A Cinematic Experiment You'll Either Love or Hate"
Ram Yogi Velgapudi's EVOL: A Love Story in Reverse is exactly what it claims to be-an experiment. And like most experiments, there's a chance it could fail. But here's the kicker: it doesn't. At least, not entirely.
The film's strength lies in its technical mastery. The camera work is slick, the editing precise, and the reverse storytelling is an interesting gimmick... for a while. You can tell that every shot, every scene, was meticulously crafted. Velgapudi clearly knows his way around a camera. The way he plays with light and shadow? It's gorgeous. You could watch the film on mute and still be impressed. The technical team deserves a standing ovation.
But here's the thing: if you strip away the pretty visuals and the reverse narrative trickery, what's left? Not much. The story, as far as I can tell, is supposed to be a deconstruction of love. But instead of feeling moved, I just felt... disoriented. The characters, despite their best efforts, are more like chess pieces in Velgapudi's grand game of "how many rules can I break before the audience gives up?"
And yet, there's something to be said for the sheer audacity of the project. Telugu cinema needs more films like this-films that aren't afraid to take risks. Velgapudi dares to do what most filmmakers wouldn't even consider: throwing every conventional rule of storytelling out the window. It's a bold move. But is bold enough?
Ultimately, EVOL is a film for cinephiles who love to dissect every frame, every choice, every unconventional beat. If you're one of those people, you'll probably walk out of the theater proclaiming Velgapudi a genius. If you're not, you'll walk out wondering what in the world you just watched.
