Laila

Laila (2025)

Plot Overview

In this Telugu‑language action‑comedy, the protagonist is Sonu (played by Vishwak Sen), a gifted makeup artist who honours his late mother’s legacy by running a beauty parlour in Hyderabad’s Old City. He is respected among the women in his community, which draws resentment from some local men. When his world collides with crime and corruption, Sonu is forced into a radical transformation: adopting the persona “Laila” to out‑wit his adversaries.

Beginning

Sonu enjoys success and goodwill through his beauty‑parlour business. His reputation among female clients irritates nearby husbands and the men who believe his work undermines traditional masculinity. Enter Rustum (Abhimanyu Singh)—a local thug on the hunt for a bride worthy of his stature—and SI Shankar (Babloo Prithiveeraj)—a corrupt cop with his own predatory tendencies. They view Sonu as a threat as well as a target.

Middle

Conflict escalates when Sonu resists Rustum’s ambitions and Shankar’s advances. To survive and turn the tables, Sonu adopts the female guise of “Laila”. In this disguise he manoeuvres through both social prejudice and criminal danger. The film shows him navigating two worlds: the glamour of his beauty‑parlour persona and the dangerous underbelly of local crime. The second half heavily features Sonu as Laila, battling the corrupt forces, enduring sleazy advances, and trying to safeguard both his business and his dignity.

Climax & Ending

With multiple confrontations leading to a climax of disguises, deception and a showdown with Rustum and Shankar, Sonu (as Laila) uses wit and courage to expose the wrongdoing of his adversaries. The film ends with him having survived the chaos and reclaimed some control over his life—though the transformation and its consequences leave him changed. The final scenes position Sonu’s Laila‑persona as both symbol and survival tool in a world stacked against him.

Key Themes

• Identity & performance: The film uses Sonu’s transformation into Laila to explore how gender, appearance and persona influence power dynamics.
• Power structures & misogyny: The antagonists’ resentment of Sonu’s success among women reveals deeper biases and toxic masculinity.
• Comedy vs. message: While the film dresses serious issues in flamboyant comedy and glamour, critiques suggest the underlying commentary is inconsistent.
• Legacy & reinvention: Sonu’s homage to his mother and his decision to adapt under pressure underscore themes of survival and rebirth.

Notes

Although the film’s visual style and lead actor’s commitment were noted, many felt that the story failed to match the ambition of its premise.

The film was directed by Ram Narayan and released on 14 February 2025.

The critical reception was largely negative: reviewers pointed to weak writing, outdated humour and shallow execution of the core concept.