Episode notes
Adivi Sesh is back with Dacoit — a crime thriller packed with twists, betrayal, romance, and a whole lot of convenient chaos. In this episode of Paisa Vasool , Sravan and Taran break down whether Dacoit lives up to the standard of Adivi Sesh’s earlier films like Goodachari , Kshanam and Evaru, or whether this one falls into more routine territory. They get into the performances from Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur , the film’s multiple twists, the COVID-era setting, the shaky logic in the final act, and why this might still be one of the better Telugu films they’ve seen in a while, even if it…
Podcast
Paisa Vasool
Cognitive Recalibration · Film & TV · English
Welcome to Paisa Vasool, the podcast where two cinephiles, Sravan and Tarun (of the Cognitive Recalibration podcast), delve deep into the vibrant world of Indian cinema. Join us as we embark on a cinematic journey through the rich tapestry of films that reflect the diverse cultures, languages, and t
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E44 · 15 Aug 2026 · 20 min
Karuppu: Suriya's Biggest Hit Ever, But Did It Deserve It?
Suriya's Karuppu just became his highest-grossing film ever — but did RJ Balaji quietly walk away with the movie? Sravan and Tarun break down Paisa Vasool's verdict on Tamil cinema's biggest 2026 surprise: a sincere first half, a second half that forgets it exists, and a post-credits tease nobody asked for. YouTube: https://youtu.be/cSp62hvjgos ⏱️ Timestamps (0:24) Karuppu background: RJ Balaji, Suriya's cameo, and the box office numbers (2:35) Why we finally watched it (the Kanguva hangover) (3:32) The official synopsis vs. the actual movie (4:00) First half verdict: surprisingly sincere…
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E43 · 28 Jul 2026 · 39 min
Jana Nayagan: Vijay's Final Film Was NOT Worth the Wait
Vijay's 69th - and reportedly final - film before fully stepping into politics as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister. Does JANA NAYAGAN send Thalapathy off right, or does the seven-month delay explain everything? We break down the good, the very bad, and close with a blind ranking of Vijay's entire filmography. Spoilers from (18:51) onward. YouTube: https://youtu.be/salH1Mif6L0 ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) Intro Music & Welcome (01:27) The Long Road to Release (02:36) Confirming the Bhagavath Kesari Remake (03:39) Budget, Cast & Trivia (05:14) Our Honest Take Begins (07:16) First Half vs. Second Half…
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E42 · 4 Jul 2026 · 20 min
Maa Inti Bangaaram: Jalsa Meets Athadu
Samantha Ruth Prabhu is back — and she might have just delivered her best performance yet. In this episode of Paisa Vasool, Sravan and Tarun break down Maa Inti Bangaaram, the third collaboration between Samantha and director B.V. Nandini Reddy, and debate whether this is the best Telugu film they've seen in years. They cover what works (the action sequences, Samantha dubbing for herself for once, a surprisingly funny debut from her co-star), what doesn't (a rushed villain flashback, questionable dubbing for other characters, and one husband's glasses that distracted at least one viewer's…
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E41 · 5 Jun 2026 · 49 min
Ram Charan Deserved Better Than Peddi
We review Peddi, starring Ram Charan and directed by Buchi Babu Sana, with music by A.R. Rahman. After a long gap since Ram Charan’s last major releases, does Peddi deliver the big emotional sports drama it promises, or is it another overlong Telugu star vehicle that wastes its lead actor? YouTube: https://youtu.be/MW2L1Hz1sMM ⏱️ Timestamps 0:24 Welcome back to Paisa Vasool 0:30 Returning after a gap and introducing Peddi 0:42 Ram Charan’s Mega Power Star comeback 1:06 Buchi Babu Sana, runtime, budget and A.R. Rahman’s Telugu film history 2:40 Peddi’s long development timeline after RRR 3:15…
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E40 · 18 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Okkadu & Ghilli Revisited
Two iconic films. One unforgettable story. 🔥 In this episode of Paisa Vasool , we’re joined by special guest Bhaskar for a deep dive into Mahesh Babu’s Okkadu and Vijay’s Ghilli — the original and the remake that both became cult classics in their own way. We break down: why Okkadu was such a landmark film for Mahesh Babu how Ghilli reshaped the same story for Vijay and Tamil audiences the music, performances, action, comedy and romance how both films have aged after more than 20 years which version works better in different areas If you love Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, classic commercial…
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E38 · 4 Apr 2026 · 24 min
Ustaad Bhagat Singh
Power Star Pawan Kalyan is back on the big screen… but was Ustaad Bhagat Singh actually worth the wait? In this episode of Paisa Vasool, we break down Harish Shankar’s latest commercial entertainer and ask the big question: is this a proper comeback film, or just another outdated mass masala template? We get into the routine first half, the strange tonal shift in the second half, the forced politics, the comedy that mostly doesn’t land, and whether this really deserves to be compared to Gabbar Singh. If you’ve watched Ustaad Bhagat Singh and have thoughts, this one’s for you. YouTube:…
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E37 · 21 Mar 2026 · 26 min
Dhurandhar: The Revenge
Dhurandhar: The Revenge is BIGGER, LONGER… and somehow even more intense. 🔥 We just walked out of the theatre and this is our raw, immediate reaction — from Ranveer Singh’s career-best performance to the insane runtime, brutal action, and whether it actually lives up to the first film. Is it better than Dhurandhar 1? Or just more of everything? 🤔 🎧 Tune in for our honest breakdown — no filters, just Paisa Vasool. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bzVtTNLamJk ⏱️ Timestamps 00:23 Intro & immediate reaction 01:35 Runtime shock – 4 hours?! 02:05 First impressions (overall verdict) 03:14 Pacing…
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E36 · 29 Jan 2026 · 19 min
Anaganaga Oka Raju
Our final Sankranthi 2026 review is here — we watched Anaganaga Oka Raju , starring Naveen Polishetty and Meenakshi Chaudhary . This one is basically dialogue-driven, back-to-back comedy with a bare minimum storyline… and it lives or dies on Naveen’s delivery. We talk: why it works (especially in the first half), why it still feels routine for a “3-years-in-the-making” Naveen film, the tonal shift near the end, random song placements + a fight that feels out of character, and our final Sankranthi ranking across the movies we watched. If you watched it — did the jokes land for you, or did it…
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E35 · 20 Jan 2026 · 27 min
Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu
Sankranthi 2026 rolls on and we’re discussing Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu (MSVP) — starring Mega Star Chiranjeevi , with Nayanthara and an extended cameo from Victory Venkatesh . Is the Boss truly back ? 👑 We unpack Anil Ravipudi’s festival-entertainer template, the jokes that surprisingly land, the parts that feel outdated, and why this one ends up being a safe but fun Sankranthi watch (especially compared to Rajasaab). Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b7uXK8cbW34 ⏱️ Timestamps 0:24 - Welcome + MSVP hype (Boss is back?) 0:51 - Director Anil Ravipudi: track record + festival-release…
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E34 · 10 Jan 2026 · 44 min
The Rajasaab
Sankranthi 2026 kicks off with The Rajasaab — and yes… it’s a romantic horror comedy starring Rebel Star Prabhas, directed by Maruthi. 🎭👻 We watched it on opening night and walked out feeling like this movie has moments … but also feels choppy, overstuffed, and weirdly edited — like entire scenes vanished between the trailer and the final cut. From the “this could be interesting” bits to the “wait… what is even real?” climax chaos (hello crocodile + giant 🐊👊), we break down what worked, what didn’t, and why this might be getting more hate than it deserves online. ⚠️ Spoilers start…
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