Happy Journey, a Telugu travel drama directed by debutant Abhiramm Naidu, was released in theatres on September 18, 2026. The film brings together seven women actors in lead roles and follows their journey through Europe. Reviews from multiple publications describe the film as a well-intentioned but uneven effort that fails to deliver on its emotional promise.
The film features Annapurnamma, Amani, Anchor Jhansi, Payal Radhakrishna, Jinisha Alishetty, Roopaa Srinivas, and Sunaina in the lead roles. Prudhvi Dandamudi, Vamshidhar Goud, and Ravi Siva Teja Paila appear in supporting roles. The film was produced by Balaji Gutta and Koushik Reddy under the Gutta Productions and Kamalakar Film Corporation banners. Tharun Reddy served as co-producer.
The technical team includes Shekar Chandra as the music director, Manikandan Subramaniyan as the cinematographer, Chota K Prasad as the editor, and Brahma Kadali as the production designer. The film runs for 120 minutes.
The story revolves around seven women from different age groups and backgrounds who win an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe. Savitri, played by Annapurnamma, is a grandmother who wants to tick an item off her bucket list. Chamundeswari, played by Amani, is a politician’s wife seeking a break from her routine. Srilatha, played by Jhansi, is a miserly woman. Tanvi, played by Payal Radhakrishna, is a young woman about to get married. Divya, played by Sunaina, is dealing with heartbreak. Nayana, played by Jinisha Alishetty, and Vihana, played by Roopaa Srinivas, are also part of the group.
The trip is organized by Govind, played by Vamsidhar Goud, and Apparao, played by Ravi Siva Teja. Both run a travel company that is facing losses. They devise a plan to send seven women on a free trip to revive their business.
Director Abhiramm Naidu spoke about the film’s target audience at the teaser launch event. He said: ‘The visual cuts might make you think this is a movie exclusively tailored for women, but in reality, Happy Journey is a film engineered specifically for men.’ He added that the film explores emotions and experiences that women often find difficult to express.
The Hindu’s review stated that the film ‘means well but struggles to shake off its old-fashioned undertones.’ The review noted that the film lacks a strong hook to bring the women together. It said the tour plan feels vague and contrived, kicked off by out-of-the-blue phone calls about the women winning a holiday.
Cinejosh rated the film 2 out of 5 and called it a ‘misfiring emotional ploy.’ The review stated that the director got stuck with 80s problems and melodrama. It added that the climax emotional scene turned out to be over dramatic and missed the basic emotions.
Times Now News offered a more balanced view, noting that the first half is funny and engaging. The review stated that the interval block, which comes when Divya goes missing, raises curiosity for the second half. However, it added that the struggles of women shown in the film feel familiar from many other movies.
Hindustan Times noted that some fun scenes in the first half and Vamsidhar’s performance bring laughs. The review stated that despite entertaining scenes and good locations in the first half, the lack of strength in emotional scenes prevented the film from making the expected impact.
123telugu.com rated the film 2.75 out of 5. The review stated that the comedy works only in parts. It noted that the screenplay lacks a consistent flow, and the emotional payoffs the film tries to achieve do not land effectively due to hurried moments.
Great Andhra was more critical, giving the film a 1.75 out of 5 rating. The review called it a ‘bumpy and uneventful trip’ with predictable elements and weak execution.
Telugu Cinema rated the film 1.5 out of 5 and stated that despite a neat idea, the film fails to turn its premise into a good trip. The review described the journey as ultimately tiring and bumpy.
Critics highlighted the performances of the cast. Annapurnamma was praised for her lively performance as a grandmother who surprises everyone with her modern outfits. One reviewer noted that she stands out with her performance. Amani was described as good in the role of the minister’s wife. Jhansi evoked laughs in the role of a miserly woman and also emoted well during the climax.
Payal Radhakrishna, Jinisha Alishetty, Roopa Srinivas, and Sunaina performed according to their roles. Sunaina was noted to be over the top and over dramatic at times. Vamsidhar Goud and Ravi Siva Teja entertained with their humor to some extent.
On the technical side, Subramaniyan Manigandan’s cinematography was praised for showing the locations of France in a beautiful and visually appealing manner. However, Shekar Chandra’s songs were described as average. The background score was noted to elevate some emotional moments but failed to build enough tension in key scenes.
Editing was criticized for dragging, particularly in the second half. The film’s pacing was described as uneven, with some sequences creating a noticeable lag.
The film was released in theatres on September 18, 2026. According to reports, the film had not secured an OTT release at the time of its theatrical debut. The makers had planned a worldwide theatrical release.
The film’s tagline is ‘Some Trips Change Plans… Some Change Lives.’ The tagline hints that the journey undertaken by the characters could leave a lasting impact on their lives.
Director Abhiramm Naidu made his directorial debut with Happy Journey. He previously worked in various departments of the film industry before turning to direction. The film was produced by Gutta Productions and Kamalakar Film Corporation.
The film explores relationships, emotions, and the bonds that take shape during a shared journey. However, critical consensus suggests that the film struggles to balance its comedic elements with the emotional depth required to resonate with viewers.
Happy Journey was released alongside several other regional films on September 18. The film faced competition at the box office from other new releases.
