Movie: Robinhood
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Mythri Movie Makers
Cast: Nithiin, Sreeleela, Rajendra Prasad, Vennela Kishore, David Warner Ketika Sharma, and others
Music: GV Prakash Kumar
DOP: Sai Sriram
Editor: Koti
Art director: Raam Kumar
Producers: Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar
Written and Directed by: Venky Kudumula
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Nithiin and director Venky Kudumula previously collaborated on Bheeshma, which was a hit. Despite Nithiin’s recent string of flops, their latest film has generated significant buzz—thanks to the actor’s aggressive promotions and the addition of cricketer David Warner in a key role, which has sparked nationwide interest.
Let’s see if the film can live up to the hype.
Story:
Ram, alias Robinhood (Nithiin), is a skilled thief who steals from the rich to support orphanages. To stay under the radar of a relentless police officer closing in on his identity, he takes up a job as a security agent.
His first assignment is to protect Neera (Sreeleela), a wealthy NRI visiting Hyderabad from Australia for a week-long trip to see her grandfather in a nearby village. However, Robinhood soon uncovers a sinister plot: a dangerous gang is planning to kidnap or kill Neera before she reaches her destination.
How will he protect Neera while also pursuing his own secret mission?
Artistes’ Performances:
Nithiin delivers a decent performance as Robin Hood, exuding style and effortlessly handling both humor and action. However, his character lacks originality and feels somewhat familiar.
Sreeleela is charming as the wealthy yet naive Neera, though her role offers limited depth.
The real scene-stealers are Vennela Kishore and Rajendra Prasad, whose comic timing brings much-needed levity to the film. Vennela Kishore’s witty one-liners consistently land, providing several laugh-out-loud moments.
On the downside, Devdatta Nage’s villain comes across as generic and uninspired. Lal plays the typical grandfather figure, while Subhalekha Sudhakar, as the orphanage manager, is given very little screen time or significance.
David Warner’s cameo as a cricketer is fun but ultimately adds little to the story. Meanwhile, Ketika Sharma’s item song injects a brief moment of glamour into the film.
Technical Excellence:
While the film boasts rich visuals, its overall technical execution lacks brilliance. One of the biggest drawbacks is G.V. Prakash Kumar’s uninspiring soundtrack—the songs serve their purpose but fail to make a lasting impression.
Venky Kudumula’s dialogue writing also lacks the sharpness required to elevate the narrative. However, the top-notch production values from Mythri Movie Makers are a significant plus, adding a strong layer of visual appeal to the film.
Highlights:
Nithiin’s portrayal
First Half
Vennela Kishore’s comedy
Drawback:
Predictable and template narrative
Many sequences giving Dejavu feel
Analysis
When films like Kick released over fifteen years ago, they felt fresh and entertaining. But applying the same template today comes across as dated—and that’s exactly the issue with Robinhood.
In Kick, Ravi Teja’s true motive for robbery was revealed later in the film, adding an element of suspense. In Robinhood, however, this is revealed right at the beginning, robbing the story of any real intrigue.
While Kick thrived on high-energy entertainment and roaring comedy, Robinhood lacks that spark. Choosing a formulaic story isn’t necessarily a problem, but Venky Kudumula seems far from his best form here.
Kudumula’s strength, evident in Chalo and Bheeshma, lies in turning simple sequences into highly entertaining moments. Both films had plenty of laugh-out-loud scenes and catchy songs — with Chalo even delivering the viral hit Choosi Choodangane. Unfortunately, Robinhood falls short on both fronts.
The first half unfolds at a steady pace, focusing on Nithiin’s robberies, his mission to support orphanages, and his initial interactions with Sreeleela. While the plot doesn't move significantly forward, it flows reasonably well.
The second half brings in twists — the hero’s real mission, the villain’s entry, and their cat-and-mouse game — but these elements feel flat, neither compelling nor boring, just routine.
The film finds occasional relief in its comedy, largely due to Vennela Kishore and Rajendra Prasad, but their moments are inconsistent and not always hilarious.
While the first half offers some passable moments, the second half feels cramped and repetitive, with much of the action unfolding in a single location. The sequences involving the villain planting cameras throughout an entire village come off as silly and illogical.
Even the item song Adhi Dha Surprise only manages to work when Nithiin and Sreeleela appear at the end to dance, rather than through Ketika Sharma’s sizzling performance.
Despite Nithiin’s sincere efforts and the film’s lavish production values, Robinhood ends up being too predictable and formulaic. While its comedy works in parts, the film ultimately falters as it progresses, turning into just another routine commercial entertainer with little to set it apart.
Bottom-line: Regular Thief