# Vanaveera
**Vanaveera** (Telugu: వనవీర) is a 2026 Indian Telugu-language action drama with mythological framing, directed by Avinash Thiruveedhula, who also plays the lead role alongside Simran Choudhary and Nandu Vijay Krishna.[1](https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/vanaveera/umc.cmc.7ikjst9negq2l5f6xywbb6ihg) It was theatrically released on 1 January 2026 as a [New Year](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-year) release, received an average box office response, and began streaming on Amazon Prime Video in February 2026 in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil audio with English subtitles.[2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/news/vanaveera-out-on-ott-know-where-to-watch-this-telugu-action-drama-online-11003428/amp) • [3](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=824739) The film was originally titled *Vanara*, but the makers changed the name after the censor board objected to it.[3](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=824739)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 1 January 2026, worldwide theatrical release as a New Year special[4](https://www.telugutimes.net/en/cinemas/cinema-news/due-to-objections-raised-by-the-censor-board-the-film-originally-titled-vanara-has-been-renamed-vanaveera-335267.html) |
| Original title | *Vanara*; renamed *Vanaveera* after censor board objections[3](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=824739) |
| Director and lead | Avinash Thiruveedhula, in his debut as both hero and director[5](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/ott/vanaveera-movie-now-streaming-on-ott) |
| Genre and framing | Action drama with mythological elements inspired by the Kishkindha Kanda episode of the Ramayana[5](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/ott/vanaveera-movie-now-streaming-on-ott) |
| Censor certificate | UA 13+, certified by the Hyderabad regional office on 4 February 2026, certified length 126.49 minutes[6](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwNzI3MDEyMDI2MDAwMjA%3D) |
| Streaming | Amazon Prime Video, in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil audio with English subtitles[3](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=824739) |
| Music | Vivek Sagar[7](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/vanaveera-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The story follows Raghu (Avinash Thiruveedhula), an unemployed young man whose father (Shivaji Raja) keeps urging him to find a job. Raghu is in love with his cousin Indhu (Simran Choudhary). In his town, Deva (Shree Nandu), a member of the dominant caste, is chosen as an MLA candidate by the Nava Nirmana Party. Problems begin when Deva's followers take Raghu's bike, a gift from his father, for an election rally and fail to return it.[7](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/vanaveera-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) • [5](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/ott/vanaveera-movie-now-streaming-on-ott)
Raghu's repeated attempts to recover the bike turn into a violent conflict with a powerful local politician, and the film explores caste discrimination, corruption, and the struggles of villagers. Marketing copy describes the setup as a descendant of the Vanara clan, the monkey tribe that helped Lord Rama in the Ramayana, taking on a modern-day Ravana in a fight for self-respect and dignity.[2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/news/vanaveera-out-on-ott-know-where-to-watch-this-telugu-action-drama-online-11003428/amp) • [8](https://www.district.in/movies/vanaveera-movie-tickets-in-hyderabad-MV211586) The film connects this personal conflict to the mythological Vanara tribe, and one review notes it was inspired by the Kishkindha Kanda episode of the Ramayana.[5](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/ott/vanaveera-movie-now-streaming-on-ott)
## Production and title change
The film was produced under the Silver Screen Cinemas banner by Avinash Buyani, Alapati Raja, and Ankith Reddy, with Shanthanu Pathi as presenter; the screenplay is by Vishwajit, the dialogues by Sai Madhav Burra, the cinematography by Sujatha Siddharth, and the editing by Chota K Prasad.[4](https://www.telugutimes.net/en/cinemas/cinema-news/due-to-objections-raised-by-the-censor-board-the-film-originally-titled-vanara-has-been-renamed-vanaveera-335267.html) • [7](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/vanaveera-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) At the trailer launch in [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad) in late December 2025, producer Shanthanu Pathi said the censor board did not approve the original title *Vanara*, so it was changed to *Vanaveera* after the title had been registered and money spent on promotions under the original name.[4](https://www.telugutimes.net/en/cinemas/cinema-news/due-to-objections-raised-by-the-censor-board-the-film-originally-titled-vanara-has-been-renamed-vanaveera-335267.html)
The [Central Board of Film Certification](https://www.edgepedia.org/central-board-of-film-certification) record lists the film as certified UA 13+ by the Hyderabad regional office, with a certificate dated 4 February 2026 and a certified length of 126.49 minutes; the record names Gaddam Shruti Reddy of M/S Silver Screen Cinemas LLP as producer.[6](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwNzI3MDEyMDI2MDAwMjA%3D)
