Review : Anaganaga Oka Raju – Naveen Polishetty’s one-man show

Movie Name : Anaganaga Oka Raju
Release Date : Jan 14, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Naveen Polishetty, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Rao Ramesh, Tarak Ponnappa and Others
Director : Maari
Producers : Naga Vamsi S & Sai Soujanya
Music Director : Mickey J. Meyer
Cinematographer : J. Yuvraj
Editor :  Vamsi Atluri
Related Links : Trailer
Naveen Polishetty earned good reputation among the audiences with back-to-back promising films. This Sankranthi season, he has come up with a comedy entertainer titled Anaganaga Oka Raju. Maari directed the movie and Meenakshi Chaudhary played the female lead. Amidst good expectations, the film hit the big screens today. Let’s see how it is.
Story:
Raju (Naveen Polishetty) is the heir of a once-wealthy family, but his grandfather squanders the property by showering it on his mistresses. Determined to marry an affluent girl, Raju meets Charulatha (Meenakshi Chaudhary). Using his clever tricks, he gets close to her, only to be taken aback by a shocking twist about her.
Plus Points:
When there is a good script, actors will have the scope to perform well, but an artist’s X factor is known only when the script offers little. It is highly challenging to grab the audience’s attention unless there is a strong script, and only a few can pull this off. Naveen Polishetty is one such rare talent, and Anaganaga Oka Raju is one such film that relies entirely on the shoulders of the protagonist.
Naveen Polishetty is not very far from entering the league of Rajendra Prasad and Allari Naresh, who have created a distinct image for themselves with fun entertainers. Naveen is easily among the best finds of Tollywood in recent times, and he entertains and tickles the fun bones with his comic timing and expressions. What makes him even more lovable is that he is also involved in the writing department, which sets him apart.
Some jokes don’t land, but the fun moments work for the most part and make the proceedings watchable, thanks to Naveen’s energy levels. The hero’s efforts to woo the leading lady and win over the villagers’ hearts to emerge successful in local elections are entertaining.
Meenakshi Chaudhary did a pretty good job as Charulatha. Her scenes with the hero in the first half, and their chemistry, worked well. It’s great to see a non-Telugu actress delivering Telugu lines so effectively with proper lip sync. Chammak Chandra, Rao Ramesh, and the rest of the supporting cast also performed well.
Minus Points:
The movie turns serious towards the end, but the emotional scenes don’t land as intended. The sudden tonal shift in these scenes feels unnatural, and this aspect could have been executed much better.
As mentioned earlier, if you expect a solid storyline, you may be disappointed. Anaganaga Oka Raju is similar to Nani’s Pilla Zamindar in several ways. As the makers stated, the film is more about the fun vibe, and it delivers on that promise. The second half dips at times and could have used some trimming.
The special song featuring Saanve Meghhana is unappealing and disrupts the film’s flow, acting as a speed breaker. If this song is removed entirely, the movie will feel more engaging. The climax is slightly stretched, and the villain track is largely ineffective.
Technical Aspects:
Micky J Meyer did a decent job and a couple of songs were good on screen. J. Yuvraj’s cinematography is neat showing the countryside visuals. Editing is crisp in the first half, while the second half feels a bit dragged.
Naveen Polishetty’s involvement in the writing reflects clearly, with many gags working effectively. Director Maari delivers a decent job overall. The film is packed with non-stop fun sequences, and the majority of them land well. However, the emotional stretch towards the end fails to leave an impact and feels forced.
Verdict:
On the whole, Anaganaga Oka Raju is a watchable entertainer that rests entirely on the shoulders of Naveen Polishetty. From the word go, Naveen takes center stage and continues to captivate with his punches and comic timing. Meenakshi Chaudhary is fine in her role. However, the film lacks a strong storyline, and the emotional stretch towards the end feels superficial. The first half moves at a brisk pace, while the second half feels dragged. For this festive season, Anaganaga Oka Raju ends up as a time-pass watch, provided expectations are kept in check.
123telugu.com Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team 
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