What happens when a corrupt cop finally meets a case he can’t shrug off? Temper (2015), often searched as “Temper 2015,” builds its whole punch around that single idea. The film follows Daya, a brash police officer who enjoys his power, until one tragedy forces a turning point and pushes him to fix what he helped break.
This is not a quiet character study. It’s a loud, over-the-top Telugu masala action movie with comedy beats, sharp mood swings, and a second half that aims for a moral gut punch. This review avoids major spoilers and focuses on the story setup, performances, direction, music, pacing, and who’s likely to enjoy it in 2026.
What Temper (2015) is about, and what kind of movie it really is
Released on February 13, 2015, Temper runs about 147 minutes and spends much of its time in and around Vizag. Genre-wise, it mixes action, crime-thriller tension, drama, and lighter comedy scenes. The blend can feel like a plate where every flavor sits on the same spoon. Sometimes it works because the film commits hard. At other times, the shifts are sudden.
At the center sits a familiar but effective idea: an anti-hero cop story that turns into a redemption arc after a tragic case. The first half shows Daya as a man who bends rules for money and status. He’s not “morally gray” in a soft way. He’s openly corrupt, proud of it, and often cruel for laughs or intimidation. That choice matters because it makes the later change feel earned, not convenient.
The movie also uses a classic structure. It spends time setting up Daya’s routine, his connections, and the world that rewards his behavior. Then it applies pressure through a case that hits close enough to break his denial. From there, the story moves toward consequences, anger, and an attempt to do the right thing, even if it costs him.
The story is set up in plain words (no spoilers)
Daya works as a police officer who treats the badge like a business card. He takes bribes, intimidates people, and keeps his bosses happy. One of those bosses is Walter Vasu, a powerful local figure with a criminal grip on the area. Daya doesn’t just tolerate Walter. He benefits from him.
Meanwhile, Daya’s personal life pulls him in a different direction. He falls for Shanvi, and that relationship slowly exposes the gap between his swagger and his emptiness. Then a serious crime shakes the story. A young girl’s death becomes the emotional trigger, and danger edges closer to Shanvi as well. Daya can’t keep pretending everything is just “part of the job.”
The plot doesn’t rely on puzzle-box twists. Instead, it focuses on motivation: guilt, rage, and the need to set something right when the system protects the guilty. That shift is the engine for the second half.
Tone check: action first, emotions second, and comedy on the side
Temper plays like a speaker turned up too high, and it knows it. The action is big, the dialogue is punchy, and scenes often aim for applause breaks. Comedy appears in short bursts, usually tied to Daya’s attitude or supporting characters.
Still, the film’s second half takes its message seriously. It pushes harder on crime, punishment, and responsibility. That creates an uneven but interesting rhythm. The movie wants viewers to laugh, then flinch, then cheer. Some will enjoy that ride. Others may wish it picked one lane and stayed there.
Temper isn’t subtle, but it’s focused, it wants the audience to feel disgust first, then demand change.
For quick factual context on credits, cast, and release details, see Temper (film) details on Wikipedia.
Performances that carry the film, from Jr NTR’s fire to Prakash Raj’s scene-stealing
Temper remains memorable largely because the cast commits to the film’s high volume. The acting doesn’t play like “real life.” It plays like a moral fable delivered with fists, shouting, and sharp expressions. That style can sound like a criticism, yet it fits this story’s purpose. The movie wants Daya to feel unbearable early on. It also wants the latter guilt to feel explosive.
Many early reviews praised the lead performance, and it’s easy to see why. Jr NTR drives the film’s energy in nearly every scene. He sells Daya’s arrogance without softening it. Then he pivots into anger and shame once the story turns. That change could’ve looked fake in weaker hands. Here, it lands because the performance stays intense, even when it gets messy.
Prakash Raj adds another layer. He plays Walter Vasu with charm and danger, the kind of man who smiles while threatening a room. Their scenes together work because they aren’t simple hero-villain confrontations. They feel like a toxic partnership cracking under pressure.
Jr NTR as Daya: a loud, flawed hero who changes in a big way
Daya enters like a storm. Jr NTR uses swagger, sharp timing, and physical confidence to show a man who thinks he’s untouchable. The early portions ask the audience to dislike him, sometimes strongly. That’s the point. The character’s “hero” status is not handed out for free.
When the turning point arrives, the performance shifts into a different gear. Rage replaces smugness. Guilt shows up in the eyes, even when the dialogue stays aggressive. The movie also asks Jr NTR to carry long stretches of intensity. He handles that weight with a mix of raw emotion and controlled fury, which keeps the redemption arc from feeling like a switch flipped in one scene.
Prakash Raj and Kajal Aggarwal: the best support around the lead
Prakash Raj’s Walter Vasu stands out because he feels real enough to be unsettling, even inside a stylized movie. He doesn’t need constant shouting. A calm line reading can feel like a threat. The chemistry with Daya stays fun and tense because both men believe they’re the smartest person in the room.
