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. A boy accidentally meets a girl on a moving train, he falls in love at first sight and the girl eventually falls for him sometime later. They are madly in love with each other only to split and when destiny makes them meet again, what happens? How many times have we seen the same story before?
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 (Aditya) and Rashi Khanna (Varsha). Having said that, the latter part of the second half slightly drags when their relationship gets a little complicated.
Like in most love stories, it is the EGO, that causes a corrosion in Aditya-Varsha’s relationship. Though their misunderstandings in the film could be a little dramatic at times, the way they have handled their roles is very mature. Few fight scenes seem unnecessary but at least seem to help Varun showcase his prowess as a commercial hero too.
Varun has immense scope in a role that is tailor-made for him and pulls it off with consummate ease. Be it a handsome built brainy youngster or a love-struck man craving for the girl he meets the first time, he is up for anything. Rashi Khanna dispels her glamorous act and proves that she can be more than just eye candy. She breaks into tears when needed, shows vicious contempt when rubbed the wrong way and looks endearing in songs.
In their brief appereances, Priyadarshi Pullikonda, Hyper Aadhi and Vidyullekha Raman light up a few scenes with their comic acts. Talking about the technical team, SS Thaman’s music and George C Williams’ visuals go with the script well.
Overall, Tholi Prema is a movie that you will enjoy. Yes, the screenplay does drag along a bit, but still, you could pay that price to watch a well made feel-good romantic film that comes your way once in a while.