Telugu star Nani's highly anticipated action entertainer 'The Paradise' has been cleared for release by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with an 'A' certificate, according to industry sources. The film carries a runtime of 2 hours and 49 minutes, with its theatrical release scheduled for 24 September.

What the CBFC Clearance Means

The 'A' (adults only) certificate indicates that the film contains content deemed suitable exclusively for audiences aged 18 and above. Director Srikanth Odela had earlier signalled that the film features intense action and emotional sequences, which likely contributed to the certification. The near-three-hour runtime also places it among the longer Telugu releases of the year.

Nani on the Film's Demands

Speaking to media ahead of the release, Nani described 'The Paradise' as the most demanding project of his career. 'The Paradise is the most tiring film of my career, both physically and mentally. If there has been a film for which I have worked very hard in these 18 years of my film career, it is 'The Paradise',' the actor said.

Nani also moved to clarify circulating rumours about the film's production details. 'There are various news reports about the movie on social media. There is no underwater sequence in it. There is also no fight with a 1000 people as is being claimed. This is a genuine story and there are a lot of action blocks. There are scenes that will give audiences a good high. The audience will feel the emotion in the violence,' he added.

Director Srikanth Odela on the Story

Director Srikanth Odela offered a glimpse into the film's thematic core at the same media interaction. 'The Paradise may have been delayed a little, but every update from the film has created a blast. The glimpse, teaser and songs have all received a superb response,' he said.

Odela described it as a revolutionary, emotional narrative centred on a mother-son relationship and a marginalised community. He invoked the poet Kaloji, quoting: 'We own our birth, we own our death, but our entire life belongs to the nation.' 'This is a story of a people who fought for their country. However, when these people realise they have no place in their own country, they fight back without knowing what else to do. That is the story of 'The Paradise',' he explained.

Expectations and Context

The film has generated considerable buzz in the Telugu film industry, with its teaser, glimpse, and songs all drawing strong online response. Notably, Srikanth Odela previously delivered 'Dasara' (2023) — a gritty, critically acclaimed Telugu drama that established his reputation for raw, socially-rooted storytelling. 'The Paradise' is seen as a natural progression of that style, this time mounted on a larger scale with Nani in the lead.

With the CBFC clearance now formalised and a locked runtime, all eyes turn to how the film performs when it opens on 24 September.