The Paradise review: a strong performance in a film critics found uneven

The Paradise has arrived with huge interest around Nani’s darkest big-screen role in years, but the first substantial reviews do not point to a straightforward crowd-pleaser. The clearest published numerical verdict at the time of writing comes from The Indian Express, which rates the Telugu period action drama 2 out of 5. That is one critic’s assessment, not an official or universal score, but it gives readers searching for The Paradise review and rating a firm, attributable reference point.[6]

The Indian Express credits Nani’s physical transformation and committed work as Jadal, and also finds merit in the production design and action staging. Its central complaint is that the film’s scale does not produce an equally fresh screenplay. The review says the story of a marginalised community facing a feudal oppressor leans on familiar beats, while characters around Jadal receive too little development.[6]

India Today reaches a similarly cautious conclusion without publishing a star rating. Its reviewer calls Nani’s performance and Anirudh Ravichander’s music points of relief, but argues that the nearly three-hour film becomes fragmented and overburdened by graphic violence, multiple themes and uneven logic. The value of reading both reviews is not that they settle the matter; it is that they agree on the broad contrast between Nani’s effort and the critics’ reservations about the storytelling.[7]

What The Paradise is about — and who is in it

Directed by Srikanth Odela, The Paradise reunites him with Nani after Dasara. It is set in post-Independence, 1980s Secunderabad, where Jadal grows up within an oppressed marginalised community living under the control of the feudal Malik. The drama follows his movement from survival towards a fight for dignity and recognition. That setup is based on the published reviews and reports, so readers should treat it as a premise rather than a promise that the film will handle every theme in the same way.[6] [7]

Nani plays Jadal. The key cast reported across the opening coverage includes Mohan Babu as Malik, Sonali Kulkarni as Jadal’s mother Shamakka, Kayadu Lohar and Raghav Juyal. The film is also anchored in a mother-son relationship, a point director Odela had emphasised before release. The action, period setting and community struggle explain why the film has been marketed on a much larger canvas than the duo’s previous collaboration.[4] [5]

For viewers deciding whether the film suits them, the distinction is useful: this is not being presented as a light Nani entertainer. The reports and reviews describe an intense, violent drama about power, identity and resistance. A viewer looking for a quieter family watch should factor that in before relying on advance-booking buzz or isolated social-media clips.[5] [6]

The Paradise A certificate: what it means and why it matters

The Paradise has received an A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, according to reports published ahead of release. In practical terms, an A certificate means admission is restricted to adults. NDTV, citing an IANS report, said the running time was 2 hours and 49 minutes; it also noted at that point that the makers had not publicly detailed the certification process or confirmed whether scenes had been changed.[4]

Nani later addressed the classification in comments reported by The Times of India. He said the team had anticipated an A certificate because the violence is more pronounced, while maintaining that the film also contains drama, emotion and love. That is the actor’s explanation of the creative intent, rather than an independent finding on the content or a reason for younger viewers to disregard the age restriction.[5]

Some coverage has reported ‘21 corrections’ alongside the A certificate. That detail is widely circulated, but the publicly available reporting reviewed for this article does not supply the underlying CBFC certificate document or a complete, primary list of every alteration. It is therefore safer to say that the A classification is consistently reported and that changes have been reported, rather than to present an unverified cut list as settled fact.[4] [9]

Why the Hyderabad police-permission episode drew attention

The film’s opening was also accompanied by a separate safety story. On 22 September, Nani publicly asked the Telangana Chief Minister, the Cinematography Minister and Telangana Police to let him watch the 23 September premiere with fans at a theatre in RTC X Roads. His post said the team would follow protocols and that safety would be the priority. The request itself is primary-source material: it was published from Nani’s verified public X account at 3.46 pm on 22 September.[1]

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy replied that an official application should be submitted to the designated local police station, where the concerned team would assess it for crowd management and public safety. Nani then said he would abide by the police decision and would be happy to skip the visit if there were safety complications. The Hindu reported that Chikkadpally police had not received a formal application by the time of its 7 pm update on 23 September, and that Ganesh immersion deployment was a major operational concern.[2] [3]

This should not be inflated into a confirmed ‘ban’ without evidence. A later Times of India report described a police hurdle and said feasibility was to be assessed with Hyderabad police. At the capture point for this draft, no official public document or authoritative report opened by Anna News conclusively confirmed a final grant or refusal. The reliable fact is that safety, crowd-control capacity and immersion bandobust shaped the process, especially after the 2024 Sandhya Theatre crowd tragedy in the same broader area.[3] [10]

