Unexpected twists usually invigorate a movie and add pep to the proceedings. But at the same time, a twist that the viewer knows is coming works the other way, making the viewer impatient and making the twist itself rather anticlimactic when it occurs. That is the problem with Kavithai that makes its key twist rather obvious and then makes us wait until the midway point to unveil it. But to the movie's credit, it recovers quite well and presents a fairly engaging second half that is not as completely predictable.

Shakti(Vamsi) falls for Subulakshmi(Chaya Singh) and her actions make him believe that she reciprocates his feelings too. Subulakshmi is under the grip of her cruel stepmother(Nalini) who now wants to get her married against her wishes. So Subulakshmi asks Shakti to take her away to Vizag. An overjoyed Shakti fends off goons sent by the stepmother and takes her safely but a surprise awaits him when they reach their destination.

The movie delivers a big twist midway but the twist is no big surprise considering the number of other movies with the same storyline and the way the main characters have been shaped. But once we get past that, the screenplay does go through several small twists and turns that engage our interest. The director manages to keep the story moving and the plot developments he utilizes for the same are fairly engaging. The story takes a while in making Vamsi and Chaya Singh meet again after being separated but the route it takes doesn't make the proceedings seem stretched. The eununch adds some freshness but the dance number at the whorehouse could have been avoided.

The director, while concentrating on the story and screenplay, seems to have missed out on the way his characters are shaped. Inspite of the necessary ingredients being in place, neither of the leads earn our sympathy. In fact, at various points, both of them earn our irritation. For instance, Chaya Singh has a cruel stepmother but the fact that she hides an important fact from Vamsi angers us. The reason she gives simply gives the impression that the director did not put the effort to come up with a valid reason. Vamsi at the point earns our sympathy but his irresponsibility towards his family and the serious consequences his actions bring about do not make him a very likeable character.

Vamsi seems resigned to the fact that this will probably his first and last movie and rarely exhibits any energy. Chaya Singh looks jaded in most scenes but displays the same expressive face she used to good effect in Thirudaa Thirudi. Nalini is over the top while Sarathbabu plays the typical meek husband who finally stands up for himself and his daughter. Shukran is believable as the eununch and is noticed. The director's wish to replicate the success of Manmadha Raasa... is evident from the picturization of the Aathaa... numbe since the location, dance steps and tune all remind one of the other hit.