Ugly Story Movie Review
Movie: Ugly Story
Release Date: 22 May 2026
CBFC Rating: A
Run-time: 2h 3m
Cast: Nandu, Avika Gor, RaviTeja Mahadasyam, Shivaji Raja and Others
Editors: Mithun Soma, Srikanth Patnaik R
Music: Shravan Bharadwaj
Cinematography: Shrie Sai Kumar Saara
Co producer: Aswini Sri Krishna, Deevela Srinivasarao
Producer: JS Subhashini
Written & Directed by Pranava Swaroop
Ugly Story takes on a tough subject. Directed by Pranav Swaroop, the film stars Nandu and Avika Gor in lead roles. The teaser and trailer got good attention. The team also used new ways to reach people, like home delivery of tickets through Blinkit. Nandu plays a man with a troubled mind. Avika Gor plays an innocent wife caught in a hard marriage. The film wants to talk about consent, control, and pain in relationships. Ugly Story hits the theatres on May 22.
Plot
The story follows Neha, played by Avika Gor. She loses her parents when she is young and grows up at her uncle’s home. Karthik, played by Nandu, falls for her. His love is not simple. He is possessive and shows signs of a disturbed mind. Neha loves Gautham since childhood. Both want to be together. When Karthik learns about this, his behavior turns darker. Circumstances force Neha to marry Karthik. Life after marriage becomes painful for her. Karthik controls and hurts her. The film asks many questions. Why did Neha marry a man she feared? What happens to Gautham? How far will Karthik go?
Performances
Nandu gives a powerful show as Karthik. He plays a psycho husband with full honesty. He does not hold back. From the first scene, you see the change in his eyes and body language. He switches from calm to anger in seconds. The role could look loud, but Nandu keeps it real. Avika Gor is excellent as Neha. Her work lifts the film even more. She shows fear, sadness, and silent strength without many words. Her face tells the story when Karthik hurts her. You feel sorry for Neha and want her to be safe.
Shivaji Raja is neat in the role of the uncle. He plays a regular father figure and does his part well. Ravi Teja Mahadasyam as Gautham is sincere and fits the boyfriend role. Pragya Nayan has a small role as a police officer and she leaves a mark.
Highlights
Nandu, Avika Gor
Bold Theme
Strong Acting
Clear Intent
Solid Music
Drawbacks
Heavy Mood
Slow Pacing
Analysis
The first half of Ugly Story sets up the characters with clarity. Director Pranav Swaroop tells the audience who Karthik is from the start. We see his obsession and his dark side early. The story takes time to show his actions before marriage. This helps us understand Neha’s fear. Some scenes repeat to stress his nature. This can feel slow, yet it builds the mood. The interval point raises the tension. The second half moves faster. After marriage, the story focuses on Neha’s pain and her struggle. The film shows how consent matters even between husband and wife. It does not hide the ugly truth. The climax gives a clear result. It satisfies the viewer because justice is shown. The director does not preach. He shows the reality and lets the audience decide. The film picks a debatable topic and stays true to it.
On the technical side, the film is strong for its budget. Sri Sai Kumar Dhara’s cinematography is clean and sharp. The camera stays close to faces and captures emotion well. Shravan Bharadwaj’s music and background score add real value. The RR lifts the tension in key scenes without being loud. The sound design makes the silence feel heavy when needed. Editing keeps the film tight after the interval. The production quality is good even with minimum cost. The team gave quality work in every area.
Ugly Story is not for everyone. People with soft hearts may find the scenes hard to watch. But the film is honest. It shows the pain many women face and do not speak about. The film wins because of its intent, Nandu’s brave acting, and Avika Gor’s heart touching work. It is a film based on character more than plot, and it succeeds in that aim. Watch it if you like strong stories and raw performances.
Rating: 3.25/5
Bottom-line: A Bold Look At Toxic Love
