12A Railway Colony review: A thriller with potential, but poorly paced
12A Railway Colony review by Kausalya Rachavelpula
A bold genre shift for Allari Naresh
12A Railway Colony marks a striking departure for Allari Naresh, who is widely known for his comic timing. Here, he takes on a serious, emotionally heavy role in a mystery drama that revolves around love, secrets, crime, and moral conflict. The film unfolds in the setting of an old railway colony in Warangal, giving it a rustic and gloomy tone that fits the narrative. While the concept has promise and the story does hold some intrigue in the second half, the overall impact is affected by slow pacing, technical flaws, and uneven emotional depth.
Promising story but slow start
The film introduces Karthik (Allari Naresh), an orphan who works for a local politician and leads a simple life. His affection for Aaradhana (Kamakshi Bhaskarla), his neighbour, adds a romantic angle to the first half. However, their interactions feel stretched and lack emotional spark. The first half mainly focuses on setting up the atmosphere and introducing supporting characters, but the pacing is sluggish. Many scenes feel unnecessarily long, making it difficult for viewers to stay engaged.
Performances that keep you watching
Allari Naresh delivers a sincere performance, handling both emotional outbursts and subtle expressions with maturity. This role proves he is capable of handling intense characters when given the right material. Kamakshi Bhaskarla stands out in the latter half, portraying Aaradhana’s emotional burden with convincing vulnerability. Sai Kumar and Jeevan Kumar offer decent support, though their characters could have been more sharply written.
A thrilling second half with clever twists
The real strength of 12A Railway Colony lies in its second half. Once the story shifts gears into mystery and investigative drama, the tension grows noticeably. Secrets from the past begin to unfold, and the film moves into more emotionally complex territory. The screenplay becomes smarter, with well-planted clues and a climax that successfully delivers shock and meaning. The last 30 minutes bring all threads together and provide emotional closure, making the journey feel worthwhile despite the slow beginning.
Technical strengths and weaknesses
Visually, the film tries to create a dark, moody environment, but the execution is inconsistent. Some scenes use artificial green screen backgrounds, which reduce authenticity. The cinematography is decent in emotional sequences but lacks polish in the wider shots. The background score adds tension in key moments, though the songs feel out of place and interrupt the narrative flow. The editing could have been sharper, especially in the first half where significant trimming would have improved the pace.
12A Railway Colony review verdict
12A Railway Colony is a film with an emotionally engaging concept and a strong second half, but its impact is limited by slow storytelling, technical issues, and shallow character writing in the first half. The film is not a fast-paced thriller, but rather a slow-burn mystery that gradually builds to a meaningful end. It may appeal to viewers who enjoy emotionally-driven crime dramas, but those expecting a tight, gripping thriller may find it lacking.
Fridaywall Rating: 2/5
