14 Days Girlfriend Intlo review: A zany Gen Z romp that sticks to its lane

There are some films that take you on a ride so unpredictable you forget where you started, and others like 14 Days Girlfriend Intlo that plant their feet firmly within the confines of a single, amusing premise and soar unexpectedly. It’s a film with a simple hook: what if a man, sneaking into his girlfriend’s house for a carefree rendezvous, finds himself locked in when her conservative parents return unexpectedly? If that idea tickles you, you’ll have fun. If you expect it to go beyond the obvious, you might find yourself tapping your foot, waiting for a revelation that never arrives.

Director: Sriharsha Manne

Cast: Ankith Koyya, Vennela Kishore, Shriya Kontham, Indraja, Prashaant Sharma

Set in the early days of the lockdown, the film follows Harsha (Ankith Koyya), an aspiring filmmaker who, in search of inspiration, swipes his way into a match with Ahana (Shriya Kontham). A casual meeting turns into an unexpected sleepover at her place while her parents are conveniently away. But then, in classic Murphy’s Law (everything that can go wrong, will go wrong) fashion, they return earlier than expected. What starts as a short-term predicament soon turns into a 14-day endurance test.

This is, at its core, a one-location comedy, a genre that lives or dies on its ability to stretch a scenario without snapping the audience’s patience. To his credit, director Sriharsha Manne keeps the momentum rolling with slapstick antics and situational gags. Ankith Koyya, clearly taking it up as a challenge, carries much of the film’s energy on his shoulders. His animated performance, whether attempting an audacious escape via a faux balcony or getting trapped in the space underneath the bed in a nail-bitingly absurd sequence, adds verve to the proceedings. Vennela Kishore, as always, serves as the film’s secret weapon, bringing his signature comic timing to an already buoyant setup.

Mark K Robin’s pulsating soundtrack gives the film its necessary zing. His beats match the youthful, slightly rebellious tone of the story, ensuring that the film remains engaging throughout. The song ‘Lock Ayina Ra’ has some funky editing. The cinematography, though unflashy, finds visual appeal in its limitations. Even with a modest budget, the film’s colour grading elevates the overall look without making you question it.

But for all its zippy energy, the film never quite decides what it wants to be beyond its premise. A screenplay with a stronger destination could have turned this into a sharp, socially astute comedy. Does it want to say something about how young love still struggles against the weight of conservative family values? Or about the irony of newfound freedoms being clamped down by an unpredictable pandemic? Maybe it wants to explore the moral tightrope between youthful recklessness and parental concern? We never know. It toys with all these ideas but ultimately leaves them hanging, much like its protagonist dangling off that faux balcony.

14 Days Girlfriend Intlo remains content with being a breezy, light-on-its-feet entertainer. It doesn’t offer deep insights or a particularly strong resolution but compensates with its buoyant energy and a lead performance that suggests Ankith Koyya is a talented actor. Given Telugu cinema’s scarcity of actors in their early 20s who can carry a film with such effortless charm, he’s a welcome presence here. Shriya Kontham, too, plays her part well, balancing the tension of keeping her secret guest hidden while ensuring her parents don’t suspect a thing.

At the end of the day, 14 Days Girlfriend Intlo is like a weekend binge-watch, fun while it lasts but unlikely to linger in your memory. It’s an indie-spirited experiment that is never dull. If you’re looking for a lockdown-era romp with just enough cheeky humour to keep you engaged, this is your go-to this weekend. Just don’t expect it to outgrow its own one-line pitch.