Lively leads make this crime comedy watchable

Genre: (Comedy, Crime, Drama)★★★Cast: Naresh Agastya, Faria Abdullah, Jeevan, BrahmanandamDirector: Murali ManoharDuration: 2 hours 25 minutesLanguage: Telugu, U/A (13+)Review:Gurram Paapi Reddy unfolds around a small group of ordinary individuals who find themselves tangled in an unexpected situation where crime, coincidence and human folly intersect. Set over a limited timeframe, the film relies less on twists and more on character-driven chaos, attempting to mine humour from desperation and moral confusion. Positioned as a dark comedy, it promises an offbeat take on crime, driven by quirky interactions rather than conventional thrills. Director Murali Manohar sets the tone early with a playful, irreverent approach. The film scores initially with its premise, lively staging and situational humour, especially in the opening portions where the narrative moves briskly and the characters are clearly defined. Much of the early appeal lies in the interactions between the central trio, whose chemistry keeps the scenes engaging and helps establish the film’s comic rhythm.Naresh Agastya holds the narrative together with a confident, controlled performance, effectively anchoring the chaos around him. Jeevan brings a grounded, believable edge that balances the film’s heightened moments, adding credibility to situations that could have otherwise felt cartoonish. Faria Abdullah injects energy into the proceedings and complements the group dynamic well, while Brahmanandam’s brief appearances offer reliable laughs, even if they don’t leave a lasting impact.However, the film begins to falter as the writing loses its grip. As the story progresses, scenes are stretched beyond necessity, diluting both tension and humour. The screenplay tends to linger on moments that would have benefited from sharper editing, causing the pace to waver noticeably in the second half. While the film never completely collapses, it does struggle to maintain momentum, relying on sporadic comic beats to stay afloat.Technically, the film remains functional, with competent cinematography and a background score that supports the mood without standing out. What ultimately works in Gurram Paapi Reddy is its commitment to tone and performance-driven humour. While it doesn’t fully capitalise on its premise and suffers from uneven pacing, the film remains intermittently engaging, carried by committed performances and flashes of smart comedy rather than a tightly held narrative.Should you watch it?Watch it if you enjoy offbeat crime comedies with solid performances and don’t mind a few narrative detours.-Sanjana Pulugurtha