Director Aditya Hasan’s Telugu romantic drama Epic – The First Semester, starring Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya, has debuted as a direct continuation of the 2024 web series 90’s A Middle Class Biopic.

Transforming Ordinary Moments into Eternal Romances

Stepping away from grand, sensationalized cinematic tropes, the film centers its heart on how the most modest, unassuming routines can blossom into exquisite romantic milestones. The narrative follows Aditya, a gentle young man from a middle-class background who leaves home to pursue higher education and his filmmaking dreams in London. What unfolds between Aditya and his partner Kadali is not a neatly packaged, idealistic fantasy, but rather a scrapbook of affection filled with chaotic arguments, stolen glances, quiet comfort, and awkward tenderness that make young love feel genuinely alive.

A Nostalgic Echo across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

Grounded in the heartland of Telangana, the emotional anchor of the narrative takes root in Wanaparthy before expanding to foreign shores. This regional resonance shines through intimate, deeply familiar touches—from tearful airport goodbyes laden with parental instructions to home-packed Tupperware containers filled with authentic pickles. Nights spent sharing quiet meals while watching old Venkatesh movies reflect the everyday domestic reality of families across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh sending their children abroad, balancing lingering attachment with high hopes for the future.

Sweet Melodies and Unspoken Affection

The film excels when it pauses to observe emotional intimacy in its simplest forms. In one delicate sequence, a simple request from Kadali for physical presence during a backache transforms into a sweet lesson in empathy and affection. In another charm-filled scene, listening to an early SP Balasubrahmanyam retro track leads the couple to play an endearing game of scoring their own lives.

"Since you are a director, why don’t we compose our own background score?"

This playful interaction gives music director Hesham Abdul Wahab’s background score a organic space within the narrative, blending musical nostalgia with the characters’ evolving intimacy.

Performances and Narrative Texture

Vaishnavi Chaitanya acts as the vibrant core of the film, rendering Kadali with a mesmerizing mix of unpredictability, vulnerability, and sudden warmth. Anand Deverakonda delivers a soft, restrained performance as Aditya, shedding his high-intensity screen persona for a shy charm, even if his awkwardness occasionally feels slightly deliberate. Veteran actor Sivaji offers a deeply moving performance as Aditya’s father, capturing the quiet solitude of an empty bedroom and the financial sacrifices of middle-class parenthood. Meanwhile, Kalyan Shankar adds refreshing comedic timing that seamlessly bridges into sincere emotion.

A Leisurely Portrait of Young Love

Spanning close to two and a half hours, the film experiences occasional pacing lulls during its central act, where conversations between the leads revisit familiar relationship uncertainties. An over-the-top scene featuring broken furniture briefly strays from the grounded tone, though it receives context later. Nevertheless, Hasan’s personal voice and delicate observational detail ensure that Epic – The First Semester stands as a touching collection of memories, proving that true romance resides in the quietest, simplest moments.