Banner: Riya Jiya Productions
Movie Name : Ugly Story
Review Rating : 3/5
Release Date : 22/05/2026
Producers: Subhashini, Konda Lakshman
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues & Direction: Pranav Swaroop
Co-Producers: Raj Nag, Ashwini Srikrishna
Lead Cast: Nandu, Avika Gor
Cinematography: Sri Saikumar Dara
Editing: Srikanth Patnaik
Music: Shravan Bharadwaj
Art Director: Vitthal Kosanam
PRO: Madhu VR
A film titled Ugly Story, starring Nandu and Avika Gor as the lead pair, created a decent buzz among audiences through its intriguing promos and appealing music. Directed by L. Pranava Swaroop, the film finally arrived in theatres on May 22, 2026. Here’s our review of Ugly Story.
Story:
The story primarily follows Karthik (Nandu) and his wife Neha (Avika Gor). Deeply in love with Neha, Karthik values her more than anything and constantly tries to win her affection, going to great lengths to make her happy. However, Neha continues to distance herself from him due to certain undisclosed reasons.
Amidst this emotional relationship drama enters Gautam (Ravi Teja Mahadasyam), whose character plays a key role in the narrative. What connection does Gautam share with the couple? Why does Neha remain emotionally detached from her husband? Is there a hidden past behind Karthik and Neha’s marriage? The answers to these questions form the core plot of the film.
Plus points:
Without a doubt, Ugly Story largely rides on the performance of Nandu. The actor delivers one of his sincere performances and his dedication towards the role is clearly visible throughout the film. The effort and intensity he brought to the character work effectively in several emotional moments.
Avika Gor looks graceful in a simple and homely role while delivering a neat and composed performance. Ravi Teja Mahadasyam gets a significant character with enough scope to perform, and he manages to leave a decent impression with his acting.
Veteran actor Sivaji Raja suits the role perfectly and performs convincingly, especially in a few notable scenes. Actress Pragya Nayan Sinha and the rest of the supporting cast also perform effectively in their limited yet important roles.
Minus points:
Though the film experiences a few slow-paced moments in the first half, the latter half manages to cover up those minor shortcomings effectively. Director L. Pranava Swaroop does a commendable job in handling the narrative, though a more engaging screenplay during the opening portions could have elevated the impact further. Overall, L. Pranava Swaroop succeeds in delivering the film in an entertaining and satisfying manner.
Technical Aspects:
The cinematography by Shrie Saikumaar Daara stands out as one of the major highlights of the film, as he captures the visuals in a stylish and visually rich manner throughout. The editing work handled by R. Srikanth Patnaik and Mithun Soma is impressive, keeping the narrative crisp for most parts.
Music composer Shravan Bharadwaj delivers pleasing work with both the background score and the montage songs, which blend well with the emotional moments and key sequences in the film.
On the production front, Riya Jiya Productions has maintained good production standards, presenting the film with visuals and technical quality that perfectly suit its tone and atmosphere.
Verdict:
Ugly Story works effectively mainly because of the impressive performance delivered by Nandu, whose acting and screen presence hold the film together. Avika Gor also emerges as one of the biggest strengths of the movie with her convincing and mature performance.
Director L. Pranava Swaroop successfully carries his unique vision throughout the narrative, presenting the story with a fresh treatment that offers a different cinematic experience to the audience.
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