Last updated: 3 Apr 2026


It's all written in the stars.
Telugu · Romance
2h 18m · 11 Mar 2022
Music: Mithoon Sharma, Justin Prabhakaran, Manan Bhardwaj, S. Thaman, Amaal Mallik | DOP: Manoj Paramahamsa | Writer: Radha Krishna Kumar
Ratings
Our Rating
2.25
Set in 1970s Europe, Vikramaditya is a world-renowned palmist known as the 'Einstein of Palmistry' who believes that everything is predestined and avoids love due to the absence of a 'love line' on his palm. He falls for Dr. Prerana, but their destinies appear to conflict—one predicting a long life and the other an imminent end. The story explores the battle between predestination (Fate) and the power of human will (Karma) as Vikramaditya attempts to rewrite their future.
Radhe Shyam is a visually breathtaking period romance that attempts to explore the age-old conflict between destiny and free will. The first half is primarily dedicated to establishing the dreamlike 1970s Italian setting and the 'flirtationship' between the leads. While the frames look like exquisite paintings thanks to Manoj Paramahamsa’s cinematography, the narrative moves at a sluggish pace, focusing more on aesthetic charm than emotional depth.
The second half delves into the core conflict of palmistry versus science, but the screenplay struggles to maintain a consistent tone. The transition from a light-hearted romance to a high-stakes survival drama feels abrupt. The pacing remains uneven, and several subplots involving supporting characters—like those played by Jagapathi Babu and Jayaram—are left underdeveloped, making the 140-minute runtime feel longer than necessary.
Technically, the film is a triumph. The production design is grand, and the VFX—particularly in the massive ship sequence at the climax—are of high standards. However, the music is a mixed bag due to the multi-composer approach; while the songs are melodic, the background score occasionally feels disconnected from the intended emotional high points.
Ultimately, the film suffers from a 'style over substance' issue. While Prabhas and Pooja Hegde look stunning, the lack of a gripping screenplay prevents the audience from fully investing in their star-crossed romance. The climax, though visually spectacular, lacks the emotional punch needed to make the film an epic love story.
Prabhas: Dapper and stylish as Vikramaditya; he handles the romantic portions with ease, though his character lacks the typical 'macho' elevations fans expect.
Pooja Hegde: Looks stunning as Prerana and delivers a sincere performance, effectively portraying the vulnerability of a woman caught between life and death.
Bhagyashree: Graceful in her limited role as Vikramaditya's mother, though her character is largely underwritten.
Sachin Khedekar: Reliable as always, providing a grounded presence as Prerana's uncle.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Radha Krishna Kumar shows an eye for visual poetry and scale, but his writing fails to bridge the gap between a high-concept idea and a soul-stirring romance.
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 2.25 / 5 | |
| 2.75 / 5 | |
| 2.50 / 5 | |
| 2.50 / 5 | |
| 2.25 / 5 | |
| 2.50 / 5 | |
| 2.50 / 5 | |
| 2.00 / 5 | |
| 2.75 / 5 |
Our Rating
No collection data available yet.
No centers data available.
| Award | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SIIMA Awards | Best Cinematographer (Nomination) | Manoj Paramahamsa |
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 30% |
| Neutral | 30% |
| Negative | 40% |
Critics largely polarized; while all admired the 'visual wonder' of the film, most panned the 'soulless' script and the slow narration which failed to engage the general audience.
Final Box-Office Result
Radhe Shyam released on 11 March 2022 (2022).
Radhe Shyam is declared a DISASTER at the box office.
Budget of Radhe Shyam is approximately ₹1860000 Crore.
Radhe Shyam is available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads from 11 March 2022.
Radhe Shyam directed by Radha Krishna Kumar. Produced by Vamsi Krishna Reddy, Pramod Uppalapati, Bhushan Kumar.
Radhe Shyam stars Prabhas, Pooja Hegde, Sachin Khedekar.
Tollybo rates Radhe Shyam 2.25/5. Verdict: DISASTER.
Music for Radhe Shyam composed by Mithoon Sharma, Justin Prabhakaran, Manan Bhardwaj, S. Thaman, Amaal Mallik.
Radhe Shyam — Genre: Romance, Runtime: 138 minutes, Language: Telugu.