Streaming · Telugu film · 2022
Major
మేజర్ (సినిమా)
Major release date: 24 May 2022 (theatres). Directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka; starring Adivi Sesh, Sobhita Dhulipala and Prakash Raj.
- Film release
- 24 May 2022 · All 2022 films
- Director
- Sashi Kiran Tikka
- Music
- Sricharan Pakala
- Production
- Sony Pictures, G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment
- Producer
- Mahesh Babu, Namrata Shirodkar
- Writing credits
- Adivi Sesh
- Runtime
- 146 min
- Language
- Telugu
OTT release
Streaming on Netflix since 3 July 2022.
Film release: 24 May 2022 · all 2022 Telugu films.
Source: the film’s Wikipedia article, checked 25 September 2026. Only what the source states is shown.
Platform information and historical dates do not guarantee current access in every country. Availability, audio languages and subscription terms vary by location; check the platform before subscribing.
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Major is a 2022 Indian biographical action drama directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka and written by Adivi Sesh. It is based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who died in action during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Sesh plays Unnikrishnan, with Prakash Raj, Sobhita Dhulipala, Saiee Manjrekar, Revathi, Murali Sharma and Anish Kuruvilla. It was made as a Telugu film, shot at the same time in Hindi, and released worldwide on 3 June 2022 to strong reviews.
Story
The film follows Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s personal and professional life. It starts with his childhood in Yelahanka, Bangalore, with his parents and his sister Sandhya. A boyhood trip to a Navy ceremony first sparks his fascination with a soldier’s life. The story then traces his school years, his first love and his army career, leading up to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Development
Sony Pictures registered the titles Major and Major Sandeep and approached Unnikrishnan’s family for the rights in January 2019, intending the film as a tribute. It was announced in February 2019 with Sesh in the lead. It was produced by Mahesh Babu‘s G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment with Sony Pictures International Productions and A+S Movies. Although the cast and crew were mainly Telugu, the director said they also shot in Hindi because much of the story is set in North India.
Filming
Shooting began in February 2020 but stopped in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half the film was complete by September 2020. Sesh began the final schedule in August 2021, and filming wrapped in December 2021, after which he dubbed the Hindi version himself. According to the source, the film was shot over 120 days at more than 75 locations, on a budget of ₹32 crore.
Music
Sricharan Pakala composed the score and songs, and Zee Music Company acquired the music rights. The singles “Hrudyama” and “Oh Isha” came out in January and May 2022.
Release
COVID-19 disruptions pushed back planned dates in July 2021, February 2022 and May 2022. Special pre-release screenings began on 24 May 2022 in cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kochi. The film was then released worldwide on 3 June 2022 in Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam. It began streaming on Netflix on 3 July 2022. The Hindi version was selected for the Indian Panorama section of the 53rd International Film Festival of India.
Reception and box office
Most critics were positive. They praised the direction, the emotional weight and Sesh’s performance, and several said the film struck a personal rather than jingoistic tone. The Guardian called it a relentlessly entertaining if hagiographic biopic, while Rediff found it overstated. According to the source, the film grossed ₹64–66 crore worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of 2022. It later won the Gaddar Telangana Film Award for Third Best Feature Film.
Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata.
Cast of Major (2022)
- Adivi Sesh as Sandeep Unnikrishnan
- Sobhita Dhulipala as Pramoda Reddy
- Prakash Raj as Unnikrishnan
- Revathi as Dhanalakshmi
- Saiee Manjrekar as Isha Agarwal
- Murali Sharma as Colonel Shera
- Anish Kuruvilla as Rodriguez
Also in the cast (TMDB): Vinay Nallakadi as Jail Inmate, Sridevi as Sandeep's Sister (in Flashbacks), Pradeep Rudra as Major Khanna, Sundip Ved as Ranjeet Singh.
Character names as listed on TMDB, checked 10 Oct 2026.
What critics said
The article describes positive reviews for the biopic of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and for Adivi Sesh's lead performance.
- The Times of India (Neeshita Nyayapati) liked its personal rather than jingoistic tone.
- The Quint (Swati Chopra) said Adivi plays the role almost effortlessly and the film is not preachy.
- Deccan Chronicle called it a fitting tribute to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.
- The Indian Express (Manoj Kumar R) called it “far from being perfect” but an effective homage.
- The Guardian (Leslie Felperin) found it relentlessly entertaining, if hagiographic.
- Mid-Day (Mayank Shekhar) said it recreates 26/11 believably and moves you.
Box office: the article reports a worldwide gross of ₹64–66 crore and a distributor share of ₹33.35 crore.
Summarised by Tollywood Desk from the reception section of the Wikipedia article Major (film) (revision 1370364359), which cites the reviews named above. Quotation marks show words quoted in that article; no ratings or scores are added here.
Source record: Q104608137 on Wikidata. Dates are those on record and can change; this is not a studio announcement. Spotted an error? Send a correction.