What's it about?
The film is about a group of classmates and their college life. It is told in flashback mode. Ravi (Sumanth) is a SFI leader. Buddy (Sunil) is his close friend. Murali (Sharwanand) is son of professors (Kota and Sudha) who work in the same college. Rajeshwari or Raji (Sada) is an MLA's daughter and  she does not get along well with Ravi. Satish (Ravi Varma), a rival student leader, wants to cash in on the divide between Ravi and Raaji. Rajiya (Kamilini Mukherjee) is a shy Muslim student. They all are classmates. 10 years later they meet again for a get together in memory of Murali who died under mysterious circumstances. Their meeting proves to be fatal. Slowly there are many mysteries are unraveled. What are they? Watch it out on big screen.

Analysis
Classmates is remake of super hit Malyalam film by the same name. The original was directed by Lal Jose and is penned by James Albert. Without doubt, the story has a great depth and is very innovative. There have been many films set in campus with all its fun but adding a murder mystery to it has brought novelty to the story.

All said, the execution by director K Vijayabhaskar leaves much desirable. His style is very old fashioned. Indeed the first half is very boring. Only in the second half, the film gathers momentum and the climax comes as real jolt.

When the Tamil film, Autograph, was remade in Telugu, the original flavor and sensitivity didn't find place in the Telugu version. Same is the case with Classmates. The scenes in college days lack entertainment. Many of the scenes before the interval look artificial. Is it the same K Vijayabhaskar who directed blockbusters like Nuvvu Naku Nacchavu, Mallishwari etc?

Performances
Of the entire cast, it is Kamilinee Mukharjee who steals the show in the end. Her role is interesting and she does it so convincingly. Sumanth in the role of student leader is also good. He should be commended for taking up such roles. There is maturity in his performances. Sada's role is not properly etched. The scenes between Sumanth and Sada are also underdeveloped. Sharwanand is cute in his brief role and he gets best song in the film. Ravi Varma plays negative character and he does justice to it. Sunil and Maruthi are okay. Senior artistes Kota, Sudha and Tanikella are good in their brief roles.

What's hot?
Undoubtedly it boasts a good script. A creative director can etch a great film with such a  story. Some of the scenes are very realistic. Hari Anumolu's cinematography is neat.

What's not?
Poor directorial qualities, shoddy first half,lack of comedy, old style fashioned narration and artificial scenes are the major flaws in the film. Music by Koti is big minus except one song.

Bottom-line
Classmates is average film. Such films should bring back the memories of college-day, only then audiences can easily identify with it. But it fails in this regard. Can the ultra modern youth of today lap up the old style idea of college fun? It remains to be seen. Classmates has all the ingredients to be a delicious meal but it was not prepared well.