Sekhar Kammula is the writer and director of the 2021 Telugu-language musical romantic drama film Love Story. The film, which is co-produced by Amigos Creations and Sree Venkateswara Cinemas, features Rajeev Kanakala, Devayani, Easwari Rao, and Uttej in supporting roles alongside Sai Pallavi and Naga Chaitanya. The movie narrates the tale of Mounika (Pallavi) and Revanth (Chaitanya), two intercaste lovers who meet in the city while pursuing their aspirations.
The movie was revealed in June 2019, and principal photography started in September of the same year. While a schedule was held in Dubai, the film was extensively shot in Hyderabad and other locations in Telangana. In March 2020, production was put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The filming was finished in November 2020, having resumed in September. Pawan Ch. composed the score for Love Story, while Vijay C. Kumar handled the cinematography and Marthand K. Venkatesh handled the editing.
Love Story was originally supposed to come out on April 2, 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused several postponements. On September 24, 2021, the movie was released in theaters. Critics gave it mixed reviews, praising Chaitanya and Pallavi’s performances but criticizing its long running length. In India, the movie’s opening day gross of ₹8.75 crore was the highest since theaters reopened and started showing films following the second COVID wave. Despite having a 30 crore budget, the movie made over ₹59 crore at the box office, making it a financially successful endeavor.
Plot
Revanth is a Christian from a lower caste who lives in Hyderabad and owns a Zumba studio. An upper caste girl named Mounika moves into a neighboring house after arriving in Hyderabad in quest of employment. Revanth offers Mounika money in exchange for her sharing flyers for his Zumba center, but she declines, to which he makes fun of her. Mounika is unemployed.
She visits the Zumba center after yet another failed job search and starts dancing, with Revanth joining her. Revanth requests that she become a partner in his Zumba center after being impressed by her dance. After settling on a pay scale, Mounika begins working for him. As their Zumba center gains popularity, they want to grow by moving to a larger location in the city.
Revanth persuades his mother to sell their land in Armoor, his hometown, due to a lack of money. Mounika is from Armoor as well, and her uncle Narasimham is well-known there. Revanth declines to sell even at his drastically reduced price. That evening, Mounika approaches Narasimham and demands her portion of their property’s wealth. Mounika faints when Narasimham intimidates her and refuses.
Revanth follows her as she storms out of town. She gives Revanth her jewelry so they can grow their business. Revanth takes out a land mortgage in order to expand his Zumba studio. They get past their disagreements and discover love. Revanth agrees when Mounika makes him a proposal. They intend to elope since she fears her violent uncle. With the aid of Revanth’s uncle, a police sub-inspector, they come up with a scheme to make Mounika’s whereabouts appear to be under suspicion of suicide.
After six months, they decide to carry out their plan and make the required preparations. They decide to get married at a registrar’s office when Revanth returns from his trip to Dubai. At the registrar’s office, Revanth waits, but Mounika does not show up. Returning to Armoor with concern, Revanth meets Mounika. She informs Revanth that her uncle has been abusing her sexually since she was a young girl and that he is now pursuing her sister.
That’s why she’s chosen to remain behind and watch over her. Mounika is brought to Revanth’s house, where she tells her parents the truth. Meanwhile, her uncle shows up at their house. When he confronts them, Mounika’s mother asks her to leave with Revanth, locking him up in the process and promising to look after her sister.
Narasimham’s men pursue them as they flee, taking Revanth’s mother with them. Revanth chooses to fight back instead of running away. Revanth murders Narasimham in retaliation for his attempt to kill Mounika, and the police take him into custody. Eventually, the court concedes that Revanth didn’t mean for it to happen.
Director | Sekhar Kammula |
---|---|
Story | Sekhar Kammula |
Screenplay | Sekhar Kammula |
Dialogues | Sekhar Kammula |
Cinematography | Vijay C. Kumar |
Editor | Marthand K. Venkatesh |
Music | Pawan Ch |
Producer | Narayan Das K Narang, Puskar Ram Mohan Rao |
Cast | Naga Chaitanya Sai Pallavi Rajeev KanakalaDevayani Easwari RaoUttejChakrapani AnandaGangavvaRana Daggubati |
Release Type | Theatre |
Language | Telugu |
Production | Amigos Creations Sree Venkateswara Cinemas |
Budget | 30 crores |
Box Office | 59 crores |
OTT Platform | Aha |
OTT Release Date | October 21, 2021 |