LYF (Love Your Father) Review: SP Charan's film is slow and uneven, but the second half delivers

2.5/5

Love Your Father Story

Kishore (SP Charan) and Siddu (Sri Harsha) are a father-and-son duo known for their selfless service to orphans. Kishore even conducts the last rites for unclaimed bodies using his own money. To fund this noble cause, Kishore turns to horse-race betting and consistently wins. However, reports surfaced that he is winning bets by administering steroids to horses and that there is a massive scam hidden behind his so-called service for orphaned bodies. A powerful businessman, Kabir (Nawab Shah), is linked to this scheme. Why does Kabir target Kishore and Siddu? And how the duo comes out of their issues is the story of the film.

Love Your Father Review

Love Your Father is directed by Pawan Ketharaju and features a mythological backdrop intertwined with a father-son story and a revenge drama. At first glance, the concept looks intriguing and is set up well within the film. However, the real conflict takes a long time to unfold, with the core plot kicking in only fifteen minutes before the interval. From that point onward, the film picks up momentum and delivers some engaging moments.

If the director had trimmed the dull college scenes, the film would have been far more engaging. The inclusion of Aghoras and their connection to the main storyline in the second half is interesting and adds depth to the narrative. The Kashi episode, in particular, stands out as one of the film's major highlights, delivering well-executed psychological thrills. Once the revenge drama begins, director Pawan Ketharaju incorporates solid tension between the hero and the villain, which keeps the audience invested.

However, the emotional bond between the father and son could have been explored more deeply. The film ends on an emotional note, neatly tying up all the interconnected storylines. On the downside, the attempt to add commercial appeal through excessive comedy backfires, as many so-called fun scenes feel like unnecessary speed breakers in the narrative. While the revenge drama is the film's core strength, it gets overshadowed at times by the mythological elements. Had the director focused more on intensifying the revenge angle rather than dragging certain sequences, the impact would have been stronger.

Coming to performances, SP Charan, who is making a comeback to Telugu cinema after a long hiatus, delivers a mature and compelling performance as the father. While he appears slightly rustic at the beginning, he shines in the emotional moments. Sriharsh, in his Telugu debut, is quite impressive, especially in scenes alongside SP Charan, which have been handled well. Nawab Shah, the seasoned Hindi actor, gets a substantial role as Kabir and leaves a lasting impression with his commanding screen presence.

If you are a fan of family dramas, stream more films in this genere on OTTplay Premium—now at a special discounted price. [Start Watching]

On the technical side, the editing could have been sharper, as at least fifteen minutes from the first half could have been trimmed. The production values are commendable, with the mythological elements being well-elevated through impressive cinematography. The songs are decent, though the background score feels overly loud at times. The production design is solid, but the dialogues occasionally come across as overly dramatic.

Love Your Father blends thrills, emotions, and revenge drama into one package. While the film starts slow, it eventually finds its rhythm and manages to hold the audience’s attention. If not for a few dragged-out sequences and misplaced comedic elements, this film could have been a far more impactful experience.

If you are a fan of shows that have strong family values, stream Sivaji's super hit series #90s on OTTplay Premium

Love Your Father Verdict

On the whole, Love Your Father is a revenge drama that has a mythological angle, told interestingly. Though the pace is slow and things take a slow start, the thrills in the latter half keep you invested.

Also Read: Home Town Review: Rajeev Kanakala's series is a nostalgic attempt that feels repetitive