Movie Name : Gatha Vaibhavam
Release Date : Jan 01, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : SS Dushyanth , Ashika Ranganath and Others
Director : Simple Suni
Producers : Deepak Thimmappa, Suni
Music Director : Judah Sandhy
Cinematographer : William J. David
Editor : Ashik Kusugolli
Related Links : Trailer
Gatha Vaibhavam is a Kannada fantasy period romantic drama starring SS Dushyanth and Ashika Ranganath in the lead roles. The Telugu version has hit theatres today as a New Year special. Here’s our review.
Story:
Aadhunika (Ashika Ranganath) is searching for a man who resembles a figure from her drawing. She soon meets Purathan (SS Dushyanth), a VFX studio owner who looks exactly like the person she has sketched. Aadhunika believes they share a connection from their past lives and reveals their bond. Whether Purathan comes to believe her and how their past life story unfolds form the rest of the film.
Plus Points:
Reincarnation-based love stories are not new, and Gatha Vaibhavam follows a familiar path. Director Simple Suni attempts to narrate the story in a straightforward manner, and a few portions set in a rural backdrop during the British era manage to hold some interest. These segments offer limited emotional weight and stand out compared to the rest of the film, especially towards the climax.
Both lead actors appear in four different roles. Ashika Ranganath looks pleasant on screen and performs reasonably well in the innocent village girl role. SS Dushyanth, despite being a debutant, handles his characters without major issues and delivers a restrained performance, particularly as the Kambala jockey. Their pairing looks acceptable in the period portions.
The village-based narrative in the second half is somewhat engaging in parts, though many scenes remain predictable. The emotions, performances, and music come together moderately in these portions, making them passable. The first half moves at a decent pace without major lags, but it fails to create strong involvement. Supporting actor Karthik Rao Kordale provides mild humour and does an okay job in his role.
Minus Points:
Reincarnation as a theme demands strong emotional continuity, which the film struggles to maintain. Despite dealing with multiple timelines, the storytelling lacks depth and fails to create a lasting emotional connect. Several scenes feel forced and artificial, reducing overall impact even when the narration moves quickly.
Though the second half shows slight improvement, it does not uplift the film in a meaningful way. Once the emotional thread is established, the narrative again turns routine, and the climax feels rushed and underwhelming. It needed stronger writing and more emotional payoff.
Several first-half portions, especially the Devaloka and Portugal episodes, fall flat and fail to generate interest. The background score feels inconsistent and often does not complement the scenes effectively.
While Ashika Ranganath puts in a sincere effort, her performance still leaves scope for improvement, particularly since the story heavily depends on her character.
Technical Aspects:
Director Simple Suni’s core idea is decent, but the execution lacks emotional strength and narrative grip. With tighter writing and more effective handling of key moments, the film could have worked better. Judah Sandhy’s music is average, with the songs failing to leave an impression, while the background score works only in parts. William David’s cinematography is neat and visually appealing. Ashik Kusugolli’s editing could have been sharper, as several scenes test patience. Production values are acceptable, and the Telugu dubbing and naming have been handled adequately.
Verdict:
On the whole, Gatha Vaibhavam suffers from poor execution and weak emotional writing despite having a workable premise. The performances are just about passable, but the predictable narrative and uneven treatment drag the film down. As a result, it ends up as a largely forgettable outing that struggles to connect with audiences.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team