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

Release Date: September 11, 2026

Starring: Anand Deverakonda, Vaishnavi Chaitanya and Others

Director: Aditya Haasan

Producers: Suryadevara Naga Vamsi & Sai Soujanya

Music Director: Hesham Abdul Wahab

Cinematographer: Azeem Mohammad

Editor: Navin Nooli

Story:

Set against the backdrop of Wanaparthy and London, the film follows Aditya (Anand Deverakonda), an innocent and easy-going youngster who dreams of becoming a film director. However, his parents want him to pursue higher education abroad, which eventually takes him to London. There, he meets Kadali (Vaishnavi Chaitanya), a strong-willed and independent girl from Vizag. Their contrasting personalities lead to an unexpected bond filled with fun, conflicts, ego clashes and emotional moments. The challenges in their relationship form the core of the story.

Plus Points:

Anand Deverakonda fits the role of Aditya well. His innocent portrayal, expressions and comic timing work in several scenes, particularly in his conversations with Kadali. Vaishnavi Chaitanya delivers a decent performance as Kadali, a character with a strong and independent personality that is different from some of her earlier roles. The relationship dynamics between the lead pair are among the better aspects of the film, with their conversations, conflicts, pain and adjustments feeling natural in parts. Kalyan Shankar’s comedy works in a few places, while Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music and background score elevate several scenes.

Minus Points:
The biggest drawback of Epic – First Semester is its writing. Though the story is simple, the film fails to build enough momentum through engaging situations and strong character development. The lead pair’s conversations often remain repetitive, making both halves feel stretched. The emotional moments in the pre-climax and climax arrive quite late.

The connection with '90s – A Middle Class Biopic' adds little to the story and feels more like a way to capitalize on the series’ popularity. Some intimate scenes may affect its appeal among family audiences. Anand’s excessive innocence is not always convincing, while the characters played by Sivaji and Vasuki are underdeveloped.
Technical Aspects:

Writer-director Aditya Haasan has a simple story idea but struggles to shape it into an engaging narrative. Repetitive writing and uneven execution affect the overall impact. Hesham Abdul Wahab is one of the film’s major strengths, with his music and background score enhancing several scenes. Azeem Mohammad’s cinematography is satisfactory, while the production values are decent. The editing could have been sharper, as trimming several scenes and conversations would have made the film tighter and more engaging.

Verdict:

Overall, Epic – First Semester is a passable love drama with some good moments. Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya deliver decent performances, and their chemistry works in parts. The comedy provides occasional laughs, while Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music adds value to several sequences. However, repetitive writing, a lack of progression and a stretched narrative hold the film back. The emotional payoff comes too late to create a strong impact, and the prolonged relationship drama may test the audience’s patience. If you can sit through the slower portions for the occasional good moments, the film can be given a try, but keep your expectations in check.