JYNEWS, Laila Movie : The much-hyped Telugu comedy-drama Laila, starring Vishwak Sen in a bold cross-dressing role, has crashed at the box office amid scathing reviews and political controversy. Released on February 14, 2025, as a Valentine’s Day special, the film promised laughter and novelty but instead delivered cringe and chaos. With a dismal 2/5 rating from critics and a raging #BoycottLaila trend on social media, here’s an unfiltered breakdown of why Laila is being called 2025’s biggest cinematic misfire.
: February 14, 2025
: Vishwak Sen, Akanksha Sharma, Abhimanyu Singh, Babloo Prithviraj
: Ram Narayan
: Sahu Garapati
: Leon James
: 135 minutes
Sonu (Vishwak Sen), a flamboyant beauty parlor owner in Hyderabad, becomes the target of local goon Rustum (Abhimanyu Singh) and corrupt cop Shankar (Babloo Prithviraj). To evade their threats, Sonu disguises himself as Laila, a glamorous woman, leading to a series of chaotic misadventures. The film attempts to blend slapstick comedy, romance, and social messaging but ends up as a tonal disaster.
123Telugu, a leading Telugu cinema portal, tore into Laila for its “outdated plot,” “crass humor,” and “lack of emotional depth.” Key criticisms include:
: The premise—a man disguising as a woman to escape goons—feels recycled from 1990s comedies.
: Jokes about skin color, gender stereotypes, and exaggerated slapstick fall flat.
: Akanksha Sharma’s role is reduced to glamorous eye candy, while others lack depth.
: Ram Narayan’s execution is called “directionless,” with abrupt tonal shifts and illogical sequences.
The review concludes: “Laila is a silly, tedious film that fails to engage. Vishwak Sen’s efforts can’t salvage this mess.”
While GreatAndhra’s official review is pending, early reactions on the platform echo similar sentiments. Fans criticized the film’s “cringe-worthy dialogues” and “wasted potential,” with one user writing: “Vishwak Sen deserves better scripts. #Laila is an embarrassment.”
: Sen’s commitment to the cross-dressing role is commendable. His comic timing in scenes like Laila’s drunken brawl offers fleeting laughs.
: As Rustum, Singh steals scenes with his menacing yet funny act.
: At 2 hours 15 minutes, the film avoids unnecessary drag.
: Jokes mocking dark-skinned characters and regressive gender tropes feel tone-deaf.
: Akanksha Sharma (Jenny) is sidelined, while comedian Prithvi’s cameo adds little value.
: Unnecessary nods to Megastar films (e.g., Indra dialogues) confuse fans.
: Actor Prudhvi Raj’s political remarks at a promotional event sparked outrage. His dig at a ruling party led to calls for a boycott, denting the film’s pre-release buzz.
: Sen defended the film as a “youthful entertainer” and apologized for the backlash but failed to calm tempers.
: Leon James’ soundtrack is forgettable, except for a peppy item song featuring Akanksha Sharma.
: Richard Prasad’s visuals are vibrant but can’t mask the weak script.
: Sagar Dadi’s cuts are sharp, but disjointed scenes disrupt the flow.
Despite low buzz, Laila opened to ₹4.2 crore nett (Day 1) thanks to Valentine’s Day. However, negative reviews and the boycott trend caused a 60% drop on Day 2. Trade analysts predict a ₹12–15 crore lifetime—a disaster given its ₹25 crore budget.
Laila had potential: a bold premise, a committed lead, and slick production. But weak writing, outdated humor, and avoidable controversies buried it. Vishwak Sen’s gamble backfired, proving that even “Mass Ka Das” can’t rescue a sinking ship. As 123Telugu verdict says: “Skip this one. Laila justifies neither your time nor money.”
: Why did Laila get a 2/5 rating?
A: Critics slammed its outdated plot, crass humor, and lack of logic. 123Telugu called it “a forgettable misfire.”
: Any standout performances?
A: Abhimanyu Singh (Rustum) shines, and Vishwak Sen’s physical comedy works in patches.
: Why is #BoycottLaila trending?
A: Prudhvi Raj’s political remarks at a promo event angered netizens, triggering calls for a boycott.
: Is Laila worth watching?
A: Only for die-hard Vishwak Sen fans. Others should avoid.
: How did Vishwak Sen react to the backlash?
A: He clarified, “Laila isn’t an adult film. It’s a youthful entertainer,” and apologized for unintended offense.