# Irumudi
**Irumudi** (ఇరుముడి) is a 2026 Indian Telugu-language action drama film written and directed by Shiva Nirvana, starring [Ravi Teja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravi-teja) as an alcoholic father who undertakes the 41-day Ayyappa Deeksha at his young daughter's request. Produced by [Mythri Movie Makers](https://www.edgepedia.org/mythri-movie-makers) and presented by T-Series Films, it was released in cinemas on 21 August 2026.[1](https://ianslive.in/ravi-teja-priya-bhavani-shankar-starrer-irumudi-cleared-for-release-with-ua-certificate--20260818114355)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director and writer | Shiva Nirvana, known for *Ninnu Kori*, *Majili*, and *Kushi*[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/irumudi-movie-review-ravi-teja-tries-his-best-but-the-film-cannot-keep-up-with-him-10843001/) |
| Lead cast | Ravi Teja as Trinath, Priya Bhavani Shankar as Kaveri, Sai Kumar as Guruswamy Goparaju, Baby Nakshathra as Manikanta[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi/cast-crew.html) |
| Release | 21 August 2026, India and limited United States theatrical release; CBFC certificate U/A[4](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/irumudi) • [1](https://ianslive.in/ravi-teja-priya-bhavani-shankar-starrer-irumudi-cleared-for-release-with-ua-certificate--20260818114355) |
| Running time | 145 minutes (Indian release; the BBFC measured the 2D version at 151 minutes 53 seconds)[5](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/irumudi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmte4ndc5) |
| Production | Mythri Movie Makers (producers Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar); music by G. V. Prakash Kumar; cinematography by Vishnu Sarma[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi/cast-crew.html) |
| Box office | ₹2.513 billion (₹251.25 crore) worldwide per one trade listing; another reports ₹2.013 billion (₹201.30 crore), against a stated budget of ₹350 million–400 million (₹35–40 crore)[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi.html) |
| Streaming | Netflix from 18 September 2026, in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi.html) |
## Spoilers
### Title and story
The title refers to the sacred bundle carried by pilgrims on their journey in the worship of Lord Ayyappa, and the makers described it as having a deep connection with that deity.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2026/Jan/28/telugunews2026jan26ravi-tejashiva-nirvana-film-titled-irumudi) The makers announced the title on 26 January 2026, Ravi Teja's birthday, with a first-look image of the actor in traditional Ayyappa devotee attire; the film was billed as his 77th.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2026/Jan/28/telugunews2026jan26ravi-tejashiva-nirvana-film-titled-irumudi)
Trinath (Ravi Teja) is an auto-rickshaw driver and small-time businessman in a rural village near a waterfall, living with his wife Kaveri (Priya Bhavani Shankar) and daughter Manikanta (Baby Nakshathra). An alcoholic with a violent past, he agrees when his daughter asks him to give up drinking and undertake the Ayyappa Deeksha, a 41-day spiritual vow culminating in the Sabarimala pilgrimage.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/irumudi-movie-review-ravi-teja-tries-his-best-but-the-film-cannot-keep-up-with-him-10843001/) • [8](https://www.indulgexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/cinema/2026/Aug/21/what-is-shiva-nirvanas-film-irumudi-actually-about) The vow becomes both his redemption and the film's structural spine.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/irumudi-movie-review-ravi-teja-tries-his-best-but-the-film-cannot-keep-up-with-him-10843001/) The story broadens into a thriller when Trinath unravels a conspiracy connected to crimes against schoolgirls, and the film contrasts his parenting with that of Gopal Raju (Sai Kumar), who raises his daughter Gayathri to survive by staying silent.[5](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/irumudi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmte4ndc5) • [9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/irumudi-movie-review/movie-review/133403481.cms)
## Production
Shiva Nirvana wrote the story and screenplay, and Mythri Movie Makers produced the film with Naveen Yerneni and Y. [Ravi Shankar](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravi-shankar) as producers.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2026/Jan/28/telugunews2026jan26ravi-tejashiva-nirvana-film-titled-irumudi) [G. V. Prakash Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/g-v-prakash-kumar) composed the music, Vishnu Sarma handled cinematography, and Prawin Pudi edited.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi/cast-crew.html) The supporting cast includes [Ajay Ghosh](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajay-ghosh), Swasika, Ramesh Indira, Kishore Kumar Polimera, Lakshman, Rajkumar Kasireddy, Ramana Bhargav, and Karthik Adusumilli.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi/cast-crew.html) Ravi Teja began dubbing for his portions in the second half of July 2026, when the shoot was in its final stage with about three days of filming remaining.[1](https://ianslive.in/ravi-teja-priya-bhavani-shankar-starrer-irumudi-cleared-for-release-with-ua-certificate--20260818114355) The director said the song "Irumudi Kattu" was sung by Dappu Srinu, the folk performer who originally sang it, out of respect for the song's origins.[10](https://telugu.tfpc.in/2026/08/19/respecting-sentiments-we-had-the-song-sung-by-dappu-srinu-who-originally-performed-it-irumudi-director-shiva-nirvana/)
