Epic – First Semester Movie Review: Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya return as a pair after the success of Baby, this time with a romantic drama that explores love, relationships, personal choices and family expectations. Directed by Aditya Hasan, Epic – First Semester arrives with considerable expectations among Telugu cinema audiences.
The film is set against the backdrop of young people pursuing higher education abroad and attempts to explore what happens when love, independence and responsibilities collide.
Epic – First Semester Story
Epic – First Semester follows a young man who leaves his hometown and travels to London for higher studies. Away from his family and familiar surroundings, he experiences a very different phase of life.
His journey takes an unexpected turn when he meets a young woman and their relationship gradually develops.
What initially appears to be a youthful romance becomes more complicated as the two characters begin to see love and life differently. Their relationship brings questions about commitment, independence, family expectations and the choices young people make when they are away from home.
Rather than presenting a conventional romantic story, the film attempts to focus heavily on the conversations and emotional conflicts between the central characters.
Anand Deverakonda Performance
Anand Deverakonda plays a young man from a small-town background who goes abroad for education. The character requires a comparatively natural and understated performance rather than a larger-than-life heroic presentation.
Anand fits comfortably into the role, particularly in the emotional and conversational portions of the film. His performance works best when the character is dealing with confusion, relationships and personal responsibilities.
His chemistry with Vaishnavi Chaitanya is another important strength of the movie.
Vaishnavi Chaitanya Performance
Vaishnavi Chaitanya gets a character with strong opinions and her own perspective on relationships.
Her performance is particularly important because much of the movie depends on the conversations between the lead characters. She brings emotional intensity to several scenes and shares convincing chemistry with Anand.
The film also places her character in situations that allow the audience to question whether both people in a relationship necessarily have the same expectations.
Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya Chemistry
The reunion of the Baby pair is naturally one of the biggest attractions of Epic – First Semester.
The chemistry between Anand and Vaishnavi is evident from the early portions of the film. Their interactions combine romance, humour and emotional conflict.
However, Epic attempts to move beyond simply recreating the Baby formula. The story is more focused on conversations, relationship dynamics and the changing perspectives of two young people.
Aditya Hasan's Direction
Director Aditya Hasan, who previously gained attention for the web series 90s – A Middle Class Biopic, makes his theatrical directorial debut with Epic – First Semester.
His approach is noticeably youth-oriented. The first half focuses more on romance, friendship and lighter moments, while the latter portions become more serious and introspective.
One of the interesting aspects of the film is its attempt to leave audiences thinking about the choices made by the characters rather than simply providing a straightforward romantic conclusion.
Early reviews have particularly highlighted the second half and the film's different approach to its climax.
First Half Review
The first half is designed primarily for younger audiences.
The college and London backdrop provides a fresh visual setting, while the romance between the lead characters drives most of the narrative.
There are lighter moments, friendship-based humour and romantic scenes that keep the first half moving.
The Anand-Vaishnavi combination is the major reason the first half remains engaging.
Second Half Review
The second half takes a more serious turn.
The movie moves away from simple romance and starts examining the emotional consequences of the relationship. Conversations between the characters become increasingly important.
Some scenes are designed to make viewers think about relationships, responsibility and the expectations placed on young couples.
The climax is also positioned as one of the film's talking points, with the director choosing an approach that doesn't necessarily follow the conventional romantic-movie template.
Music and Background Score
Music is composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab, who is known for creating emotionally driven musical tracks.
The songs and background score play an important role in establishing the romantic mood of the film.
The promotional songs, particularly “Sancharame,” have already generated attention among audiences ahead of the theatrical release.
Cinematography and Technical Aspects
The London setting gives Epic – First Semester a visually different atmosphere compared with a typical Telugu romantic drama.
The cinematography complements the overseas college setting and the personal journey of the protagonists.
The film has a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 29 minutes, giving the director enough space to develop the central relationship and its emotional consequences.
What Works in Epic – First Semester?
Anand Deverakonda's natural performance
Vaishnavi Chaitanya's emotional portrayal
Lead-pair chemistry
Youth-oriented storytelling
London and overseas college backdrop
Relatable relationship conversations
Hesham Abdul Wahab's music
More thought-provoking second half
Different approach towards the climax
What Could Have Been Better?
The film's conversational and relationship-focused storytelling may not appeal equally to everyone.
Audiences looking for a fast-paced commercial entertainer with action, mass moments and conventional comedy may find Epic – First Semester comparatively restrained.
The movie also expects viewers to connect with the perspectives and decisions of its lead characters, which means the emotional impact can depend heavily on individual experiences and opinions about relationships.
Epic – First Semester Rating
HyderabadHub.com Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
The rating reflects the film's strengths in performances, chemistry, music and its attempt to explore modern relationships from a youthful perspective, while also considering the unevenness in its narrative execution.
Final Verdict
Epic – First Semester is a youthful Telugu romantic drama that tries to look beyond the usual love-story formula.
Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya remain the film's biggest assets, with their chemistry carrying several key portions. Aditya Hasan brings a conversational and contemporary approach to the story, while Hesham Abdul Wahab's music adds emotional weight.
The film is likely to connect particularly well with young audiences who enjoy relationship dramas and stories dealing with love, independence and family expectations.
If you are expecting another Baby, it is better to approach Epic with different expectations. This film attempts to tell a different kind of relationship story rather than simply repeating the earlier pair's success.
Verdict: A youthful and emotionally driven romantic drama with strong performances and a relationship-focused second half.
Epic – First Semester Rating: ⭐ 3/5
Genre: Romantic Drama
Language: Telugu
Runtime: Approximately 2 hours 29 minutes
Release Date: September 11, 2026
Director: Aditya Hasan
Lead Cast: Anand Deverakonda, Vaishnavi Chaitanya
Music: Hesham Abdul Wahab
Editor: Navin Nooli
Certification: A
HyderabadHub.com Verdict: Worth watching for audiences who enjoy contemporary Telugu love stories.