Shankar Cheguri

Badmashulu (2025) takes you straight into the chaos of Hyderabad’s underbelly, where ambition smells like sweat and betrayal. Shankar Cheguri’s got his fingerprints all over this one—seriously, you can feel his style oozing out of every frame. The story circles around a ragtag crew of hustlers, each more desperate than the next, all tangled up in a wild web of petty crime, big dreams, and one seriously botched job that knocks over the first domino. You think you know these characters: a street-smart fixer who can’t keep his lies straight, a rookie who’s way out of his depth, and a double-crosser who clearly watched one too many gangster flicks as a kid. What sets Badmashulu apart is how it doesn’t even try to glam up the grit. You want action? There’s plenty, but it’s messy, ugly, and honestly kind of funny sometimes. The dialogue crackles with local slang and inside jokes—half the time you’ll be snorting at a one-liner before the bullets start flying again. Cheguri weaves in just enough backstory to make you care when things go sideways. The city itself becomes this living, breathing character, full of neon, rain, and regret. By the time the credits roll, you’re left wondering who the real villain even was—everyone’s got dirt under their nails. It’s raw, fast, and wild, with just enough heart to sting a little. Badmashulu isn’t here to play it safe, and honestly, thank god for that.