Miss. Shetty Mr. Polishetty

Mahesh Babu P.'s 2023 Telugu film sets out to invert the expectations built around marriage. Anvita is a chef living in London who does not want to marry, does not see that as a lack, and is considering becoming a mother by her own decision. Siddhu, from Hyderabad, wants a relationship and says what he feels without difficulty. While their relationship proceeds in the familiar romantic comedy shape, the film states its real subject: a woman's wish to have a child without marrying and where that stands with her family and society. It puts the question at the centre in a way unusual for Telugu commercial cinema, then pulls towards compromise at the end. Anushka Shetty's performance carries the balance and the comic sections belong to Naveen Polishetty. Who it's for: viewers who like Indian romantic comedy and films that stretch their genre. Who it's not for: anyone expecting the subject to be carried through consistently; the film steps back in its final section.