## Reception
The film opened on 1 January 2026 and went largely unnoticed at the box office, with coverage describing the response as average and noting it was overshadowed by other Telugu releases that day.[3](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=824739) • [2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/news/vanaveera-out-on-ott-know-where-to-watch-this-telugu-action-drama-online-11003428/amp) • [5](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/ott/vanaveera-movie-now-streaming-on-ott) Critics rated it in the below-average to mediocre range: 123telugu gave 2.5 out of 5, calling it a mediocre outing whose political and caste themes were neither engaging nor convincing, while Review Rowdies and TeluguBulletin each gave 2.25 out of 5.[7](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/vanaveera-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) • [9](https://reviewrowdies.boxofficeandhra.com/2026/01/review-vanaveera-regular-approach.html) • [10](https://www.telugubulletin.com/vanaveera-review-a-mediocre-action-drama-struggling-between-politics-and-mythology-227386) Reviewers singled out Nandu's performance as the antagonist, Sujatha Siddharth's cinematography, [Vivek Sagar](https://www.edgepedia.org/vivek-sagar)'s background score in action sequences, and a parody comedy sequence by Sathya as strengths, while criticizing the screenplay, weakly established characters, and mythological references and AI-generated monkey visuals that reviewers found forced and distracting.[7](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/vanaveera-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html) • [10](https://www.telugubulletin.com/vanaveera-review-a-mediocre-action-drama-struggling-between-politics-and-mythology-227386)
## Streaming and availability
Without any announcement, the film arrived on Amazon Prime Video in February 2026, streaming in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil audio with English subtitles.[3](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=824739) • [5](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/ott/vanaveera-movie-now-streaming-on-ott) It is also available to rent or buy on Prime Video.[11](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vanaveera)
Reported technical details differ between platforms: Rotten Tomatoes and TeluguBulletin list a runtime of 2h 7m, while Apple TV and Prime Video list 2h 4m.[11](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vanaveera) • [10](https://www.telugubulletin.com/vanaveera-review-a-mediocre-action-drama-struggling-between-politics-and-mythology-227386) • [1](https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/vanaveera/umc.cmc.7ikjst9negq2l5f6xywbb6ihg) • [12](https://www.primevideo.com/-/es/detail/0PFO9AZ0WT2DQA4LB4L5NCVWY3) Audience ratings also differ by platform: Gadgets360 reported an IMDb rating of 6.2/10, while [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) lists 6.7 based on about 1.6k votes.[2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/news/vanaveera-out-on-ott-know-where-to-watch-this-telugu-action-drama-online-11003428/amp) • [13](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/vanaveera)
## References
1. [Vanaveera, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/vanaveera/umc.cmc.7ikjst9negq2l5f6xywbb6ihg)
2. [Vanaveera Now Streaming on Prime Video: Know Everything About This Telugu Action-Drama Online, Gadgets 360](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/news/vanaveera-out-on-ott-know-where-to-watch-this-telugu-action-drama-online-11003428/amp)
3. [Telugu mythological film Vanaveera now streaming on Prime Video in multiple languages, 123telugu](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=824739)
4. [Due to objections raised by the censor board, the film originally titled Vanara has been renamed VanaVeera, Telugu Times](https://www.telugutimes.net/en/cinemas/cinema-news/due-to-objections-raised-by-the-censor-board-the-film-originally-titled-vanara-has-been-renamed-vanaveera-335267.html)
5. ['Vanaveera' Movie Now Streaming on OTT!, Tea Time Telugu](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/ott/vanaveera-movie-now-streaming-on-ott)
6. [CBFC Search Film: VANAVEERA, Central Board of Film Certification](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwNzI3MDEyMDI2MDAwMjA%3D)
7. [VanaVeera Telugu Movie Review and Rating, 123telugu](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/vanaveera-telugu-movie-review-and-rating.html)
8. [VanaVeera, District](https://www.district.in/movies/vanaveera-movie-tickets-in-hyderabad-MV211586)
9. [Review: Vanaveera: Regular Approach - Limited Impact, Review Rowdies](https://reviewrowdies.boxofficeandhra.com/2026/01/review-vanaveera-regular-approach.html)
10. [VanaVeera Review: A Mediocre Action Drama Struggling Between Politics and Mythology, TeluguBulletin](https://www.telugubulletin.com/vanaveera-review-a-mediocre-action-drama-struggling-between-politics-and-mythology-227386)
11. [Vanaveera, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vanaveera)
12. [Vanaveera, Prime Video](https://www.primevideo.com/-/es/detail/0PFO9AZ0WT2DQA4LB4L5NCVWY3)
13. [Vanaveera streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/vanaveera)
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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