Trikala Movie Review: A Fresh Fantasy Idea That Struggles to Cast Its Spell!

Movie Name: Trikala

Release Date: May 28, 2026
Starring: Ajay, Shraddha Das, Master Mahendran, Sahithi Avancha, Nandha Durairaj, Aamani, Sai Dheena, Robo Shankar, Rowdy Rohini, ETV Prabhakar, Ambati Arjun, Spyder Sanjay, Kalloori Vinoth
Director: Mani Thellagutie
Producer: Radhika Srinivas
Music Director: Shajith Humayun
Cinematographer: Pavan Chennal
Editor: Mani Thellagutie

Related Links: Trailer

Trikala, starring Master Mahendra, Shraddha Das, and Ajay in key roles, has finally hit theatres. Promising a mix of fantasy, mythology, and suspense, the film arrives with an intriguing setup. But does it live up to expectations? Let’s find out.

Story:

Rooted in the Sanatana Dharma concepts of rebirth and karma, Trikala begins centuries ago. A royal dynasty faces a curse after committing cow slaughter, leading to every male heir in their bloodline being born with a deformity.

What happens after Vaitharan (Ajay), the final heir of the dynasty, is born? Who exactly is Nidhi (Sahithi), the mysterious girl who connects with a young boy named Shiva (Master Mahendra) from Anakapalli through a phone call? Who will rescue the cursed village of Shankarampalli? And why is a group of sorcerers desperate to awaken the spirit of Trikaaluni, trapped inside an eggshell? The answers unfold as the story progresses.

Plus Points:

Fans of fantasy-driven stories may find the central idea of Trikala refreshing and quite interesting. The movie opens on an intriguing note, thanks to its historical backstory and the introduction of the Trikala concept.

The second half fares better compared to the first, mainly because several confusing elements start making sense. An emotional segment involving Aamani, along with a song sequence, has been handled effectively. The veteran actress puts in a commendable performance.

Ajay stands out with a powerful performance in his role. Even though the major reveal surrounding his character arrives a little late, the director presents it neatly. The actor who played the younger version of Ajay also performs impressively.

Tanikella Bharani, Master Mahendra, and Shraddha Das do justice to their respective roles. The suspense angle also manages to keep viewers somewhat invested during the first half.

Minus Points:

While the subject is fresh and definitely has potential, the storytelling doesn’t always work in the film’s favour and often feels confusing. The intriguing core idea loses some of its impact due to a few routine scenes. Abrupt cuts in the first half narration add further confusion.

Though the second half eventually answers most of the questions, it also feels like the makers spent too much time building things up, which results in a stretched narrative. At one point, the screenplay slips into familiar territory. Still, the fantasy and mythological aspects make the film somewhat watchable.

Another drawback is the karma concept connected to Ajay’s character, which could have been explained more clearly. The film also lacks a strong sense of nativity, making it feel neither fully Telugu nor Tamil. Poor lip-sync issues affect the overall viewing experience, and Ajay not dubbing for his own character may disappoint some viewers.

Technical Aspects:

The production values, VFX, and overall fantasy setup are decent enough for the film’s requirements. At certain moments, however, it feels like the team may have depended on AI-generated visuals. Shajith Humayun’s music is decent, with the “Amma” song emerging as a standout track. The cinematography is satisfactory.

Director Mani Thellagutie also takes charge of editing, but this aspect turns out to be one of the weaker links. While the core idea is exciting, the execution falls short. The storytelling becomes confusing in several places, though a few portions still manage to remain mildly engaging. Greater attention to technical detailing could have improved the final output.

Verdict:

Overall, Trikala ends up being a below-average fantasy thriller with a handful of decent moments. Despite an interesting concept, the film struggles to consistently hold attention due to its confusing storytelling and routine treatment in parts. Ajay delivers a strong performance and gets solid support from Aamani, but the weak narration ultimately affects the film’s overall impact.