Premante (2025): A Relatable Rom-Com About the Madness of Newlywed Life
At a time when many Telugu films chase high-octane action or grand sagas, Premante (2025) feels refreshingly simple and fun. It is a light, slice-of-life romantic comedy that dives straight into the awkward, funny, and chaotic side of early marriage.
Directed by debutant Navaneeth Sriram, the film stars Priyadarshi Pulikonda and Anandhi as a young couple whose dreamy love story quickly shifts into a comedy of errors. Produced by Jhanvi Narang and Pushkar Rammohan Rao under Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP, and presented by Rana Daggubati, Premante runs for a breezy 2 hours and 10 minutes.
It does not try to change the genre, but it takes the small, everyday moments of married life and turns them into something warm and genuinely enjoyable. Releasing on 21 November 2025, right before the festive period, it positions itself as an easy-going family entertainer for viewers who prefer realistic humour to heavy drama.
Plot Summary: From Honeymoon Highs to Household Headaches
Premante opens with a classic feel-good meet-cute between Karthik (Priyadarshi) and Priya (Anandhi), two city-bred millennials whose fast-paced romance leads to a picture-perfect wedding. The early portions play out like a fairy tale, complete with a sweet honeymoon montage. Once they return and move into a compact apartment in Hyderabad, armed with social media dreams of being the perfect couple, real life arrives with a thud.
Soon, the cracks begin to show. Karthik’s mysterious late-night phone calls spark Priya’s doubts and push her to think he might be hiding something. At the same time, her obsessive planning and meal-prepping turn the kitchen into a war zone filled with sticky notes, silent treatment, and small ego clashes. Every day routines spiral into full-blown comic set pieces.
Things escalate further when Priya reaches out to her over-involved mother-in-law (played with relish by Suma Kanakala) for “guidance”. What starts as harmless advice turns into a chain of disasters involving fake alibis, ruined surprise parties, and a social media blunder that exposes Karthik’s supposed “double life” to the world. There is a central twist that changes how the entire relationship is viewed, and it lands without spoiling the light-hearted tone.
Navaneeth Sriram’s writing blends loud, physical comedy with softer emotional moments. The film is not only about jokes; it also gently reflects how modern marriages bend under unspoken expectations, counselling trends, and the constant pressure to look like “couple goals” online. The story moves at a brisk pace, avoids pointless diversions, and leads to a finale that feels both funny and genuinely touching.
Performances: Priyadarshi Glows in Comfort-Comedy Mode
Priyadarshi Pulikonda, coming off a serious role in Court earlier in the year, slips neatly into the skin of Karthik, the everyday husband who is charming, flawed, and often in trouble. His timing with dialogue, sharpened in films like Pelli Choopulu, keeps the film lively. Simple moments, like forgetting an anniversary or fumbling through a tense family dinner, turn into sharp comedy because of his reactions. Watching him lie on the spot, then panic as his lies crumble, is a joy.
Anandhi, returning to Telugu cinema after Kadaikutty Singam, is a strong match as Priya. She is not just the nagging wife stereotype. Her expressive face carries wide-eyed love, simmering anger, and deep hurt with equal ease. She especially shines in the quieter scenes, where the jokes pause and we see her doubts and insecurities clearly.
The supporting cast brings extra charm. Vennela Kishore, as Karthik’s clueless best friend, walks away with several scenes through his rapid one-liners and silly plans. Suma Kanakala, widely known as a television anchor, surprises with a mother-in-law role that feels familiar yet layered. She is not a cartoon villain but a woman shaped by her own difficult marriage, whose “tips” often cause more confusion than help. The entire ensemble feels natural, like a real extended family, which helps Premante rise above standard rom-com clichés.
Direction and Technical Work: Bright, Clean, and Confident
For a first film, Navaneeth Sriram shows a steady hand. He combines situation-based humour with sharp, everyday observations. He clearly draws from real-life issues, such as couples facing “post-honeymoon blues” or turning to therapy to sort out basic communication problems, and turns them into scenes that feel close to home.
The rhythm of the film is tight. Scenes rarely linger beyond what they need, and Sriram trusts his actors and their chemistry instead of stuffing the script with forced jokes. Vishwanath Reddy’s cinematography gives Hyderabad a warm and inviting look, whether it is crowded streets or the couple’s slightly messy flat. The visuals favour bright, rich colours that match the film’s upbeat mood.
Production design also plays a key part. Priya’s Pinterest-style home decor, quirky kitchen items, and small household details highlight the gap between expectation and reality in their marriage. These touches make the setting feel lived in, not like a generic film set.
Music and Sound: Leon James Strikes the Right Mood
Leon James delivers a lively soundtrack that lifts the storytelling. The title song is an energetic duet that blends folk-style beats with modern electronic sounds, and it instantly sets a cheerful tone. Romantic tracks like “Naa Premante” feel dreamy and gentle, helped by soft acoustic guitar and Anandhi’s soothing voice.
Comic scenes are boosted by playful background pieces that nudge the humour along without shouting for attention. The score supports the emotional flow instead of overpowering it. In a year filled with loud, overdone music, Leon James’s controlled approach makes Premante feel more personal and easy on the ears, and the songs are likely to get repeat plays.
Final Verdict: A Fun Watch for Today’s Couples
Premante is not a bold reimagining of Telugu cinema. It is something more modest and more comforting, like a long chat with close friends over late-night chai. At heart, it reminds us that love is not a tidy highlight reel, but a messy show filled with silly fights, half-truths, and shared jokes that keep it going.
Priyadarshi and Anandhi share a relaxed, believable chemistry, and Navaneeth Sriram has a sharp eye for the everyday absurdity in married life. Together, they deliver a film that feels ideal for date nights, group outings, or a casual family watch. The humour and themes are likely to connect strongest with urban audiences, who will recognise many of the situations.
IBomma Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Walk in expecting laughter, relatable chaos, and a soft reminder to be kinder to your own “premante”, or to yourself if you are happily single.