Rating : 2.75/5
Editor : A Vara Prasad
Starring Teja Sajja and Priya Varrier in the lead roles, Ishq: Not A Love Story, a remake of a Malayalam film with the same title hit the silver screens today. Let us see what it has in store for the viewers.
Story:
Siddhu (Teja) and Anu (Priya) share deep affection for each other. One fine morning, Siddhu plans to surprise Anu on the occasion of her birthday and the couple go on a long drive. Incidentally, a man who claims to be a police officer spots the young pair sharing an intimate moment and starts tyrannising them. What does the couple do to escape from the distressful situation? What follows later? The answers to these questions form the remaining plot.
Plus Points:
Ishq has a peculiar plot and it is unlike any typical Telugu love dramas. The film has a good premise as the storyline is fresh. The lead pair, played by Teja Sajja and Priya Varrier portray their roles with conviction. They make a good pair on-screen.
Ravindra Vijay plays a character with negative shades and he delivers a decent performance. The confrontational scenes between him and the protagonist are good. Teja bags a meaty role and he does well in emotional sequences as well as romantic episodes. He impresses in the latter half.
The revenge track in the second half holds the key and it is engaging in parts. The climax is hard-hitting and realistic.
Minus Points:
As mentioned above, Ishq is a remake of a Malayalam film with the same title. The film is more or less, a mirror cope of the original. So, those who have watched the original might find this film repetitive. The entire backdrop and emotional core is a mere replica of the original.
This film is a heavy love drama with a realistic set-up. It is low on entertainment quotient and has an intense vibe right from the outset. So, native audiences who expect comedy and sparkling chemistry between the lead pair might get a tad disappointed.
The opening exchanges lack novelty and the film takes a good 20 minutes to enter the main plot. A better start could have worked well for the film.
Technical Aspects:
The director S Raju opts to replicate the original and doesn’t change the plot or even the screenplay for that case. Consequently, the film is a faithful remake of the original. Mahati Swara Sagar’s background score gels with the theme. Anandam Madike song is good and it has been picturised well. Cinematography is good.
Verdict:
Ishq is a faithful remake of the original and it is a thriller set in love backdrop. The film is mainly powered by good performances from the lead pair. But it doesn’t cater to all sections of the audience, given its peculiar plot. The film might make for a passable one-time watch if you keep your expectations in check.