## Release and certification
The [Central Board of Film Certification](https://www.edgepedia.org/central-board-of-film-certification) cleared the film with a U/A certificate ahead of the 21 August 2026 release.[1](https://ianslive.in/ravi-teja-priya-bhavani-shankar-starrer-irumudi-cleared-for-release-with-ua-certificate--20260818114355) The British Board of Film Classification, which classified the film for cinema release on 19 August 2026, advised that it contains frequent violence including bladed-weapon attacks and strangulation, sexual violence and sexual threat centered on child sexual abuse and exploitation, suicide and self-harm involving teenage girls, drug use shown in a disapproving context, and injury detail.[5](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/irumudi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmte4ndc5) Australia's classification board rated it MA 15+ for strong themes, violence, and references to sexual violence.[11](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/irumudi-0) After the theatrical run, Netflix premiered the film on 18 September 2026 in five languages, and it reached the number one position on Netflix's weekly India charts across multiple languages.[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi.html)
## Reception and box office
Critical response was mixed to positive, with reviewers most consistently praising Ravi Teja's restrained, emotionally grounded performance and the father-daughter relationship at the story's center.[12](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/31840/irumudi/reviews/) The Times of India gave 3.0 out of 5, calling it a sincere take on fatherhood that reflects on how parents raise and listen to their daughters, while finding the first half crowded with antagonistic characters.[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/irumudi-movie-review/movie-review/133403481.cms) [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) rated it 2 out of 5, arguing that the film could not keep up with Ravi Teja's performance despite it being among his strongest in recent years.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/irumudi-movie-review-ravi-teja-tries-his-best-but-the-film-cannot-keep-up-with-him-10843001/) Rotten Tomatoes recorded a 90 percent Tomatometer score from five reviews.[13](https://static.rottentomatoes.com/m/irumudi)
The film marked a commercial turnaround for Ravi Teja, who had not had a hit since 2023 after six consecutive films that failed to connect with audiences.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/irumudi-movie-review-ravi-teja-tries-his-best-but-the-film-cannot-keep-up-with-him-10843001/) Mythri Movie Makers said the film reached its break-even point within three days of release.[14](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Aug/25/shiva-nirvana-if-heroes-give-freedom-we-can-make-films-like-irumudi) Trade listings disagree on the final total: one reports ₹2.513 billion (₹251.25 crore) worldwide against a budget of ₹350 million–400 million (₹35–40 crore), while another reports ₹2.013 billion (₹201.30 crore).[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi.html) On 9 October 2026 the makers announced that the film had completed a 50-day theatrical run.[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi.html)
## References
1. [Ravi Teja, Priya Bhavani Shankar-starrer 'Irumudi' cleared for release with U/A certificate, IANS](https://ianslive.in/ravi-teja-priya-bhavani-shankar-starrer-irumudi-cleared-for-release-with-ua-certificate--20260818114355)
2. [Irumudi movie review: Ravi Teja tries his best, but the film cannot keep up with him, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/irumudi-movie-review-ravi-teja-tries-his-best-but-the-film-cannot-keep-up-with-him-10843001/)
3. [Irumudi Cast & Crew, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi/cast-crew.html)
4. [Irumudi on Moviebuff.com](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/irumudi)
5. [Irumudi, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/irumudi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmte4ndc5)
6. [Irumudi Telugu Movie: Release Date, Cast, Story, OTT, Box Office, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/ravi-teja-irumudi.html)
7. [Ravi Teja–Shiva Nirvana film titled Irumudi, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2026/Jan/28/telugunews2026jan26ravi-tejashiva-nirvana-film-titled-irumudi)
8. [What is Shiva Nirvana's film, Irumudi actually about?, Indulge Express](https://www.indulgexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/cinema/2026/Aug/21/what-is-shiva-nirvanas-film-irumudi-actually-about)
9. [Irumudi Movie Review: A sincere take on fatherhood, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/irumudi-movie-review/movie-review/133403481.cms)
10. [Respecting sentiments, we had the song sung by Dappu Srinu, Telugu Film Producers Council](https://telugu.tfpc.in/2026/08/19/respecting-sentiments-we-had-the-song-sung-by-dappu-srinu-who-originally-performed-it-irumudi-director-shiva-nirvana/)
11. [IRUMUDI, Australian Classification](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/irumudi-0)
12. [Irumudi Movie Reviews, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/31840/irumudi/reviews/)
13. [Irumudi, Rotten Tomatoes](https://static.rottentomatoes.com/m/irumudi)
14. [Shiva Nirvana: If heroes give freedom, we can make films like Irumudi, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Aug/25/shiva-nirvana-if-heroes-give-freedom-we-can-make-films-like-irumudi)
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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: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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