Review: Sita Ramam - A Timeless Tale of Love & War

The plot is deceptively simple, yet layered with mystery. In present-day London, Afreen (Rashmika Mandanna), a fiery, rebellious Pakistani student, torches the car of an Indian man in a fit of political anger. Forced to pay hefty damages, she returns to Pakistan to seek money from her estranged grandfather-only to discover he has passed away. His sole bequest to her is an old, undelivered letter. The letter, addressed from a "Ram" to a "Sita," sends Afreen on a quest across the border to find its intended recipient.

Her journey unfolds a 20-year-old story set in 1965-a time of war between India and Pakistan. We meet Lieutenant Ram (Dulquer Salmaan), an orphaned Army officer stationed in Kashmir. Through a series of misunderstandings and a charming pen-pal arrangement, Ram falls in love with a woman he has never seen: Sita Mahalakshmi (Mrunal Thakur), a spirited and brave orphan living in a Hyderabad hostel. Their romance, built entirely on letters and chance encounters, blossoms against the backdrop of rising military tension. But tragedy strikes, and Ram is captured during a covert mission. The letter Afreen carries holds the key to a love story that was never allowed to complete its course.

Hanu Raghavapudi crafts Sita Ramam with the patience of a novelist and the eye of a painter. The first half, set in the lush valleys of Kashmir and the rustic charm of Hyderabad in the 1960s, is pure visual poetry. Vishnu Sharma’s cinematography captures the misty mountains and calm lakes with a tender, nostalgic warmth. Every frame feels like a carefully composed photograph, especially the extended sequence where Ram and Sita finally meet-inadvertently, through a runaway horse-at a railway station. It is the kind of pure, uncynical romance that feels increasingly rare.

The performances are the film’s beating heart. Dulquer Salmaan embodies Ram with quiet dignity and vulnerability. His eyes convey volumes-the loneliness of an orphan, the tenderness of a lover, the steely resolve of a soldier. Mrunal Thakur is a revelation as Sita. She brings a fierce, intelligent energy to the role; her Sita is no passive damsel but a woman who runs a hostel, stands up to bullies, and waits with unwavering faith. Their chemistry is soulful and understated.

Rashmika Mandanna, as the modern-day guide Afreen, provides the necessary contrast. Her initial brashness gives way to a profound, lived-in empathy as she uncovers the truth. She grounds the fantasy of the central romance with a relatable, skeptical lens. The supporting cast-Gautham Vasudev Menon as the wise Major Selvan, Sumanth as a pragmatic Brigadier, and Vennela Kishore in a surprisingly poignant comedic role-add rich texture.

Where the film slightly falters is its pacing. The middle portion, while beautiful, lingers a bit too long on military protocol and bureaucratic delays. The war sequences, though effective, feel slightly derivative of other war dramas. And the climax, while emotionally cathartic, relies on a coincidence that stretches credulity. But these are minor quibbles in a film that aims for the heart and largely succeeds. The music by Vishal Chandrasekhar is hauntingly beautiful-“Oh Sita” and “Kaanunna Kalyanam” are songs you carry with you long after the credits roll.

Pros

• Stunning, painterly cinematography that captures 1960s India and Kashmir.
• Deeply moving, credible chemistry between Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur.
• A mature, non-preachy portrayal of cross-border humanism.
• Excellent background score and soulful soundtrack.
• Strong supporting performances, especially Gautham Vasudev Menon.

Cons

• Pacing drags in the middle act, particularly the war segments.
• The modern-day framing device, while effective, occasionally feels like a distraction.
• The climax relies on an improbable narrative convenience.
• At 158 minutes, it tests the patience of viewers expecting faster storytelling.

Sita Ramam is not a perfect film, but it is a deeply heartfelt one. It stands as a reminder that love stories, when told with sincerity and craft, can still move audiences across generations and borders. Hanu Raghavapudi has crafted a film that respects its period setting while speaking to universal emotions of longing, loss, and the courage to keep a promise. It is a rare gem in Telugu cinema-a love letter that, like Ram’s, finally found its destination.

If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor. This is the kind of story that stays with you-quiet, stubborn, and unshakably romantic.