After the recent success of Little Hearts, there has been a renewed interest in films featuring new faces. Falling into that category, Beauty hit the theaters this week. Starring Ankith Koyya in the lead role, the movie has been made with the support of director Maruthi’s production banner. Let’s see whether Beauty manages to impress the audience.

Plot Summary
Narayana (Naresh) is a middle-class father who works as a car driver in Vizag. His daughter Alekhya (Nilakhi) means the world to him, and he fulfills all her wishes despite financial struggles. On her birthday, he even buys her a scooter though it strains his pocket.

Alekhya, studying intermediate, initially clashes with a pet trainer, Arjun (Ankith Koyya), but their fights soon turn into love. One day, during a video call with Arjun, Alekhya speaks inappropriately, and her mother (Vasuki) overhears. Shocked, Alekhya elopes to Hyderabad with Arjun. Narayana sets off to find his daughter and faces unexpected challenges there. What happens to Alekhya? How are this young couple connected to a crime gang? Will Narayana reunite with his daughter? The rest of the story answers these questions.

Analysis
Story-wise, Beauty does not bring anything new to the table. It is based on incidents we often hear about in society. Telugu cinema has already explored similar plots, especially those revolving around a father’s unconditional love for his daughter and her rebellious choices.

The success of such a story depends on how convincingly the father–daughter emotion is portrayed. The director has tried to bank on this emotion, but the narrative falters due to predictable situations and weakly designed scenes. With no novelty in the script, relying solely on emotions to engage the audience feels like a risky attempt.

The interval twist works well, but in the second half, the screenplay loses direction. Police investigations, the young couple’s journey, and repeated sequences test the patience of the audience. Except for the pre-climax, the latter half has little to offer. The climax is exactly what one would expect, making it another drawback.

Performances
Ankith Koyya delivers well in a role with two contrasting shades. Nilakhi Patra impresses with her performance. Naresh is the backbone of the film, bringing authenticity and depth to the role of a middle-class father. Vasuki’s performance feels natural.

On the writing side, more effort was needed to bring freshness into the love track and emotional sequences. The interval, pre-climax, and climax seem to be where the director focused most. Vijay Bulganin’s music stands out and adds appeal to the film.

Technical Aspects
Director J.S.S. Vardhan attempts an honest take but falls short due to the lack of engaging scenes. Cinematography and editing are decent, while Vijay Bulganin’s music is the highlight, giving the film some emotional weight. Production values are fair.

Final Verdict
With a familiar storyline and predictable narrative, Beauty manages to leave only a moderate impact. It is watchable mainly for Naresh’s performance and some emotional moments but lacks the freshness to stand out.