Beauty: A Father's Unyielding Quest – Emotional Twists in a Familiar Love Story
In the bustling college corridors of contemporary Andhra Pradesh, where youthful dreams clash with familial expectations, Beauty emerges as a poignant Telugu drama that tugs at the heartstrings while occasionally stumbling over its own clichés. Directed by JSS Vardhan and presented by Maruthi, this 2025 release—hitting screens on September 19—clocks in at a compact 140 minutes, blending romance, suspense, and parental anguish into a narrative that's as heartfelt as it is predictable. Starring Ankith Koyya and Nilakhi Patra as the star-crossed lovers, with V.K. Naresh anchoring the emotional core as the devoted father, Beauty is a film that whispers a timely message about vigilance in the digital age, even as it borrows heavily from yesteryear's romantic tropes. It's not reinventing the wheel, but for family audiences seeking a cathartic cry, it's a worthy detour.The story orbits around Alekhya (Patra), a vivacious, middle-class college girl whose life is a bubble of innocence wrapped in her father Narayana's (Naresh) protective embrace. Raised single-handedly after her mother's passing, Alekhya idolizes her dad but chafes at the invisible reins of his overbearing love—curfews, restricted social media, and a world shrunk to the safety of home. Enter Arjun (Koyya), a charming engineering student whose easy smile and whispered promises shatter her sheltered existence. What starts as innocent flirtation spirals into a whirlwind romance, fueled by stolen glances and late-night chats. Afraid of her father's wrath, Alekhya elopes with Arjun to Hyderabad, igniting Narayana's frantic search that propels the film into thriller territory. As the father scours the city—questioning strangers, navigating seedy underbellies, and confronting his own regrets—a shocking second-half twist upends everything, transforming the tale from boy-meets-girl into a harrowing exploration of trust, deception, and redemption.
Vardhan's screenplay, penned by RV Subramanyam, is a tightrope of familiarity and surprise. The first half unfolds like a glossy rom-com—think Ye Maya Chesave lite—with montages of campus crushes and defiant declarations of love. It's engaging enough, laced with relatable millennial dilemmas like parental surveillance in the Instagram era, but it drags with overfamiliar beats: the lovesick girl, the supportive sidekick (Prasad Behara, injecting comic relief), and songs that interrupt rather than enhance. The pivot in the intermission block cranks up the stakes, shifting to a suspenseful road movie as Narayana's desperation mirrors real-life parental nightmares. Yet, the film's true power lies in its post-twist revelations, which peel back layers of innocence lost and the perils lurking in seemingly harmless connections. It's a narrative sleight-of-hand that earns gasps, underscoring Vardhan's knack for misdirection, though some might decry it as manipulative. The climax, brief and bittersweet, lands with emotional heft, delivering a message on empathy and communication that feels earnest without preaching— a reminder for parents to listen before the world pulls their children away.
Technically, Beauty punches above its modest budget. Shrie Saikumaar Daara's cinematography captures the vibrant chaos of Hyderabad's streets against the serene greens of rural Andhra, using handheld shots to amp up the urgency of the search sequences. Vijay Bulganin's score is a soothing undercurrent—his folk-tinged tracks like "Kannamma" linger like a lullaby, blending seamlessly with the drama, while the background swells evoke quiet heartbreak. SB Uddhav's editing keeps the runtime brisk, though the first act's romantic interludes could have been trimmed to heighten tension. Dialogues shine in emotional exchanges, with lines like "Love isn't a cage, Appa—it's wings you clip" cutting deep, delivered in crisp Telugu that resonates with regional authenticity. No bombastic VFX here; it's raw, location-shot realism that grounds the fantasy of young love in gritty reality.
Performances are the film's beating heart, elevating a trope-heavy script into something profoundly moving. V.K. Naresh, ever the reliable patriarch, delivers a career-best turn as Narayana—his eyes, weary with worry, convey a father's unraveling world without a single overplayed sob. From tender flashbacks of bedtime stories to the raw fury of his quest, Naresh embodies unconditional love's quiet ferocity, earning the film's emotional anchor status. Nilakhi Patra, in her Telugu debut, is a revelation as Alekhya—a bold, multifaceted firecracker whose rebellious spark masks deeper vulnerabilities.
She nails the arc from bubbly ingenue to guilt-ridden woman, her expressive face carrying the weight of the twist with sincerity that outshines her co-lead. Ankith Koyya's Arjun is earnest but uneven; his charisma shines in lighter moments, yet he struggles with the emotional depth post-twist, coming off as more reactive than revelatory. Vasuki Anand adds warmth as the concerned aunt, while Prasad Behara's comic timing provides levity amid the gloom. The ensemble's chemistry—especially Naresh-Patra's father-daughter dynamic—feels lived-in, making the betrayals sting all the more.Thematically, Beauty grapples with the fragility of trust in a hyper-connected world, where a swipe right can upend lives. It critiques helicopter parenting without vilifying it, urging dialogue over diktats, and subtly nods to societal pressures on young women chasing autonomy.
Echoes of classics like Bommarillu and Happy Days abound, but Vardhan infuses a modern edge—social media as both bridge and betrayer—making it relevant for today's Gen Z. Yet, the film falters in depth; post-twist, it veers into melodrama, prioritizing shocks over nuanced exploration of trauma or consent, settling for a tidy sermon on family bonds. one calls it a "superb twist in the tale" worth the family watch, while another laments the "so-so love scenes" that drag the first half.
Flaws aside, Beauty resonates in its intimacy. It's not a blockbuster spectacle but a chamber piece that blooms in quiet moments—the father's solitary vigil, the lovers' stolen rain-soaked embrace. Box office whispers suggest a modest opening (around ₹1.2 crore on Day 1), buoyed by positive word-of-mouth in urban multiplexes, though rural circuits may lag due to competition. Critics are split: 123Telugu dings it at 2.25/5 for uneven leads and late impact, while The Hindu praises its "aching tale of parental bonds" at 3.5/5, and Times of India calls it a "watchable drama" at 3/5.
In a year dominated by masala extravaganzas, Beauty is a gentle rebuke—a reminder that cinema's true allure lies in stories that mirror our messiest emotions. It's imperfect, occasionally overwrought, but profoundly human. For parents and progeny alike, it's a mirror held up to unspoken fears. Grab tissues, hug your loved ones, and let Beauty remind you: sometimes, the real vanishing act is the one communication pulls off.
Rating: 3/5. A tender twist on timeless ties—flawed, but felt.