Ishq: Not A Love Story Review- Story:

Story: Siddhu (Teja Sajja) and Anasuya (Priya Prakash Varrier) are deep in love. On the occasion of Anasuya’s birthday, Siddhu takes her on a long drive in his car. But all hell breaks loose after a menacing person spots them getting intimate in the car. What follows later is a tale of a cat and mouse fight between the young pair and the bully.

Ishq: Not A Love Story Review - Analysis:

Ishq: Not A Love Story is a remake of a Malayalam film with the same title. The Teja Sajja and Priya Prakash Varrier starrer are more of a faithful remake and it doesn’t experiment around with the core plot. The entire narrative is similar to that of the original. The film starts off as a love drama and transcends into a thriller. The transition is arguably smooth and organic.

The screenplay is near-to-life and so are the sequences related to the bully targeting the young pair. The intensity is quite high once this subplot sets in. The lead actors deliver a fine performance which further elevates the mood and the vibe. However, the film loses momentum every now and again. The opening sequences and the love track establishment scenes are a tad slow-paced. A better start to the film could have served it well. The bullying track also gets a wee bit monotonous. That said the subsequent sequences related to the protagonist taking his revenge are engaging. Mahati Swara Sagar’s music and background score are of elite quality. The film is visually pleasing, thanks to good cinematography. Editing could have been crispier.

Ishq: Not A Love Story Review - Verdict:

Ishq: Not A Love Story starts off as a love drama but it takes a steep turn and transcends into a thriller. It has its own share of flaws as the bullying track turns monotonous beyond a point. But the ending portion is engaging and packs a punch. All in all, the film is part gripping and part substandard, making it a roller coaster of a ride.