Lenin
Telugu biopic about Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin with commercial Tollywood treatment
The brief
A Telugu biopic about Vladimir Lenin sounds like the kind of wild swing that could either be fascinating or completely unhinged, and honestly there's no way to predict which until you're watching Akhil Akkineni attempt a Russian revolutionary accent. Director Murali Kishor Abburu is taking on one of history's most complex political figures through the lens of Indian commercial cinema, which feels like watching someone try to fit an elephant into a phone booth. The sheer audacity of the premise makes it impossible to ignore, even if the execution might be questionable. Perfect for anyone who loved RRR's historical revisionism or just wants to see what happens when Tollywood tackles Soviet history.
The verdict
If you have a high tolerance for audacious creative choices and enjoy seeing familiar historical figures filtered through the maximalist lens of Telugu cinema, this biographical experiment offers the kind of unpredictable entertainment that RRR fans will appreciate. If you prefer your biopics grounded in historical accuracy or can't handle the potential culture clash of Bollywood storytelling meeting Soviet revolutionary politics, you'll want to skip this wild swing entirely.
Watch with
- 👥 History buffs and Telugu cinema fans
- ⚠️ Those expecting historical accuracy
Heads up
- Revolutionary violence and political upheaval (moderate)
- Wartime and civil conflict scenes (moderate)
- Political executions and imprisonment (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Murali Kishor Abburu
- Cast
- Akhil Akkineni, Bhagyashri Borse, Sivaji Sontineni, Easwari Rao
Official synopsis
The life of Russian communist revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Animal Farm (2026)
Both explore revolutionary ideals corrupted by power in communist societies.
