Year: 2024
Runtime: 141 mins
Language: Telugu
Director: Anji K Maniputhra
During a COVID-19 lockdown, Karthik returns home to the Godavari region and reconnects with childhood friends. He finds himself falling for a woman, but their potential romance is complicated by the influence of her caste and societal expectations. The story explores themes of friendship, love, and cultural identity within a specific regional setting.
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Karthik returns to his native village during the lockdown and, despite his reluctance, is drawn into a whirlwind romance with Pallavi, the daughter of the town’s powerful politician, Dur G. Their affection is immediate, but Pallavi’s upbringing and her father’s staunch caste politics make an open relationship impossible. When Karthik proposes, Pallavi is forced to accept an arranged match set by her father, explaining that she cannot marry someone from a different caste without endangering both of them.
Desperate, Karthik tries every ploy—from heartfelt pleas about love transcending caste to the wild notion of eloping—but Pallavi’s fear of her father’s wrath and the very real threat of violent retribution keep her from defying him. She tells Karthik that she would rather remain his friend than risk the fate of lovers who have vanished after secret unions.
On the day of Pallavi’s wedding, Karthik, exhausted and convinced that walking away is the kinder choice, prepares to leave the village. At the same time, his own father, Burayya, learns that Dur G is Pallavi’s father and, recalling an old, hidden rivalry‑turned‑truce between the two men, decides to intervene. Burayya crashes the ceremony and boldly offers his son’s hand to Dur G, arguing that this is the only gift he can give his son.
To everyone’s astonishment, Dur G accepts the proposal, halting the wedding rituals. The surprise stems from a long‑forgotten history: years earlier Burayya and Dur G faced each other in a violent clash, but Burayya won, leading the two to a quiet understanding. Over time they had helped each other financially, keeping the alliance secret for fear of community backlash. Their mutual respect lets them look beyond caste, and Dur G’s consent paves the way for Karthik and Pallavi’s union.
In the final moments, Karthik reconciles with his father, acknowledging Burayya’s generosity and the unexpected friendship that helped dissolve the very prejudice that once barred their love. The film ends with Karthik and Pallavi married, a symbolic triumph of personal bonds over entrenched caste divisions.
Last Updated: October 13, 2025 at 19:14
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