, and the way the village setup is showcased needs a special mention. When it comes to the travel shots, they are just about okay. Editing is also just about okay, but the dialogue is very good. Paradha is a film that has a predictable premise, but the casting makes all the difference. Emotionally, it might not move you, but there are a few moments that impress.

Paradha Verdict

On the whole, Paradha is a predictable social drama that starts on a impressive note, but the coming-of-age drama does not strike a chord. Despite its predictable storyline and uneven writing, Paradha is watchable for its casting and a few engaging sequences.

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FAQs

Q. When is Anupama Parameswaran's Paradha releasing?

A. Paradha is now out in theaters from Aug 22, 2025.

Q. Who are the main leads in Paradha?

A. Paradha has Anupama Parameswaran, Sangeetha, and Darshana Rajendran in lead roles.

Q. Who is the director of Paradha?

A. Paradha has been directed by Praveen Kandregula, who made films, Subham and Cinema Bandi

Q. Where to stream Anupama Parameswaran's?

A. Paradha will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video after its theatrical release

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