Movie Overview (for The 100 (2025, Telugu))
- Title: The 100
- Release Date: 11 July 2025
- Genre: Action / Crime Thriller
- Director: Raghav Omkar Sasidhar
- Main Cast: Sagar, Misha Narang, Dhanya Balakrishna
- Where to Watch: Theatrical release (Telugu) as of July 2025; digital/rental availability may follow depending on region.
1. Plot Summary
The film begins with a tragedy: Madhu Priya, a young woman, commits suicide after a serious argument with her boyfriend Sameer, who is an ethical hacker.
At about the same time, Vikrant, a probationary IPS (police) officer who opposes police encounters (i.e. killings under dubious authority), is assigned to investigate a string of robberies and murders on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Along the investigation, Vikrant meets Aarthi, a woman whose public persona is bold, outspoken; yet there seems to be more beneath her silence and withdrawn behavior. A piece of jewelry recovered during the investigation is traced back to Aarthi, which becomes a clue that ties her more deeply into the case than first apparent.
As Vikrant delves further, the film gradually reveals that what looked like isolated incidents are connected: Madhu Priya’s suicide, Aarthi’s trauma and past, her father’s involvement, and the crimes in Hyderabad all tie into a larger, darker conspiracy.
The movie’s tension builds on uncovering how past trauma, betrayal, hidden identities, and silence combine to affect people’s lives; ultimately Vikrant must untangle the threads to bring truth and justice.
2. Notable Elements
What works well / standout scenes, performances:
- Misha Narang as Aarthi: Her transformation—from a confident, outspoken persona to revealing vulnerability and trauma—is described in reviews as emotionally impactful. The character arc is one of the film’s strengths.
- Vikrant’s Moral Compass: His resistance to police encounters provides a moral framework and adds tension—he is not just trying to solve a case, but to do it in the “right way.” That gives depth beyond typical cop-thriller tropes.
- Conspiracy & Clues: Small narrative details (e.g. a GPS-embedded doll with a hidden knife gifted by Vikrant’s friend, which turns out crucial) help tie the plot threads together. These touches are appreciated in the reviews.
- Music / Background Score & Cinematography: While not always highlighted as perfect, reviewers note that the score and visuals support mood. Also the contrast between public face vs private trauma is emphasized via scenes lighting, settings, etc.
What’s less strong / problems:
- Predictability: Some plot turns are seen as predictable. The film starts strong but then loses some momentum as the story progresses.
- Melodramatic Pacing: Some scenes are dramatic to a fault; emotional beats are stretched or repeated, which dampens tension in places.
- Writing / Screenplay Weaknesses: While character development is generally praised, some transitions, motivations, or connections feel under-explained or conventional. The tightness of the plot may suffer in parts.
3. Themes & Messages
Here are the key themes The 100 explores, and how they resonate:
- Trauma, Silence, and Hidden Truths: Aarthi’s character embodies how people can carry past trauma that they hide; silence (either imposed or self-chosen) has consequences. The film suggests that what’s unsaid or ignored can be deeply damaging.
- Justice vs Vengeance / Moral Choices: Vikrant’s opposition to police encounters, and his insistence on doing things properly even when under pressure, raises questions about the cost of justice, the rule of law, and ethical policing.
- Resilience & Survival: The movie shows people’s capacity to survive emotionally intense experiences, and not just physically. It also shows how connections (or severed connections) with family, friendship, and community influence resilience.
- Accountability & Accountability of Power: The idea that individuals and institutions are responsible for safeguarding, not abusing, trust; when power is misused (whether in relationships, in crime, in policing), harm follows.
These themes are relevant in many societies; though they don’t explicitly tie to “holiday traditions,” they do resonate with values often emphasized during seasonal times (reflection, compassion, reconciliation, truth, community).
4. Personal Impressions
Here’s what I felt watching The 100, both strengths and where it didn’t fully satisfy me.
What I liked:
- The emotional weight: the way the film handles Aarthi’s trauma is more sensitive than many thrillers; the gradual reveal rather than dumping all backstory at once helps maintain mystery.
- The moral dimension: Vikrant’s opposition to police encounters adds tension and gives ethical stakes, making it more than just action or suspense.
- Some well-done scenes with clues and detective work — I appreciate when small items (like that GPS-doll) pay off meaningfully later. It shows a certain level of writing care.
- Performances: Particularly from Misha Narang; her ability to shift between strength and vulnerability works well. Sagar as Vikrant does solidly, especially in balancing duty, compassion, and pressure.
What bothered me / what could be better:
- The predictability in certain plot arcs: by mid-movie, I felt I could guess some reveals. That doesn’t ruin the experience, but lowers impact.
- Some melodramatic scenes: scenes that try hard to evoke empathy or horror sometimes lean too much into ‘emotional volume,’ which for me felt a little forced.
- Pacing: after a strong start, the momentum sometimes dips — there are scenes that feel like filler, or stretched out longer than necessary.
- Depth of some side characters: while the leads are decent, some supporting characters feel more like plot-devices than fully rounded people. That reduces emotional stakes in parts.
5. Audience Recommendations
Who might especially enjoy The 100 (Telugu):
- Fans of crime thriller / suspense films, especially ones that also take time for character emotional arcs. If you like detective work + moral complexity, this is a good pick.
- Viewers who appreciate films that address trauma and the human side of crime, not just action or violence.
- Audiences in that regional market (Telugu cinema) who enjoy high production values, strong music / score, and “cop dramas.”
- If you’re in a reflective mood (ethical dilemmas, talking about justice, what people go through after trauma), this could be a satisfying experience.
Probably less ideal if:
- You prefer fast-paced action without much emotional or moral weight—or don’t want to sit through scenes of emotional distress or heavy drama.
- If predictability bothers you a lot; this film has some of that.
- If you prefer films where every character is fully developed; here some secondary characters are less fleshed out.
6. Conclusions & Rating
Overall, The 100 is a solid addition to the cop/suspense thriller genre in Telugu cinema — ambitious, with good performances, interesting themes, and some memorable moments. It doesn’t break all the moulds, and has its weak spots, but it’s more thoughtful than many films that stay only on surface action.
Final Recommendation: Worth watching, especially for fans of detective thrillers and emotionally driven cinema. It delivers more than just plot; it asks questions about morality, trauma, and justice, even if it doesn’t always surprise.
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 out of 5 stars)