Love Story Movie Review: A socially conscious love drama

Naga Chaitanya, Sai Pallavi, and Sekhar Kammula’s ‘Love Story’ has hit the silver screens today. The film registered excellent advance bookings in the domestic and the overseas market alike. Let us see what the film has in store for us.

Story:

Revanth (Naga Chaitanya) runs a Zumba training centre and one fine day, he meets Mounika (Sai Pallavi). The duo eventually develops feelings for each other. But just as they are about to take their relationship to the next level, the caste oppression angle sets in. How does the caste-centric mindset of others affect the ‘love story’ of the lead pair?

What about on-screen performances?

Naga Chaitanya delivers his career-best performance in a seemingly complex role. He has improved a lot as an actor. He has put in extra efforts for the film as he plays a Zumba trainer and he has fine-tuned his dancing skills noticeably. Talented actress Sai Pallavi is at her usual best. She portrays a village belle who comes to Hyderabad in pursuit of her dreams. Eswari as Naga Chaitanya’s mother delivers a fine performance as well. The film is powered by excellent performances from the lead cast.

What about off-screen talents?

Sekhar Kammula is a master when it comes to handling sensible and light-hearted love stories. This time around he infuses social topics like gender inequality and caste discrimination into the core plotline. However, the narration is a bit too slow for the first two hours or so. And in the final 45 minutes, where the social awareness track sets in, things are rushed. The social awareness subplot plays an important role in the narrative but it is not presented well. Rajeev Kanakala is seen as a pedophile and this track forms the crux towards the end.

The film banks on a successful audio album. Debutante Pawan CH comes up with a winning album. All the songs are situational. His background score is good. The cinematography is adequate. Editing should have been better as there are not many compelling scenes in the opening half and the run-time is unnecessarily elongated.

Plus Points:

• Lead pair performance
• Couple of good songs
• Highlighting Social issues
• Entertainment at times

Minus Points:

• Slow narration for first 2 hrs
• Rushed and heavy climax

Verdict: Love Story is a love drama that touches a couple of social awareness topics, with the caste oppression angle being the more prevalent one. However, neither the love track nor the social awareness subplot is fully effective. The chemistry between the lead pair which is usually a mainstay in Sekhar Kammula’s films isn’t strong enough in Love Story. On the flip side, the lead pair deliver excellent performances and there are a few entertaining set of sequences here and there. Sekhar Kammula rolls out a partly gripping love drama.

Telugubulletin.com Rating: 2.75/5