Epic – First Semester: Does the Baby Pair’s Reunion Work?

Release Date: September 11, 2026

Cast: Anand Deverakonda, Vaishnavi Chaitanya and others

Director: Aditya Hasan

Producers: Suryadevara Naga Vamsi, Sai Soujanya

Music Director: Hesham Abdul Wahab

Cinematographer: Azeem Mohammad

Editor: Navin Nooli

Story:

Epic – First Semester revolves around Aditya (Anand Deverakonda), an innocent and easy-going youngster from Wanaparthy who dreams of becoming a filmmaker. However, his parents want him to pursue higher education abroad, eventually taking him to London. There, he meets Kadali (Vaishnavi Chaitanya), an independent and strong-willed girl from Vizag. Their contrasting personalities lead to friendship, romance, misunderstandings, ego clashes and emotional conflicts. The challenges in their relationship form the core of the story.

Plus Points:

Anand Deverakonda fits the role of Aditya well and delivers a convincing performance through his expressions, innocence and comic timing. Vaishnavi Chaitanya also does a decent job as Kadali, with her strong character providing a good contrast to Anand’s relatively innocent personality. The chemistry and relationship dynamics between the lead pair are among the film’s better aspects. Some conversations feel natural and relatable, while Kalyan Shankar’s comedy works in parts. Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music and background score enhance several scenes.

Minus Points:

The biggest weakness is the writing. The story itself is simple, but the screenplay fails to provide enough freshness or progression. Much of the film depends on conversations between the lead pair, with several scenes repeatedly exploring similar emotions. As a result, both the first half and portions of the second half feel stretched. Although the pre-climax and climax offer some emotional moments, they arrive rather late. Anand’s character is also written with an exaggerated level of innocence, which may not appeal to every viewer. The supporting characters, including those played by Sivaji and Vasuki, could have been developed better. The connection with the 90s – A Middle Class Biopic web series does not add significant value to the narrative.

Technical Aspects:

Director Aditya Hasan has a simple and relatable story but struggles to translate it into a consistently engaging screenplay. The repetitive writing affects the overall pace. Hesham Abdul Wahab is one of the film’s major strengths, with his songs and background score adding emotional weight to several scenes. Azeem Mohammad’s cinematography is satisfactory, while the production values are decent. However, Navin Nooli’s editing could have been sharper, as several scenes and conversations could have been trimmed for a tighter narrative.

Verdict:

Epic – First Semester is a passable love drama that benefits from the performances of Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya. The lead pair shares some enjoyable and relatable moments, while the music and occasional comedy provide a boost. However, repetitive writing, limited progression and a stretched narrative prevent the film from making a stronger impact. The emotional payoff comes too late. It may work for viewers who enjoy relationship dramas, but expectations should be kept in check.