Tholi Prema (2018):
Tholi Prema has created huge buzz for many reasons, for starters, the title is based on Pawan Kalyan's iconic film, the songs of the movie turned out to be chart-busters and most importantly this is Varun Tej's immediate movie after blockbuster Fidaa.So how is it?
Plot:
Aadi (Varun Tej) is an instinctive youngster who falls in love with Varsha (Raashi Khanna) when he spots her for the first time in a train journey. Later he meets her in an engineering college again. They fall in love and he realises that she is a calculative person unlike him. She has problem with temperament and anger issues of Aadi. Rest of the story is all about the clash of two different personalities and how they realise that they can be together despite having contrasting natures.
My Review:
Writer-turned-director Venky Atluri has taken a simple feel-good, love-hate-love-hate romantic script that talks about the highs and lows of a couple's relationship over six years. No matter how age-old the story sounds, love stories, especially when served with a right proposition of drama and romance, never fail to delight the audience. Tholi Prema is one such movie with a very simple core plot packed with some fresh scenes and beautiful moments.To bring life to a beaten to death script like Tholi Prema, you need magic in the love-relationship that is on display. That sizzling chemistry is visible between the lead pairs Varun Tej and Rashi Khanna . Having said that, the latter part of the second half slightly drags when their relationship gets a little complicated.
First half started slow but once the college setup begins,Tholi Prema starts to entertain us with feel good moments and hilarious comedy too.The "Akka","Rakhi" and "Car" episodes are amazing.All these scenes reflect the romance of today's youth.Once the story comes to break-up scene during the interval, they meet again in London and anyone can guess how the movie will progress here after. This is where the film slips. The predictability in the second half is a major drawback.
Varun Tej gets to show two shades in his character as a college student and later as a matured working professional. He is quite good in both his roles and gives a neat performance.Raashi Khanna is amazing as Varsha. Perhaps it is one of her career best role after Oohalu Gusagusalade and she nails it in every which way and showcases the actress in her. Raashi gets some very good dialogues and delivers them spot on.In their brief appereances, Priyadarshi Pullikonda, Hyper Aadhi and Vidyullekha Raman light up a few scenes with their comic acts.
SS Thaman has come out of his comfort zone to give beautiful and fresh music for Tholi Prema.The background music by Thaman and cinematography by George C Williams are on-point too.
So,Tholi Prema is highly cliched but still an entertaining film with nice performances,breezy moments and soulful music.
My Rating 6.75/10
