Movie: Epic First Semester
Rating: 2/5
Banner: Sithara Entertainments
Cast: Anand Deverakonda, Vaishnavi Chaitanya, Srinivas Gavireddy, Sivaji, Vasuki Anand, Kalyan Shankar and others
Music Director: Hesham Abdul Wahab
DOP: Azeem Mohammad
Editor: Navin Nooli
Production Designer: Avinash Kolla
Producers: Suryadevara Naga Vamsi, Sai Soujanya
Written and Directed by: Aditya Haasan
Release Date: September 11, 2026
After the blockbuster success of “Baby”, the reunion of Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya naturally generated considerable buzz. Adding to the interest was director Aditya Haasan, who had become popular with the web series “90’s”. For all these reasons, “Epic – First Semester” became a talking point.
Let’s find out its merits and demerits.
Story
Aditya (Anand Deverakonda), a middle-class youngster from Wanaparthy, dreams of becoming a film director in Hyderabad. However, his parents insist that he go to the UK for higher studies, believing that a foreign degree will help him settle down well in life.
On his very first day at the university, he meets Kadali (Vaishnavi Chaitanya), a girl from Vizag. They quickly become friends, and she moves into his room.
While Kadali initially makes it clear that she is interested only in a physical relationship and does not want any emotional attachment, their relationship gradually becomes complicated. Will Aditya give up his dream of becoming a filmmaker? Will Kadali stick to her no-marriage policy?
Performances
Anand Deverakonda fits the role of an innocent middle-class youngster who suddenly finds himself in the UK with limited English skills. He brings a naturalness to the character and effectively conveys the innocence and awkwardness of an ordinary young man trying to adapt to a new environment.
Vaishnavi Chaitanya takes on another bold role and performs it with confidence. She convincingly portrays a modern and independent young woman, and she shares good chemistry with Anand Deverakonda.
Shivaji, reprising a character reminiscent of his role in “90’s”, delivers another emotional performance. Vasuki, as Anand’s mother, is effective.
Gavireddy, as Aditya’s friend in the UK, and director-actor Kalyan Shankar, who plays his friend in Hyderabad, also do well.
Technical Aspects
Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music is one of the film’s strengths. The songs “Sancharame” and “Priya Sakhi” stand out.
The cinematography gives the film a bright and colourful look, particularly in the UK portions. The production design and sets are also well executed.
However, like many recent Telugu films, the length and pacing become an issue. The middle portions, in particular, could have been tighter.
Highlights
Youthful moments in the initial portions
Lead pair chemistry
Drawbacks
Dragged-out middle portions
Monotony in second half
A sense of incompleteness
Confusion in female lead's character
Excessive emphasis on sex
Analysis
“Epic – First Semester” begins like a simple middle-class drama, almost as an extension of director Aditya Haasan’s popular web series “90’s”. The opening portions introduce the family of Shivaji and his son Aditya, played by Anand Deverakonda, and establish their middle-class background and the protagonist's aspirations. Soon, the story shifts to the UK.
One has to overlook the logic of Aditya and Kadali becoming close so quickly. Within a day of his arrival at the university, the two go from being strangers to sharing intimate moments. But Aditya Haasan presents these portions with a youthful and contemporary touch. The stretch involving their growing relationship, live-in arrangement and Aditya’s confusion generates some humour and keeps the proceedings engaging.
There is also a certain novelty in the gender reversal. Kadali is the more aggressive one in the relationship and is clear about wanting a physical relationship without emotional attachment. Aditya, on the other hand, is emotional and somewhat fearful. This contrast works to an extent and provides some engaging moments.
However, the film places too much emphasis on sex in its dialogues and situations. The repeated discussions about sex and periods, including the visual emphasis on bloodstains on the bed, feel unnecessary and somewhat excessive. These portions could have been handled with greater sensitivity and subtlety rather than being presented so literally.
The film begins to lose its grip in the middle portions. Vaishnavi Chaitanya’s behaviour in the post-interval episodes and the subsequent loud scenes make the narrative less convincing and starts repelling the audience attention.
Aditya Haasan tries to shift gears later to take the story into more emotional territory, but only partly sucecssful. Both protagonists go through emotional turbulence and are forced to confront what they really want from life.
While Kadali’s initial reason for coming to the UK to escape family pressure is understandable, her actions and reasoning in the climax portions do not entirely convince. In comparison, Aditya’s dilemma and predicament are presented more clearly.
Aditya Haasan shows his strength in emotional scenes, particularly in the stretch involving Shivaji and Vasuki’s characters and their phone calls with their son. The emotional handling of these portions works well. The climax, however, leaves a feeling of incompleteness. Since the film is structured as “First Semester”, this may be an intentional choice, but it still leaves the viewer wondering whether the story has really reached a satisfying conclusion.
The film also appears to have personal elements from the director’s own life. Like the protagonist, Aditya Haasan is from Wanaparthy, went to the UK for studies and later returned to India to pursue filmmaking. Whether it is partly autobiographical or not, the story certainly feels personal. What remains unclear, though, is the relevance of the title “Epic”.
There are also several logical issues. How does a student who does not seem to know what subject he is studying end up in a university? How does someone who has travelled all the way to the UK not understand the academic meaning of a term like “major”? How did he get the Visa in the first place with this ignorance?
Similarly, despite Kadali being portrayed as bold and independent, her decision to move into Aditya’s room almost immediately feels far-fetched.
Overall, EPIC – First Semester is a disappointing mixed bag. A few portions are youthful, entertaining and poetic, but much of the film feels silly, dragged out and unconvincing, especially in the middle. Young audiences may relate to a few moments, but for regular moviegoers, the film offers more frustration than satisfaction.
Bottom Line: Not Up To The Mark!
