Anakapalli hits screens on Thursday, October 2, with a rural gangster drama that doesn’t just lean into the genre — it reboots it. The film, directed by Khagesh Thammineni and produced by Trinadha Rao Nakkina under the banners of Nakkina Narratives and Bhavysree Movies, arrives with a cast anchored by Vikram Sahidev as Surri, a young electrician drawn into the violent orbit of Bulletto (Tarak Ponnappa), a local don whose grip on Anakapalli is absolute. What follows isn’t just a descent into crime, but a slow unraveling of loyalty, identity, and love, set against a backdrop where family ties are both shield and sword. 

The story pivots on Surri’s transformation: from dutiful son to loyal acolyte, then rebel. His journey is fueled by romance with Ammula (Sandhya Vashishth), a woman who becomes both his anchor and his reckoning. But the real tension lies in the fracture between him and Bulletto. A bond forged in violence, tested by betrayal, and shattered by power. The film teases out this conflict through layered betrayals, including a murder orchestrated by Bulletto and MLA Srinivas (Vadlamani Srinivas) to eliminate a rival, and a conspiracy that pits political ambition against street loyalty. 

Trinadha Rao Nakkina himself takes a rare acting role as the elder statesman figure, delivering a performance described as emotionally charged and memorable. His presence adds gravitas to a narrative already heavy with consequence. Meanwhile, Vikram Sahidev carries the film like a man wearing a crown he never asked for, his intensity in every scene, from quiet moments of doubt to explosive confrontations, makes him the spine of the movie. Tarak Ponnappa, meanwhile, doesn’t just play a villain. He becomes one, with a charisma that lingers long after the screen fades. 

Visually, the film leans into grit. Cinematographer Kattivarpu Vanshi Krishna captures the claustrophobia of village life and the chaos of action sequences with equal precision. The music by Devzand complements the mood, underscoring emotional beats without overpowering them. Editing, however, is where the film stumbles slightly, some scenes stretch longer than they need to, risking momentum. Still, the final act, built on sacrifice and moral collapse, lands with force. 

Critics at Filmibeat rate it as a solid entry in the regional action thriller space, praising its performances, emotional depth, and fresh take on familiar tropes. It’s not flawless. But it’s bold. For fans of raw, character-driven crime dramas, Anakapalli isn’t just a release. It’s a statement. And if the buzz holds, it could be one of the year’s most talked-about Telugu films. 

Next stop: the weekend box office.