'Couple Friendly' Movie Review
Santosh Shobhan’s emotional love story
A feel-good romantic drama set in Chennai and Kerala
Focuses on live-in relationship and emotional bonding
Strong performances by Santosh Shobhan and Manasa Varanasi
Slow-paced but heart-touching narration
A feel-good romantic drama set in Chennai and Kerala
Focuses on live-in relationship and emotional bonding
Strong performances by Santosh Shobhan and Manasa Varanasi
Slow-paced but heart-touching narration
Introduction
Santosh Shobhan, who has been waiting for a solid commercial success in his career, returns with a romantic drama titled Couple Friendly. Released on Valentine’s Day, this film features Manasa Varanasi as the female lead. Directed as an emotional love story, Couple Friendly Movie Review explores whether this film brings the much-needed success to Santosh Shobhan.
Plot Summary
Shiva (Santosh Shobhan) completes a diploma in Interior Designing and waits for project opportunities. To build his career, he moves from his hometown Nellore to Chennai. However, months pass without any project offers. To manage his expenses, he works part-time as a bike rider.
During this phase, he meets Mitra (Manasa Varanasi), who comes to Chennai to escape an unwanted marriage and search for an IT job. Their acquaintance gradually turns into love. Eventually, they begin living together in a live-in relationship.
What happens next? Does Shiva get his desired projects? What changes occur in his life after Mitra enters it? Does their love lead to marriage? What obstacles do they face? The rest of the story unfolds on the big screen.
Analysis
The core message of Couple Friendly is simple: one should live in the present and cherish loved ones without postponing happiness. It emphasizes that love is not just about wishing well for someone, but also being beside them and creating beautiful memories together.
Though the storyline is not entirely new, the director presents it in a heartfelt and emotional manner. The film explores what happens when a young man, who is struggling even to establish his life, ends up in a live-in relationship. It focuses on how their emotional journeys intersect and evolve.
From the first scene to the last, the director treats the story as an emotional journey. Although the narration feels slow at times, it never becomes boring. The audience travels along with the characters and their emotions.
However, certain scenes — particularly the sequences where Shiva and Mitra search for a hostel and the early live-in moments — feel slightly lengthy and routine. The screenplay progresses in a predictable manner. If these scenes had been handled with more freshness, the film could have gained better pace.
Shiva gradually becoming busy with projects and developing in his chosen profession, along with Mitra’s support, are engaging moments.
The way the story opens in Kerala, shifts to flashback, and then returns to the present might confuse some viewers. The first half is light and pleasant, while the second half turns into a complete emotional ride. Once their live-in relationship is revealed to their parents, the narrative gains both speed and emotional intensity. The climax scenes are particularly moving and may even bring tears. Though it is not as iconic as Geethanjali, it does remind the audience of that kind of emotional love story.
Performances
Santosh Shobhan delivers a mature and natural performance as Shiva. His emotional scenes, especially after learning an unexpected truth about the heroine, are deeply touching. He carries the film with sincerity.
Manasa Varanasi fits well into the role of Mitra and performs confidently alongside Santosh. Their on-screen chemistry works effectively. Rajeev Kanakala as Mitra’s father and Goparaju Ramana as Shiva’s father appear dignified in their respective roles and provide solid support.
Technical Aspects
The film would have benefited even more with stronger music. However, the background score supports the emotional mood of the story. The cinematography stands out, especially in the Kerala sequences and night scenes, showcasing visual richness. Every frame appears visually polished and aligns well with the film’s tone. The production values are impressive and maintain quality throughout.
Final Verdict
Though Couple Friendly does not present a new storyline, the director’s emotional and heartfelt narration makes it engaging. Couple Friendly Movie Review concludes that this is an organic, eco-friendly love story that connects emotionally. However, it primarily caters to multiplex audiences. Those who enjoy romantic dramas and emotional love stories may find Couple Friendly to be a feel-good cinematic experience.
Santosh Shobhan, who has been waiting for a solid commercial success in his career, returns with a romantic drama titled Couple Friendly. Released on Valentine’s Day, this film features Manasa Varanasi as the female lead. Directed as an emotional love story, Couple Friendly Movie Review explores whether this film brings the much-needed success to Santosh Shobhan.
Plot Summary
Shiva (Santosh Shobhan) completes a diploma in Interior Designing and waits for project opportunities. To build his career, he moves from his hometown Nellore to Chennai. However, months pass without any project offers. To manage his expenses, he works part-time as a bike rider.
During this phase, he meets Mitra (Manasa Varanasi), who comes to Chennai to escape an unwanted marriage and search for an IT job. Their acquaintance gradually turns into love. Eventually, they begin living together in a live-in relationship.
What happens next? Does Shiva get his desired projects? What changes occur in his life after Mitra enters it? Does their love lead to marriage? What obstacles do they face? The rest of the story unfolds on the big screen.
Analysis
The core message of Couple Friendly is simple: one should live in the present and cherish loved ones without postponing happiness. It emphasizes that love is not just about wishing well for someone, but also being beside them and creating beautiful memories together.
Though the storyline is not entirely new, the director presents it in a heartfelt and emotional manner. The film explores what happens when a young man, who is struggling even to establish his life, ends up in a live-in relationship. It focuses on how their emotional journeys intersect and evolve.
From the first scene to the last, the director treats the story as an emotional journey. Although the narration feels slow at times, it never becomes boring. The audience travels along with the characters and their emotions.
However, certain scenes — particularly the sequences where Shiva and Mitra search for a hostel and the early live-in moments — feel slightly lengthy and routine. The screenplay progresses in a predictable manner. If these scenes had been handled with more freshness, the film could have gained better pace.
Shiva gradually becoming busy with projects and developing in his chosen profession, along with Mitra’s support, are engaging moments.
The way the story opens in Kerala, shifts to flashback, and then returns to the present might confuse some viewers. The first half is light and pleasant, while the second half turns into a complete emotional ride. Once their live-in relationship is revealed to their parents, the narrative gains both speed and emotional intensity. The climax scenes are particularly moving and may even bring tears. Though it is not as iconic as Geethanjali, it does remind the audience of that kind of emotional love story.
Performances
Santosh Shobhan delivers a mature and natural performance as Shiva. His emotional scenes, especially after learning an unexpected truth about the heroine, are deeply touching. He carries the film with sincerity.
Manasa Varanasi fits well into the role of Mitra and performs confidently alongside Santosh. Their on-screen chemistry works effectively. Rajeev Kanakala as Mitra’s father and Goparaju Ramana as Shiva’s father appear dignified in their respective roles and provide solid support.
Technical Aspects
The film would have benefited even more with stronger music. However, the background score supports the emotional mood of the story. The cinematography stands out, especially in the Kerala sequences and night scenes, showcasing visual richness. Every frame appears visually polished and aligns well with the film’s tone. The production values are impressive and maintain quality throughout.
Final Verdict
Though Couple Friendly does not present a new storyline, the director’s emotional and heartfelt narration makes it engaging. Couple Friendly Movie Review concludes that this is an organic, eco-friendly love story that connects emotionally. However, it primarily caters to multiplex audiences. Those who enjoy romantic dramas and emotional love stories may find Couple Friendly to be a feel-good cinematic experience.
Movie Details
Movie Name: Couple Friendly
Release Date: 2026-02-14
Cast: Santosh Soban, Manasa Varanasi,Rajeev Kanakala, Goparaju Ramana
Director: Ashwin Chandrasekha
Producer: UV Concepts, Ajay Kumar Raju P
Music: Aditya Ravindran
Banner: UV Creations
Review By: Maduri Madhu
Trailer