Audience response is mixed, so treat early ratings carefully

The early online reaction is divided. The Times of India collected posts that praised Nani’s performance, the visual treatment and some action or emotional moments. It also carried posts that criticised the writing, editing, sound and the second half. India Today likewise reported sharp negative posts alongside a fan’s suggestion that the film could be facing coordinated negativity. None of those posts is a reliable substitute for a professional review or an audience-wide survey.[8] [11]

That matters when readers see a numerical ‘The Paradise rating’ online. A 3.25/5 social-media post, a four-star reaction to one half, or a 1.75/5 reaction are individual opinions. The defensible current summary is narrower: Indian Express rates the film 2/5; India Today’s review is largely negative but unscored; and sampled viewer reactions range from appreciative to strongly disappointed.[6] [7] [8]

If you are planning a cinema visit, check the cinema’s current show details and admission rules directly. Do not assume that a viral review represents the whole response, or that any proposed celebrity theatre appearance is taking place. For broader reading, Anna News readers can also explore our reports on [global box-office franchise fatigue](/entertainment/global-box-office-franchise-fatigue/), [streaming’s global content strategy](/entertainment/streaming-wars-global-content-strategy/) and [AI, film and music creator rights](/entertainment/ai-in-film-music-creator-rights/).

Questions readers ask

What is The Paradise rating?

The Indian Express has rated The Paradise 2 out of 5. This is a single professional review, not an aggregate score. India Today’s review is critical but does not publish a numerical rating, while early social-media responses are divided.[6] [7] [8]

Why does The Paradise have an A certificate?

Reports say the CBFC gave the film an A certificate, which restricts admission to adults. Nani said the team expected that outcome because the violence is more pronounced. The makers had not publicly provided a complete certification-change record in the reporting reviewed here.[4] [5]

What is the running time of The Paradise?

NDTV, citing an IANS report, said the film runs for 2 hours and 49 minutes. Viewers should check their local cinema listing because scheduled start and end times can also include interval or venue-specific information.[4]

Did police deny Nani permission to attend The Paradise premiere at RTC X Roads?

The public record reviewed for this article establishes that officials required a formal police application because of crowd-management and Ganesh immersion security pressures. By the relevant The Hindu update, police said no formal application had been received. Anna News did not find authoritative confirmation of a final approval or denial by publication time.[2] [3] [10]

Who directed and stars in The Paradise?

Srikanth Odela directed the film, with Nani as Jadal. Reported key cast members include Mohan Babu, Sonali Kulkarni, Kayadu Lohar and Raghav Juyal.[4] [5]

Sources

  1. Nani’s public request to attend The Paradise premiere at RTC X Roads — Nani on X. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  2. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s response on the police-application process — A. Revanth Reddy on X. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  3. Actor Nani urges Telangana CM, police to let him watch The Paradise premiere with fans at Hyderabad’s RTC X Roads theatre — The Hindu. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  4. The Paradise: Nani And Srikanth Odela’s Film Gets A Certificate From Censor Board — NDTV. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  5. Nani explains why The Paradise got an A certificate — The Times of India. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  6. The Paradise review: Nani stands out in Srikanth Odela’s film that relies on tired tropes — The Indian Express. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  7. The Paradise review: Nani is a saviour in frustrating film that refuses to be saved — India Today. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  8. The Paradise Twitter review: Nani and Kayadu Lohar film gets early reactions — The Times of India. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  9. The Paradise: Nani Starrer Drops Anjaana Anjaani After A Certificate And 21 Corrections — News18. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  10. Ganesh immersion bandobust puts brakes on Nani’s premiere visit — The Times of India. Accessed 2026-09-24.
  11. The Paradise X review: Viewers call Nani’s film roast material, his career-worst — India Today. Accessed 2026-09-24.

Anna News Desk prepared this current entertainment report from public posts by Nani and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, plus independently published reporting and reviews opened on 24 September 2026. Review ratings are attributed to their publishers and are subjective. The reported CBFC A certificate is consistently described by reputable outlets, but Anna News did not locate the underlying certificate or a full primary cut list. The status of the RTC X Roads permission request remains uncertain as of the stated update time; this article does not treat social-media claims as confirmation. Anna News has no disclosed commercial relationship with the film, its cast, makers or exhibitors.