Gatha Vaibhava is a Kannada fantasy drama directed by Simple Suni. The film stars newcomer SS Dushyanth and Ashika Ranganath in lead roles. It released in theaters on November 14, 2025, with a runtime of 142 minutes. Servegara Silver Screens and Suni Cinemas produced the project.
Simple Suni previously made smaller films like Chamak and Operation Alamelamma. This time he’s trying something bigger. The film blends fantasy, mythology, and romance across different eras. Music comes from Judah Sandhy while William J David handles the camera.
The Plot
Two people named Purathan and Adhunika meet today but feel they’ve known each other before. Soon they start remembering past lives together. Their souls appear connected across centuries through multiple rebirths.
The story moves through four different time periods. We visit Devaloka, the realm of gods. Then comes the Portuguese exploration era with Vasco da Gama. Next is coastal Karnataka during British rule. Finally we return to modern times.
Stunning Visuals Save The Day
The best thing about this film is how beautiful it looks. William J David’s camera captures each era differently. The godly realm of Devaloka feels grand and otherworldly. Karnataka’s coastal beauty shines through in several frames.
Production designers built elaborate sets for different time periods. Divine palaces, old villages, and Portuguese structures all look authentic. For a Kannada film working with tighter budgets, they managed impressive results. Each location feels lived in rather than artificial.
Visual effects work well without becoming excessive. The mythological sequences needed special effects and they delivered. The supernatural moments don’t look cheap. Everything serves the story rather than showing off technical ability.
Acting Shows Mixed Results
Ashika Ranganath does good work playing different versions of Adhunika. She brings genuine emotion to her character across timelines. Each incarnation feels distinct from the others. Her expressions convey feelings without overdoing it. I thought she handled a complex role with maturity.
Dushyanth makes his debut here but struggles to find the right tone. Some moments work fine but consistency is missing. Emotional scenes see him pushing too hard. The role needed restraint and subtlety which he hasn’t learned yet. Better direction might have helped him deliver more naturally.
What Works, What Doesn’t
Credit goes to Simple Suni for attempting something different. Most Kannada commercial films stick to familiar formulas. He chose to explore destiny, reincarnation, and eternal love. The technical team delivered strong work across departments.
But the central romance fails to convince. Purathan and Adhunika don’t share believable chemistry. Their connection feels forced rather than organic. Since the whole film depends on their bond, this weakness becomes critical. I never felt invested in whether they’d reunite.
Pacing creates problems throughout. The Portuguese segment adds little value to the overall story. Comedy attempts in that section fall flat. Important emotional moments get rushed while less crucial scenes drag on. Editing choices don’t always make sense for the narrative.
The film gets abstract near the end. Questions about reincarnation and fate remain hanging. Some ambiguity works for philosophical stories. But here it feels more like unfinished ideas than deliberate choices. I left the theater with more confusion than contemplation.
Critics And Viewers React
Reviews from critics came out mixed. Deccan Herald gave it 2 out of 5 stars. They suggested Suni should return to simpler stories that play to his strengths. The review praised Ashika but pointed out Dushyanth’s over-acting problems.
Audience opinions split down the middle. Many viewers appreciated the visual scale and ambition. Others felt let down by weak storytelling and chemistry. Social media reactions highlighted good cinematography but questioned the love story’s credibility.
Box office numbers started modestly. Opening day brought around ₹1 crore with about 15% occupancy. Karnataka showed some interest but bigger releases created tough competition. Early word-of-mouth suggests people respect the effort more than they enjoyed the film.
Should You Watch It?
Gatha Vaibhava aims high and deserves recognition for that. Simple Suni wanted to create something special for Kannada cinema. The technical work throughout is first-rate. Cinematography, sets, effects, and music all contribute quality work. Seeing it on the big screen makes sense given the visual investment.
However, the film doesn’t make you care about its characters. Chemistry between leads feels absent. Performance quality varies. Pacing stumbles repeatedly. The philosophical angle needed better execution to land properly.
If you enjoy watching films for craft and visuals, this offers plenty. The camera work alone justifies buying a ticket. But those wanting strong narrative drive and emotional connection might feel unsatisfied. I appreciated what they attempted more than what they achieved.
The film splits audiences naturally. Some will see ambition and visual poetry. Others will notice story gaps and emotional distance. It works better as a visual showcase than a complete film. Worth experiencing once for the technical achievements but unlikely to leave a lasting emotional impact.
Rating: 3.5/5
