Movie Title: Trikala
Casting: Shraddha Das, Master Mahendran, Ajay, Aamani, Sahithi Avancha and others
Direction & Editing: Mani Tellaguti
Production: Radhika Srinivas
Music: Harshavardhan Rameshwar, Shajith
Cinematography: Pawan
Release Date: May 28, 2026
Filmycycle.com Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Trikala: Good concept Decent execution (3/5)
Among the latest films released in theatres this week, the fantasy thriller Trikala is one of them. Starring Master Mahendran, Shraddha Das, and Ajay in key roles, let’s see how this film fares in our Trikala review.
Synopsis:
Rooted in the concept of rebirths and karma, which are an integral part of Sanatana Dharma, the story begins from ancient legends. Hundreds of years ago, a royal dynasty becomes cursed after committing cow slaughter, resulting in every male child born in their lineage being born with a disability. What happens after Vaitharan (Ajay), the last heir of that dynasty, is born?
Meanwhile, who is Nidhi (Sahithi), the girl who gets introduced to Shiva (Master Mahendra), a young man from Anakapalli, through a phone call? Who will save the cursed village of Shankarampalli? At the same time, why are a group of sorcerers trying to awaken the spirit of Trikala, which has been trapped inside an egg? To know the answers to all these questions, one has to watch the film.
Performances:
Noted actor Ajay, along with the child actor, delivers solid performances. Apart from them, Tanikella Bharani, Master Mahendra, Shraddha Das, and the rest of the cast have also performed well.
Additionally, the suspense factor maintained in the first half works to an extent.Actress Aamani delivers an impressive performance in her role. Alongside her, actor Ajay gives a powerhouse performance.
Analysis:
The director’s intention and effort to present a fresh and unique concept are appreciable. However, the way the screenplay was designed turns out to be regular in some places and confusing in others.
For those who enjoy fantasy subjects and like to watch something slightly different, the core point of Trikala may appeal to them. In line with that, the opening portions of the film, the backstory, and the narration surrounding the concept of Trikala feel quite interesting.
The second half can also be considered comparatively better. Several confusions get cleared here, making the narrative more engaging. Moreover, the emotional episode designed around actress Aamani and a particular song are presented very well. .
Although his role is revealed quite late in the film, the way the director has designed the character is noteworthy. Additionally, many characters’ dialogues do not sync properly with their lip movements, which prevents the audience from getting fully immersed in the film. Interestingly, even Ajay not dubbing for himself becomes another disappointing aspect.
Technical Department:
The production values of the film can be considered decent. The setup and VFX required for a fantasy subject work well in a few places, but in some areas, the makers seem to have relied heavily on AI-generated visuals. The music is decent, and the “Amma” song stands out as a good one. The cinematography is also okay.
The director himself handled the editing as well, but this aspect could have been executed much better.
Coming to director Mani Tellaguti, his choice of concept is appreciable. He made a sincere attempt to convey the core point effectively, and to a large extent, he succeeds. However, the confusing narration in certain portions makes the film feel boring at times. Technically too, the film needed more care and refinement.
Verdict:
Altogether, the core concept of Trikala is quite interesting, and Ajay delivers a solid performance. The narration in the second half also feels comparatively better. However, the confusing screenplay in the first half and a few routine elements end up disappointing. Because of these issues, this fantasy drama, which had good potential, ultimately turns out to be just a partly satisfying watch.
