Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali movie story: Siddartha Ashok (Vihan), a hot-headed aspiring cricketer, meets a junior who fascinates him from the word go. It takes him a while to figure out who she is, including her name, and to develop a semblance of a relationship between them. Sid’s angry young man avatar pushes them apart, only to reconnect 7 years later, under very different circumstances.

Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali movie review: A simple love story - from meet cute to the unhurried, sweet bond shared between the lead pair, amid her initial hesitation, the boundaries she sets that he respects and regards; pangs of separation and the eventual promise of happiness – that is what debutant filmmaker Chandrajith Belliappa presents audiences with his Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali.

Chandrajith is either a poet himself or an avid enthusiast, poetry is a major element of his narrative. He also treats his film like a beautiful poem that is literally music to the ears. Gagan Baderiya’s score – both songs and background music – is as much a character in the tale as are Sid, Anahita and Radha (Mayuri Nataraja). It’s not rousing in an overwhelming sense, but rather pleasant and soothing, and yet elevates the overall viewing experience. Gagan is to Chandrajith what Charanraj is to Hemanth M Rao.

One of the aspects that I had loved about Sapta Sagaradaache Ello was Hemanth’s depiction of a much-in-love couple, with Manu and Priya. Chandrajith, though, had a more difficult job – his lead pair had just met and it wasn’t exactly love at first sight for them. Yes, there is an initial attraction, but then the romantic in the filmmaker takes charge, and the result – a beautiful romance that’s a far cry from the usual stalk-her-till-she- says-yes stories that unfold onscreen. It’s refreshing to see such a sensible, modern-day portrayal of a relationship in a film.

Chandrajith’s writing is, of course, the hero of Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali, and his choice of cast – Vihan, Ankita and Mayuri – absolutely perfect for the roles. He’s got three actors who do a lot of the heavy-lifting with their eyes - so much that’s left unsaid is conveyed in just a look.

Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali will, no doubt, be a milestone for all three, even though Mayuri gets only a minute fraction of the screen time the other two have. If Manu (Rakshit Shetty) and Priya (Rukmini Vasanth) of Sapta Sagaradaache Ello were the ‘IT’ pair of 2023, Vihan and Ankita as Sid and Anahita could just be the couple that find a place in audiences’ hearts this year.

Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali movie verdict: Chandrajith Belliappa deserves a round of applause for taking a simple tale that may seem familiar, and presenting it in an engaging and heart-warming fashion. Kudos to Rakshit Shetty too, for believing in the filmmaker. Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali is for die-hard romantics and those with a soft-spot for love stories. Watch it for the enchanting visuals, the beautiful music and, of course, a love story that’s been told with a lot of heart.

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