The title ‘classmates’ is a bit misleading. It is not just about college students and love. The film is also a suspense thriller. ‘Classmates’ is a remake of a successful Malayalam film by the same name.
The film begins with a group for students who gather to observe the 10th death anniversary of their classmate Murali (Sarvananad) who also happens to be the son of lecturers Chandram (Kota Srinivasa Rao) and Lakshmi (Sudha).
The friends are now well settled in different professions. Ravi (Sumanth) is a businessman in Mumbai. Satish (Ravi Varma) is an MLA; Raji (Sada) opens a dance school in Bangalore.
Ravi is found unconscious on the road one day and everyone is shocked. The lecturers come to know that Ravi and Raja are in love and Satish who nurses political ambitions hatches a conspiracy to defeat Ravi in the college elections. He sets up Raji as his rival in the elctions. Murali is found dead and the suspense starts form here. A dejected Ravi quits college and goes away. Raji and Satish try to trace him in order to get him back to the college but in vain.
On the occasion of Murali’s death anniversary they all come together and a repentant Satish tells Ravi the truth. It now comes to light that Murali died due to chloroform given by Ravi in order to escape from the police. Enter Razia (Kamalini Mukherjee) who was in love with Murali. She wants to take revenge on Ravi for causing the death of Murali. However, the truth comes to light and the film ends on a happy note.
Positives – The perfect screenplay and the good direction by Vijayabhaskar add to the film. The suspense is well maintained which adds to the audience interest. All the actors have done a god job. Music by Koti and good production values form Sravanthi Ravikishore are the other highlights of the film.
Negatives – The overdose of campus politics is a definite put off. The director should not have devoted so much time for college politics.
All in all, a good suspense film. But the film lacks entertainment that could bring in the mass audience. Sumanth has given another splendid performance so did Sada.?
Rating: 3 / 5