Nawab Cafe Review: A Generational Clash Told Without Spark
Nawab Cafe Review by Kausalya Rachavelpula
Nawab Cafe is a Telugu family drama that tries to tell a heartfelt story about tradition, ambition and personal change. The film centres on a family-run tea café in the Old City of Hyderabad and explores the difficult choices faced by a young man caught between his personal dreams and his father’s legacy. Despite its good intentions, the movie struggles to deliver an engaging experience and often feels tired and predictable.
At its core, the story follows Raja, played by Shiva Kandukuri, who dreams of leaving India to build a life abroad. His father, Ranganath (Rajeev Kanakala), runs the age-old Nawab Cafe with pride and devotion, seeing it as more than a business, it is a symbol of family history. Raja’s desire to escape his responsibilities leads to conflict between generations. Through unforeseen events, including a family tragedy, he is forced to reconsider his path and confront what truly matters.
While the plot has potential, the screenplay and narrative choices let it down. The pacing is sluggish, with scenes that drag and take too long to reach key moments. This slow pace weakens any emotional tension the film tries to build, making even dramatic scenes feel flat. Too often, the film recycles familiar plot points seen in other films about son-father conflict and business legacy, giving it an outdated feel.
The writing also struggles with the romantic subplot and comic moments. The relationship between Raja and his girlfriend feels underdeveloped and does little to enrich the story. Attempts at humour often fall flat and fail to make a lasting impression. The dialogue throughout feels ordinary and at times unconvincing, which further weakens the emotional pull that the film hopes to create.
Performance-wise, the cast puts sincere effort into their roles. Rajeev Kanakala brings dignity to his portrayal of Ranganath, showing both warmth and sternness as a father. Shiva Kandukuri does a fair job of showing Raja’s transformation from carefree youth to a more thoughtful individual, though he never quite makes this change feel entirely believable. Teju Ashwini, in the female lead, has little scope to make an impact and is overshadowed by the main conflict.
Technically, Nawab Cafe is solid. The setting of Hyderabad’s Old City is captured with care, and the production design gives a realistic backdrop to the narrative. The music and background score support the mood, even if they do not elevate the story in any major way. However, these positive elements are not enough to overcome the film’s deeper problems.
Nawab Cafe Review: Nawab Cafe feels like a film with good intentions but weak execution. The themes of family duty and personal ambition are familiar and could have been powerful, but the slow pace, predictable storyline, and lack of emotional depth make it hard to engage with the film fully. For viewers seeking a fresh or impactful family drama, this café’s story may taste rather bland.
