Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi Review

In real life, an IPS officer usually doesn't punch bad guys in slow motion or leap off buildings like they do in Tollywood blockbusters. Their role is far more strategic and administrative than what the movies suggest.

Tollywood is unique in that its characters get touchy about minor issues, whereas elsewhere, they just tiptoe and move on. Often, the lead characters' responses escalate into roughing up others - even over minor issues, dislikes or disagreements - resulting in a string of fight scenes. The stories are often routine, but the action choreography has been evolving.

Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi (now on ASOV) follows the tried-and-tested formula of a cop story, with a strong mother-son bond, a dozen gravity-defying action scenes and bombastic dialogues. But somehow, it works - and you won't feel bored.

Vyjayanthi IPS (Vijayashanthi) wants her son Arjun (Kalyan Ram) to become an IPS officer. Arjun, too, aspires to join the service. However, in a fit of rage, he takes the law into his own hands and accidentally kills a rowdy within the court premises during a case involving his mother. Shocked and disappointed, Vyjayanthi disowns him.

Arjun then turns into a feared gangster, runs a parallel government in Vizag, and lives with his wife Chitra (Saiee Manjrekar) in a separate colony. The estranged mother and son come face-to-face only in court - as opposing parties in a legal battle. Months later, Arjun learns that his mother's life is under threat from an imprisoned criminal named Pathan (Sohail Khan).

The film resembles the Malayalam classic Kireedam (1989) and the Hindi classic Shakti (1982), though it doesn't come close to either in terms of profundity. It features many emotional moments, especially between the mother and son, that are well-defined - though dramatic, these moments resonate with you.

If you take out the mother-son emotional moments, however, the rest of the movie is all about confrontations and fights. The film doesn't dilute its intensity with comedy, unlike many other mass entertainers. It doesn't waste much runtime on songs, either. There are a few songs - which aren't particularly good - but they're short and pass by without leaving much of an impression. The movie also gives just a few moments to the romance between Arjun and Chitra, and that's for the better.

All of these result in a fast-paced narrative. The film features several logic-defying scenes, but the pacing is so tight that you barely register these flaws - and even if you do, you don't really mind. Indeed, Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi has perhaps the best screenplay of 2025 so far. Despite a routine story and a familiar treatment, you go with the flow - the pacing is just perfect, and everything feels fluid.

Next to the pacing, the performances from the cast are noteworthy - especially those of Vijayashanthi, Kalyan Ram and Sohail Khan. Vijayashanthi returns to her police avatar after quite a long time, and she definitely owns the screen. Her dialogue delivery, stunts and mannerisms are a treat to watch. Most of her stunts seem to have been done with the help of strings and ropes in front of a green screen - but considering her age and the long hiatus from cinema (Sarileru Neekevvaru doesn't really count, does it?), her comeback is nothing short of amazing.

Kalyan Ram also delivers a strong performance. His action scenes and stunts are well-choreographed, and his confrontational scenes with the baddies are standout moments.

Sohail Khan perhaps gets the luckiest break. After a string of flops in Bollywood - both as an actor and director - he's found the perfect rehabilitation as a villain in Tollywood, much like Bobby Deol did. His villainy receives special treatment, and he is unrecognizably (seems he lost his love-dovey persona) good in the role.

The action choreography is inventive, and the background score feels refreshingly new. They complement the narrative and elevate the overall experience.

Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi is a mass action masala movie that has nothing new to offer story-wise and will perhaps be trolled by some reviewers for that, but deserves a watch for the treatment and for Vijayashanthi and Sohail Khan. It has the makings of a BO hit.