Kajal Aggarwal plays Shanvi as Daya’s emotional anchor. The role mostly supports the stakes rather than driving the plot. Still, her presence matters because the film uses her as a mirror. Around her, Daya’s behavior looks worse. That contrast helps the later transformation feel more necessary.
Several supporting actors also add flavor, especially in comedic or political scenes (including familiar Telugu character-actor faces). The script doesn’t always give them depth, but their timing keeps the movie from becoming too heavy too soon.
Direction, pacing, and music: what lands, what feels stretched
Puri Jagannadh directs Temper with a clear taste for mass moments: punch lines, swagger shots, and set pieces that invite whistles. That approach gives the first half its entertainment value. At the same time, it can also make the setup feel long, since the film spends time establishing Daya’s attitude through repeated beats.
The pacing is the most common friction point. The movie builds momentum in waves. It eases off for comedy, returns to action, pauses for songs, then ramps up again. Once the story locks into its moral drive, the second half feels tighter and more purposeful. In other words, the film improves as the stakes sharpen.
Music plays a big role in that rhythm. The film’s songs come from Anoop Rubens, while Mani Sharma’s background score supports the drama and action. The score does heavy lifting in tense scenes. It amplifies anger, urgency, and dread, and it pushes the film toward that “big” feeling the director wants.
Puri Jagannadh’s mix of mass moments and moral anger
Temper works best when it stops winking and starts accusing. The film’s moral anger shows up most clearly after the turning point, when Daya’s world collapses,s and his choices finally cost him. Those later stretches feel less like “stylish fun” and more like a direct challenge to the system around him.
In later years, some viewers have described Temper as one of Puri Jagannadh’s last widely loved films, especially among mainstream audiences. That view isn’t universal, but it reflects how strongly this movie’s second half connected with many fans.
Songs and background score: catchy highs, but they slowdown in the middle
The title track stands out as a high-energy stamp on the film’s identity. It matches Daya’s loud personality and the movie’s aggressive posture. Other songs add color and star presence, yet they also pause the plot at moments when the story could’ve moved faster.
Meanwhile, the background score helps the movie hold its intensity. During confrontations, it keeps scenes from feeling flat. In action moments, it adds weight even when physics takes a holiday. For viewers who enjoy old-school masala structure, that mix will feel familiar. For others, the musical breaks may test patience.
Should someone watch Temper in 2026, and who will actually enjoy it
As of February 2026, Temper still has an audience because it offers a strong emotional payoff, not just action. It was also a commercial hit at release, and its box office success helped cement it as a major Jr NTR entry from that period (including a strong U.S. performance for a Telugu film at the time, based on reported milestones).
For U.S. viewers who want to watch it legally, availability can change by service and region. At the time of writing, listings show it streaming via Sun Nxt in the United States. The simplest way to confirm current options is to check where Temper is streaming in the US.
This is also the right moment to set expectations. Temper includes intense crime content and a heavy second half. The movie uses that pain to fuel its message. Still, it’s not a gentle watch.
Best reasons to hit play, and fair warnings before going in
Temper is a good pick for viewers who want high emotion and bigger reactions. It’s not for someone craving subtle storytelling.
Here’s the practical read on who it fits:
- Best for: fans of Jr NTR’s high-energy performances, mass action scenes, and redemption stories that end on moral fire.
- Also good for: viewers who like face-offs with a strong villain presence, because Prakash Raj brings real tension.
- Might not work for: anyone sensitive to tonal swings, since comedy and serious crime sit close together.
- Main warning: the first half can feel stretched, partly because of setup and song placement.
If the viewer enjoys a flawed lead who earns redemption the hard way, Temper delivers the payoff.
Similar movies and what to watch next if this one works for them
After Temper, the safest “next step” is to look for other Telugu masala action dramas with a moral core. Corrupt cop redemption stories also appear across Indian cinema, so the theme isn’t rare. Jr NTR’s filmography includes other action entertainers as well, and fans often enjoy comparing how his screen persona changes from film to film.
Rather than chasing exact matches, it helps to follow the ingredients: a powerful local villain, a compromised hero, a personal trigger, then a public stand. When those pieces come together, the result often feels like the same kind of crowd-pleasing catharsis Temper aims for.
Conclusion
Temper (2015) is a high-volume action drama that rests on Jr NTR’s intensity and a second half driven by moral urgency. The first half takes time to set the stage, but the payoff lands when Daya finally faces what he’s done. In 2026, it still works best for viewers who enjoy big emotions, bigger fights, and a redemption arc that doesn’t feel soft.
After watching, the real fun is discussing it. What was the most unforgettable scene or song for the viewer, spoiler-free?