Nawab Cafe Review: A 400-Year Legacy, But Can This Emotional Drama Brew Any Magic?

Movie Name: Nawab Cafe

Release Date: February 20, 2026
Starring: Shiva Kandukuri, Teju Ashwini, Rajeev Kanakala
Director: Pramod Harsha
Producers: Radha V Papudippu & Venkat R Papudippu
Music Director: Prashanth R Vihari
Cinematographer: Eshwar Penti
Editor: Pavan Narava

Related Links: Trailer

Shiva Kandukuri is back with an emotional family drama titled Nawab Cafe. Interestingly, the film was initially called Chai Wala, but after objections from the censor board, the makers changed the title. The movie hit theatres today — so does it serve a satisfying cinematic experience, or does it leave a bitter aftertaste? Let’s find out.

Story:

Ranganath (Rajeev Kanakala) runs “Nawab Cafe” in the Old City of Hyderabad — a place that carries a legacy of more than four centuries. For him, it’s not just a business, but a matter of pride and heritage.

However, his son Raja (Shiva Kandukuri) doesn’t share the same passion. Raja dreams of settling abroad and has no interest in continuing his father’s cafe. But life has other plans. Due to unexpected circumstances, Raja is forced to take charge of Nawab Cafe — and that’s when he begins to uncover hidden challenges tied to the legacy he once wanted to escape from.

Plus Points:

Rajeev Kanakala once again proves why he’s such a dependable performer. He slips into the role of a father determined to protect his family’s legacy with ease. Whether it’s showing authority or emotional vulnerability, he delivers a solid and convincing performance.

Shiva Kandukuri handles his role quite well. His character has two distinct shades — a carefree, fun-loving youngster in the first half and a responsible, mature son in the latter half. He performs both variations neatly. One particular scene just before the interval — where he argues with his father and the female lead, passionately explaining his life goals — stands out and works well emotionally.

Minus Points:

The biggest drawback of Nawab Cafe is its screenplay. For most parts, it feels dull and outdated. The narrative moves at a sluggish pace, and there’s hardly any urgency in how the conflict unfolds. The director takes too long to get to the core drama.

The first half tries hard to bring in humor, but the comedy tracks fall flat. They feel forced and poorly written, failing to generate genuine laughs. The romantic angle between the lead pair also lacks spark and doesn’t leave much impact.

In several key scenes, the film strongly reminds you of Dhanush’s recent movie Idli Kadai. Unfortunately, the drama here isn’t strong enough to help you overlook the similarities.

The second half focuses more on emotions, but instead of getting better, it becomes even more tiring. Many scenes fail to create the intended impact. The dialogues feel outdated and poorly written, which further drags down the emotional weight.

The antagonist’s character and motive are nothing new — it’s a template we’ve seen countless times. As a result, Chaitanya Krishna’s role barely makes a difference. The same goes for Teju Ashwini’s character; she doesn’t get enough scope to shine and mostly remains in the background.

Technical Aspects:

Prashanth R Vihari’s music is just about okay. One song looks good on screen, but the rest doesn’t stand out much. The cinematography is decent, and the production values are fair.

The production design team deserves appreciation for recreating the Old City backdrop effectively. The setting looks authentic and is presented neatly. However, the editing is a letdown. The film feels lengthy and could have benefited from tighter cuts.

Director Pramod Harsha, who also wrote the film, does an average job overall. While a few moments — especially the pre-interval portions — are handled well, the emotional scenes in the second half needed more depth and care. The story itself isn’t fresh, and the screenplay makes the experience feel tiring due to the lack of engaging moments.

Verdict:

On the whole, Nawab Cafe turns out to be a disappointing emotional drama. Despite good performances from Rajeev Kanakala and Shiva Kandukuri, the routine storyline and sluggish narration weigh the film down. Both halves are filled with dull moments, and the movie offers very little that feels new or exciting.

If you’re expecting a heartfelt family drama with strong emotions, this one might not fully satisfy you.