Through two timelines, 1964 and 1984, Sita Ramam reveals the mystery behind its main protagonists, Sita Mahalakshmi (Mrunal Thakur's Telugu film debut) and Lt. Ram (Dulquer Salmaan). When Afreen (Rashmika Mandanna), a student of Pakistani descent, is asked to find Sita so that she can deliver a 20-year-old letter written to her by Ram, she travels from London to India. She enlists the aid of Balaji, a senior at her college who is currently residing in Hyderabad (Tharun Bhascker).

These two characters, like Samantha and Vijay Deverakonda, are clearly suffering from a Mahanatihangover as they attempt to piece together a historical narrative. Beyond this general resemblance, Sita Ramam is thankfully a completely fresh canvas. The journey proves transformative and makes a character empathetic and shed preconceived notions of looking at people through the lens of religion and nationality. The discovery in Mahanati begins from a space of ignorance and the reporter's need to find a good story while here.

The 1960s are depicted in a dreamlike manner. Lt. Ram is stationed in the snow-covered hills of Kashmir's borders. His fellow soldiers are his entire world. Shatru portrays a close friend, Sumanth plays a resentful officer named Brigadier Vishnu Sharma, and Major Selvan plays his commanding officer (Gautham Menon). Ram is referred to as a "lone ranger" by an All India Radio journalist (Rohini Molleti), who asks listeners to write to him. Letters keep coming in, including one from Sita reminding Ram that he is not an orphan and that he has a wife at home.

Sita (Chinmayi, who is excellent at dubbing) is heard considerably before she is seen. Vishal Chandrashekhar's score captures the nostalgic vibe with both the humorous western-influenced score in a select passages and the Indian classical flourishes in the songs.

The inhospitable, cold landscape is depicted by cinematographers P S Vinod and Shreyaas Krishna in all its splendour and eerieness. Aside from the beautiful vistas, they skillfully traverse the chilly interiors. Check out how the light enters through the patterned walls when Major Selvan addresses the soldiers before a mission, for instance.

Sita Ramam is not entirely successful in becoming the timeless love story its creators intended. But what holds it all together is their sincere endeavour to tell a heartfelt romantic story. Ram, Sita, and Afreen are possible names for the main protagonists. Change their names and faith, and the message the narrative portrays will remain true in its fundamentals. The beauty of the story is found there.