# Gaayapadda Simham
**Gaayapadda Simham** (గాయపడ్డ సింహం, "Wounded Lion") is a 2026 Telugu-language comedy film directed by Kasyap Sreenivas in his directorial debut, starring [Tharun Bhascker](https://www.edgepedia.org/tharun-bhascker) as a man deported from the United States who plots revenge on US President Donald Trump through black magic.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham) • [2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/review/2026/May/01/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-outdated-narration-with-silly-comedy) • [3](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/gaayaapadda-simham-review-only-scattered-humor/amp) It was released in theaters on May 1, 2026.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | May 1, 2026, limited theatrical release; later available on Prime Video with a subscription[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham) |
| Director | Kasyap Sreenivas, who also wrote the film; his directorial debut[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham) • [4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/tharun-bhascker-gaayapadda-simham-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) |
| Story | Surya Prakash Jyosula[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39708015/) |
| Lead cast | Tharun Bhascker, Faria Abdullah, Sree Vishnu, J.D. Chakravarthy, Maanasa Choudhary[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39708015/) |
| Music | Sweekar Agasthi; cinematography by Vidya Sagar Chinta; editing by Viplav Nyshadam[4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/tharun-bhascker-gaayapadda-simham-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) |
| Production | Sapta Aswa Media Works, Zee Studios, and POV Stories; presented by Pavan Sadineni[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham) • [4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/tharun-bhascker-gaayapadda-simham-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) |
| Runtime | 2h 10m per Rotten Tomatoes; IMDb lists 2h 20m[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39708015/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The story follows Darahas (Tharun Bhascker), who travels to the United States at his girlfriend's insistence but is abruptly deported without explanation, ending their relationship.[3](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/gaayaapadda-simham-review-only-scattered-humor/amp) Back in India, a marriage is arranged for him with Shalini (Faria Abdullah), a YouTuber, through a matchmaking setup.[3](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/gaayaapadda-simham-review-only-scattered-humor/amp) • [4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/tharun-bhascker-gaayapadda-simham-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) Humiliated by the deportation, Darahas decides to take revenge on US President Donald Trump, whose tightened visa rules and mass deportation drive are the film's central obstacle.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/review/2026/May/01/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-outdated-narration-with-silly-comedy) • [6](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-donald-trump-tollywood-villain-tharun-bhascker-bold-messy-film-10665874/)
He turns to a friend who connects him with an IAS aspirant turned black magician ([Sree Vishnu](https://www.edgepedia.org/sree-vishnu)), who asks for a strand of Trump's hair for a ritual. Darahas procures it and sends it to [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad) by courier, but the package is misplaced at a logistics company run by Brutal Dharma (J.D. Chakravarthy), a crime-linked figure with an unusual aversion to violence. The film follows whether the bizarre mission succeeds and how the characters connect.[3](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/gaayaapadda-simham-review-only-scattered-humor/amp)
## Production and promotion
The film was produced by Kalyana Chakravarthy Manthina, Bhanu Kiran Pratapa, Vijay Krishna Lingamaneni, and Umesh Kumar Bansal, and distributed by Prathyangira Cinemas.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham) • [4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/tharun-bhascker-gaayapadda-simham-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) The makers leaned heavily on Donald Trump in their promotional campaign, which generated attention before release.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/review/2026/May/01/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-outdated-narration-with-silly-comedy) • [4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/tharun-bhascker-gaayapadda-simham-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html)
## Reception
Reviews were mixed to negative, with most critics praising the premise while faulting the execution. [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) gave the film 1 out of 5, with reviewer Yashaswini Sri writing that it "tries to be many things and ends up being none of them with any real conviction."[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-donald-trump-tollywood-villain-tharun-bhascker-bold-messy-film-10665874/) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham) [The Hindu](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hindu)'s Sangeetha Devi Dundoo called it a film "more promising on paper than in execution," with moments of hilarity punctuated by long, underwhelming stretches.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham) The New Indian Express found the narration unclear and the humor outdated.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/review/2026/May/01/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-outdated-narration-with-silly-comedy)
More favorable reviews still flagged the same weakness. NTV Telugu rated it 2.75 out of 5, and 123telugu, also at 2.75, called it a promising premise with an underwhelming payoff, noting that the final act relies on spoof comedy that does not land.[7](https://ntvtelugu.com/reviews/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-tharun-bhascker-sree-vishnu-964889.html) • [4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/tharun-bhascker-gaayapadda-simham-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema).com rated it 2.5 out of 5, finding the humor scattered rather than sustained, while Great Andhra gave 2.25 out of 5 under the heading "Good Idea, Weak Story."[3](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/gaayaapadda-simham-review-only-scattered-humor/amp) • [8](https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/gaayapadda-simham-review-good-idea-weak-story/) On IMDb the film held a rating of 4.7 out of 10 from about 1,300 users.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39708015/)
**Spoof elements.** A recurring critical theme was the film's reliance on parodies of other Telugu and Indian films. Reviewers singled out spoofs of *KGF*, *Salaar*, *Bommarillu*, *Arjun Reddy*, *Pokiri*, and *Pelli Choopulu*, and digs at [Rohit Shetty](https://www.edgepedia.org/rohit-shetty)'s cop universe; the *Bommarillu* and *Salaar* spoofs were cited as among the few gags that worked, while the *KGF*-style narration lost impact as the film progressed.[3](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/gaayaapadda-simham-review-only-scattered-humor/amp) • [4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/tharun-bhascker-gaayapadda-simham-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html)
## References
1. [Gaayapadda Simham, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gaayapadda_simham)
2. [Gayapadda Simham Movie Review: Outdated narration with silly comedy, The New Indian Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/review/2026/May/01/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-outdated-narration-with-silly-comedy)
3. [Gaayaapadda Simham Review: Only scattered humor, Telugu Cinema](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/gaayaapadda-simham-review-only-scattered-humor/amp)
4. [Review: Gaayapadda Simham – Promising Premise, Underwhelming Payoff, 123telugu](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/tharun-bhascker-gaayapadda-simham-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html)
5. [Gaayapadda Simham (2026), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39708015/)
6. [Gayapadda Simham movie review: Tharun Bhascker's bold but messy film turns Donald Trump into Tollywood villain, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-donald-trump-tollywood-villain-tharun-bhascker-bold-messy-film-10665874/)
7. ['Gaayapadda Simham' Movie Review, NTV Telugu](https://ntvtelugu.com/reviews/gayapadda-simham-movie-review-tharun-bhascker-sree-vishnu-964889.html)
8. [Gaayapadda Simham Review: Good Idea, Weak Story, Great Andhra](https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/gaayapadda-simham-review-good-idea-weak-story/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Telugu films of the 2020s › Telugu films of 2026*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license