There is no dearth of stories based on political backdrop in Telugu cinema, but Pothugadda is one film that attempts to mix politics and love in a unique way. Released on 30 January 2025 on ETV Win, the film is directed by Raksha Veeram and stars actors like Aadukalam Naren, Prithvi Dandamudi and Kreha Raj in pivotal roles. The story is set in a small village Pothugadda, where a young love story takes birth amidst political turmoil.

The backdrop of the film is refreshingly simple and most of the portion is shot in a single bus, thereby creating a confined yet tense atmosphere throughout the story. However, the weak link of the film is its lack of emotional depth, due to which the audience is unable to fully connect with the characters. While on one hand we see politics, honour and the fight for power, on the other hand, a loving couple is seen struggling for their future. This review article examines whether Pothugadda manages to hold the audience’s attention with its unique setup and suspense.

Pothugadda Story

The story of ‘Pothugadda’ takes place in a fictional political backdrop of Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Here the local MLA Samudra (Aadukalam Naren) makes his daughter Geeta (Kreha Raj) the Youth President to get the support of the youth to win the election again. On the other hand, his old rival Bhaskar (Shatru), who has lost many times, is determined to win this time at any cost. He plans to buy votes with a bribe of ₹50 crore.

Meanwhile, Geetha, who has no emotional attachment to her politically engaged father, falls in love with a young man named Krishna (Prudhvi Dandamudi). Knowing that her father will never approve of this relationship, she decides to run away from home with Krishna.

When Samudra learns of this, he orders his confidant Venkat to kill Krishna and bring Geetha back before they cross the village border (Polimera). Meanwhile, Bhaskar’s men are carrying ₹50 crore in cash in a bus – and coincidentally, Geetha and Krishna also board the same bus.

Now the story picks up inside a bus, where Venkat is in pursuit, the bribe money is present, and a couple trying to escape. What happens next in the film – do Geetha and Krishna survive? Does the bribe reach safely? To know this, one has to watch the film.

Conclusion

Pothugadda is a simple but promising thriller set against a political backdrop that tries to combine a love story and a struggle for power. Although the location and technical aspects of the film are impressive, the lack of emotional depth weakens the story. There is thrill in some scenes, but the love story and the relationships between the characters do not seem strong. Aadukalam Naren’s performance is excellent, but the performance of the rest of the actors is average. Overall, this film is worth a watch if you like stories involving politics and light thrills.