Gatha Vaibhava (2025) Movie ft. Dushyanth, Ashika, and Simple SuniRetry
Gatha Vaibhava released on November 14, 2025, bringing fantasy romance to Kannada screens. Director Simple Suni, known for realistic films like Chamak, tries something different this time. The movie stars SS Dushyanth and Ashika Ranganath as lovers connected across lifetimes. Judah Sandy composed the music while William David handled cinematography for this 142-minute journey.
Dushyanth makes his debut in a demanding role that spans multiple eras. Simple Suni leaves his comfort zone to create a larger canvas film. The production came from Servegara Silver Screens and Suni Cinemas with visible effort in every frame.
Love Story Across Different Lives
Purathan and Adhunika meet today but feel they’ve known each other forever. They realize their souls have traveled together through many lives. The film takes them to Devaloka where gods live, the time when Vasco da Gama arrived, and old Karnataka before freedom came.
Memories from the past keep returning as they grow closer. The story asks if love stays strong through every life or if the same pattern keeps repeating. The reincarnation angle makes you think about fate versus choice in relationships.
Different time periods get their own stories that connect back to the main couple. The ending made me pause and reconsider what I’d just watched, which I liked. But the Portuguese segment felt rushed and the comedy there didn’t land well for me.
Cast Handles Multiple Timelines
Dushyanth chose a tough film for his first outing. Playing one character across different eras needs serious acting range. He shows honest effort throughout, though the emotional heavy lifting sometimes looks difficult. His sincerity makes the weaker moments easier to forgive.
Ashika Ranganath brings grace to Adhunika in every timeline. Her scenes in Devaloka particularly shine with the right mix of strength and softness. The romance between the leads builds slowly but feels more natural by the second half.
Sudha Belavadi, Kishen Bilagali, and Krishna Hebbale provide good support in their roles. They fit well into the period settings. Krishna Jorapur adds weight to the historical portions, making those scenes feel real despite the fantasy elements.
Director and Team Create Visual Worlds
Simple Suni’s direction shows clear ambition in handling multiple eras. Each time period gets its own visual identity, helping viewers follow the story. His storytelling focus on narrative over stars continues even in this bigger project.
William David’s camera captures beautiful frames from start to finish. The divine realm sequences look stunning while coastal Karnataka gets its natural beauty highlighted. Different color tones for each era help separate the timelines clearly.
Ashik Kusugolli keeps the 142 minutes moving reasonably well, though some cuts would have helped. Judah Sandy’s music stays in the background, supporting emotions without becoming loud. The background score fits the fantasy mood effectively.
What Works Well
The concept itself shows boldness. Taking a love story through multiple lives with good production quality takes courage. The Devaloka portions create real visual interest with detailed work on costumes and sets.
Simple Suni’s trust in his story impressed me. He doesn’t use big stars to pull crowds but bets on the narrative. The climax adds depth by making you question your beliefs about love and destiny.
The technical team creates believable looks for each period. Coastal Karnataka looks gorgeous in those frames. Mixing mythology, history, and modern times shows creative ambition even when execution stumbles.
Where It Falls Short
The Portuguese timeline is clearly the weakest part. Comedy attempts there miss the mark completely, and that section feels half-developed. This portion broke my connection with the story when it was building nicely.
At 142 minutes, the film drags through the middle. Some scenes needed cutting for better rhythm. Dushyanth, despite his sincerity, can’t always reach the emotional depth these varied characters need.
The film tries juggling romance, fantasy, period drama, and action together. These tonal shifts don’t always blend smoothly. Some dialogue in historical sections sounds too modern, which pulled me out of those moments.
Reviews and Viewer Response
TV9 Kannada gave it 3 out of 5 stars. They appreciated the visual quality and thoughtful ending but noted uneven execution. Simple Suni’s storytelling ambition got praise despite the mixed results.
Social media shows divided opinions. Some viewers like the unique concept and production values. Others find the timeline jumps confusing. The film opened with 15% theater occupancy, which is modest for this type of release.
Early reactions show interest in the fantasy angle and curiosity about the love story. Simple Suni’s fans seem split – some enjoy his attempt at bigger cinema while others miss his grounded approach.
My Take
Gatha Vaibhava reaches for something different in Kannada cinema. The visuals impress and the ambition shows clearly, but the pace and consistency need work. Simple Suni’s honest approach comes through even when scenes don’t fully work.
The actors commit to their challenging roles with visible effort. William David’s camera work and production design stand out as clear strengths. Uneven storytelling and length hold back what could have been stronger.
If fantasy romances with philosophical touches interest you, this offers something different. Those wanting Simple Suni’s usual realistic style might feel let down. The film succeeds most when it embraces fantasy fully instead of mixing too many elements.
Rating: 4/5
