Don’t Trouble the Trouble Review: Fahadh Faasil’s Fantasy Comedy Is Fun in Parts, But Falls Short

Movie Name: Don’t Trouble The Trouble

Release Date: October 2, 2026
Starring: Fahadh Faasil, Ssara Palekar, Saurabh Sachdeva and Others
Director: Shashank Yeleti
Producer: Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni, S. S. Karthikeya
Music Director: Kaala Bhairava
Cinematographer: Brad Francis
Editor: Praveen Antony

Related Links: Trailer

Don’t Trouble the Trouble marks Mollywood star Fahadh Faasil’s first Telugu film as a solo lead. Young talent Ssara Palekar plays a key role alongside him. Presented by SS Rajamouli and backed by his family banner, the film created considerable buzz before its theatrical release. The big question is whether this fantasy comedy lives up to its intriguing premise.

Story

Soori (Fahadh Faasil) is an orphan who is ready to try almost any trick to make quick money. After fooling local gangster Aslam Bhai (Mahesh Manjrekar), he finds himself in serious trouble and is given just two days to arrange Rs. 25 lakh.

While desperately looking for a way to escape his debt, Soori meets Divya (Ssara Palekar), a runaway child from a wealthy family. She mistakes him for a highly skilled magician and asks for his help. Seeing Divya as a possible way out of his financial problems, Soori decides to accompany her.

What follows is a quirky journey that gradually reveals Divya’s real intentions while also forcing Soori to confront his own conscience.

Plus Points

Fahadh Faasil has already showcased his versatility in intense dramas, romantic comedies and gripping thrillers. His move into a full-fledged fantasy comedy feels like a refreshing change, and he puts genuine effort into the role.

His comic timing, expressive performance and sincere delivery of Telugu dialogues add considerable value to the film, especially in sequences that otherwise feel ordinary.

Child artist Ssara Palekar makes a charming impression in her Telugu debut. She shares a natural chemistry with Fahadh and manages to hold her own throughout their scenes together. Her innocent reactions provide plenty of warmth and humour, while her sudden fiery outbursts bring some unexpected fun.

The presence of a lively beagle also adds plenty of visual appeal and warmth to their road journey. In fact, several of the scenes featuring Fahadh, Ssara and the dog turn out to be among the film’s most enjoyable moments.

Mahesh Manjrekar has limited screen time, but his experience and screen presence make his appearances effective. Saurabh Sachdeva’s unconventional character is another interesting addition, particularly whenever he appears on screen. The remaining supporting actors deliver adequate performances within the scope of their roles.

Minus Points

A fantasy adventure revolving around a child needs a strong emotional foundation to truly connect with the audience. Unfortunately, much of the film’s core plot was already exposed through the promotional material, leaving little room for surprises once the movie begins.

Although some individual scenes work well, the screenplay as a whole struggles to maintain consistent interest.

The emotional angle that the film builds towards in the climax has genuine sincerity. However, it comes into play only after the movie has already tested the audience’s patience. The central conflict is too thin, making the story predictable much earlier than it should be.

As a result, the dramatic tension drops considerably at a point when the narrative should actually be gaining momentum.

The police investigation track in the second half is another major drawback. It slows down the proceedings further, while repetitive comedy and noticeable logical inconsistencies add to the problem.

Several important supporting characters are also not used effectively, which means the central journey lacks the dramatic friction needed to make the story more engaging. Because of these issues, the comedy never reaches its full potential.

Technical Aspects

Debutant director Shashank Yeleti clearly has ambition, but the execution, along with Hamza Ali’s writing, leaves plenty of scope for improvement.

The film appears to have a whimsical, fairy-tale quality on paper, but that charm does not translate onto the screen as effectively as intended. Cinematographer Brad Francis ACS does a decent job of capturing the urban backdrop and gives the film a reasonably appealing visual presentation.

Kaala Bhairava’s background score is one of the technical positives. It adds energy to the proceedings and helps keep the lighter portions moving.

Praveen Antony’s editing, however, could have been sharper. Several lengthy sequences feel unnecessary and would have benefited from being trimmed during the editing stage.

The overall production values are standard and respectable.

Verdict

Overall, Don’t Trouble the Trouble is a fantasy comedy that works in parts but struggles to maintain consistency. Fahadh Faasil puts in considerable effort and carries much of the film on his shoulders, while young Ssara Palekar makes a pleasant impression in her Telugu debut.

However, a slow second half, predictable writing and weak emotional stakes significantly affect the overall experience. Children may find the lighthearted magical premise entertaining, but adult viewers are likely to connect with only a handful of portions.

Don’t Trouble the Trouble works in bits and pieces, so it is better to keep your expectations in check before heading to the theatres.