Epic – First Semester is a Telugu romantic drama that explores young love, friendship, financial struggles and the uncertainty of life away from home. Starring Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya in the lead roles, the film is directed by Aditya Haasan and features music by Hesham Abdul Wahab.
Released theatrically on September 11, 2026, the movie attempts to present a coming-of-age romance through the experiences of two young people living together in the UK.
The film has some genuinely engaging moments, particularly because of the chemistry between its lead pair and the emotional performances from the supporting cast. However, its slow narration, stretched second half and deliberately incomplete ending prevent it from becoming a completely satisfying romantic drama.
TFI.BUZZ Rating: ⭐ 2.5/5
💕 Epic – First Semester Story
The story follows Aditya, who travels to the UK to pursue a one-year college course.
His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Kadali, and the two eventually become roommates.
As they spend more time together, their relationship gradually develops from friendship into love. However, their journey isn’t presented as a simple romantic story.
They have their share of arguments, misunderstandings, financial difficulties and personal struggles, which begin testing their relationship.
The film attempts to capture the emotional uncertainty of young people who are trying to build their lives while being away from their familiar surroundings.
The central idea has potential, particularly because it combines a romantic relationship with the practical challenges of living abroad.
👨 Anand Deverakonda as Aditya
Anand Deverakonda plays Aditya, the protagonist who travels to the UK for his studies.
His performance works best in the quieter and emotional portions of the film. Aditya is not portrayed as an overly dramatic hero, which suits the grounded nature of the story.
Anand brings a natural quality to the character, particularly in his interactions with Kadali.
The film depends heavily on the lead pair’s chemistry, and Anand manages to create a believable connection with Vaishnavi Chaitanya.
👩 Vaishnavi Chaitanya as Kadali
Vaishnavi Chaitanya plays Kadali, Aditya’s roommate and eventual love interest.
She gets enough material to portray different shades of the character, from playful and affectionate moments to emotional conflicts.
Her chemistry with Anand Deverakonda is one of the movie’s strongest aspects.
The relationship between Aditya and Kadali feels most effective when the film concentrates on their everyday interactions rather than attempting to force dramatic situations.
❤️ Anand Deverakonda & Vaishnavi Chaitanya Chemistry
The biggest strength of Epic – First Semester is the chemistry between Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya.
Their relationship provides the film with its most enjoyable moments.
The natural conversations, small disagreements and emotional exchanges help make their characters feel relatable.
For audiences who particularly enjoy romantic dramas driven by the lead pair, this chemistry may be enough to keep them invested despite the film’s slow pace.
🎵 Hesham Abdul Wahab’s Music
Music is another major positive.
Hesham Abdul Wahab provides the soundtrack and background music, complementing the film’s romantic and emotional tone.
The song “Sancharame” stands out as one of the highlights.
The music often succeeds in creating the emotional atmosphere that some of the slower portions of the screenplay struggle to maintain.
For a romance built around the emotional journey of two young characters, the soundtrack becomes an important part of the viewing experience.
🎭 Sivaji’s Performance
Among the supporting cast, Sivaji delivers a particularly strong emotional performance.
His presence adds additional emotional weight to the narrative and helps elevate some of the film’s more serious moments.
Vasuki and Kalyan Shankar also contribute to the supporting cast, although the film remains primarily centred around Aditya and Kadali.
🐌 Slow First Half & Lengthy Second Half
The biggest problem with Epic – First Semester is its pacing.
The movie takes its time establishing the relationship between the protagonists, which can work for a coming-of-age romance, but several portions feel unnecessarily stretched.
The second half is particularly affected.
Some situations are revisited repeatedly, making the narrative feel slower than necessary. Scenes that could have been shortened are allowed to continue for longer, reducing the overall impact of the emotional moments.
The film clearly wants to create a gradual and immersive relationship journey, but the execution sometimes makes the experience feel deliberately slow rather than naturally paced.
⚠️ Incomplete Ending
Another important aspect of the film is its ending.
Rather than providing a complete conclusion to Aditya and Kadali’s story, the movie leaves the narrative deliberately incomplete, seemingly setting the stage for a follow-up.
While this approach can create anticipation for another chapter, it may also leave viewers feeling unsatisfied after investing considerable time in the characters.
For audiences expecting a self-contained romantic drama, the ending could be a significant drawback.
👍 What Works
There are several elements that work well in Epic – First Semester:
- ❤️ Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya’s chemistry
- 🎵 Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music
- 🎶 “Sancharame” song
- 🎭 Sivaji’s emotional performance
- 🌍 The UK-based setting
- 💕 Relatable relationship moments
- 💰 The inclusion of financial and everyday struggles
- 👥 The coming-of-age theme
These elements give the film a genuine emotional core.
👎 What Doesn’t Work
However, the film has some noticeable weaknesses:
- 🐌 Very slow pacing
- ⏳ Lengthy second half
- 🔁 Some repetitive scenes
- ✂️ Several portions could have been trimmed
- ❓ The incomplete ending may frustrate viewers
- 🎬 The interesting premise isn’t always supported by equally engaging execution
The core idea has potential, but tighter editing and a more focused screenplay could have made the film considerably more effective.
🎯 Final Verdict
Epic – First Semester is an emotional but uneven romantic drama.
The film benefits greatly from Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya’s chemistry, while Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music and Sivaji’s performance provide some of its strongest moments.
However, the slow pacing and stretched second half make the viewing experience demanding. The deliberately incomplete ending also means audiences don’t receive a fully satisfying conclusion.
Those who enjoy slow-burn romances, coming-of-age stories and the lead pair may find enough to appreciate here. But viewers looking for a tightly written and fast-moving romantic entertainer may find the film frustrating.
Overall, Epic – First Semester is a mixed watch with a good emotional foundation but inconsistent execution.
TFI.BUZZ Rating: ⭐ 2.5/5 – Mixed
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