Jan. 07, 2022|India|133 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Drama;Romance;South;Indian
Description: Atithi Devo Bhava, which translates to “Guests are our God,” is a 2022 Indian romantic action film in the Telugu language. Directed by debutant Polimera Nageshawar and produced by Srinivasa Cine Creations, the film features Aadi and Nuveksha in lead roles, with music composed by Shekar Chandra. The story revolves around Abhay, who suffers from monophobia, a fear of being alone, which drastically impacts his life after he falls in love. The film was released theatrically on January 7, 2022.
The protagonist, Abhi, struggles with monophobia, making it difficult for him to live independently and constantly seeking companionship. During this phase, he develops feelings for Vaishnavi. Just as their relationship seems to be progressing smoothly, Abhi’s phobia leads to misunderstandings and complications in their love story.
This film marks the directorial debut of Polimera Nageshawar. The majority of the filming took place in Hyderabad, while the song sequences were shot in Darjeeling. Shekar Chandra handled the music composition, with Karthika Srinivas and Amarnath Reddy responsible for editing and cinematography, respectively. Atithi Devo Bhava was released ahead of the Sankranti festival, following delays in other major Telugu productions like RRR and Radhe Shyam.
Critics offered mixed reviews for the film. A reviewer from The Hans India awarded it 1.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as a conventional and outdated romantic family entertainer with weak narration and an unconvincing screenplay. Despite decent performances by the lead actors, the film was criticized for its uneven storytelling and outdated treatment. Similarly, Anji Shetty of Sakshi noted that the director failed to execute a promising idea effectively.
While Eenadu appreciated the storyline and music, it criticized the screenplay. Surya Prakash of Asianet News highlighted the lack of a thrilling element to engage the audience and pointed out poorly handled comedy and action sequences. Overall, the film struggled to leave a lasting impression on critics and audiences alike.
Cast director: Polimera Nageshwar
Cast actor: Aadi Saikumar, Nuveksha, Rohini, Saptagiri, Ravi Prakash, Aadarsh Balakrishna, Mani Chandana, Raghu Karumanchi, Gundu Sudarshan, Jabardasth Apparao
Original name: అతిధి దేవోభవ