Starring: Naga Chaitanya, Sai Pallavi, Eswari Rao, Rajeev Kanakala and Others
Director: Shekar Kammula
Producers: Narayan Das Narang, Pushkar Ram Mohan
Music Director: Pawan CH
D.O.P: Vijay C Kumar
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh

iQlikMovies Rating: 3/5

The most-anticipated film of this season, Love Story, starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi has hit the screens today. This Shekhar Kammula directorial movie was carrying a good pre-release buzz and witnessed great advance bookings as well. Check out its review here.

Story:
Revanth (Naga Chaitanya) and Mounika (Sai Pallavi) hail from Armoor town of Nizamabad district. They shift to Hyderabad in order to pursue their respective dreams. While Revanth sets up a Zumba training institute, Mounika tries to get a job in the IT sector. Unable to fit in the software industry, Mounika joins as a dance trainer in Revanth's academy. Eventually, both of them fall for each other. Problems arise as Revanth is a Dalit Christian and Mounika is a Patel. Did they cross these caste hurdles and made their love win? You have to watch the film to find out.

Performances:
Naga Chaitanya has fit the role of Revanth very well. His boy-next-door image suited perfectly for this character. His Telangana diction is also commendable. Definitely, Love Story will be one of the best performances in his career. It will remain a special film in his filmography.

Sai Pallavi is at her usual best. Just like his every other film, Shekhar gives a strong character for the female lead in this movie as well and Pallavi has done it with ease. Eeshwari Rao gets a strong role and she gave a good performance. Devayani was good too. Rajiv Kanakala's role was stereotypical. Uttej has done a small yet crucial role and he is good.

Technical Aspects:
Director Shekhar Kammula came out of his comfort zone this time and attempted to make a serious film. Love Story is not a usual Shekhar Kammula rom-com. It deals with caste issues and class issues prevailing in society. Shekhar handled them well in his own style. Thus, Love Story stands out from the rest of the caste-based movies.

Music by Pawan is another major asset of this movie. Already, the songs became chartbusters and Pawan showed his skills in background score too. Vijay C Kumar's cinematography is beautiful. All the songs were pictured very well. The editing is decent so are the production values.

Review:
The first half of Love Story is breezy with a lively atmosphere and engaging screenplay. The movie turns darker in the second half. The climax sequences are quite intense. Compared to the first half, the second half is a bit more serious and slow.

Shekhar handled the story well but things become repetitive at some points. It has to be seen how youth responds to these kinds of stories. On the whole, Shekhar's direction and music make Love Story a good watch in the theatres.

Plus Points:
Performances of the lead characters
Music
Shekhar Kammula's screenplay and direction
Entertaining first half

Minus Points:
May appeal to limited sections of audiences
Slow at some times.

Final Verdict: Typical Kammula's film takes a 'dark' turn