'Sundarakanda' Movie Review

'Sundarakanda' Movie Review

Actors: Nara Rohith, Sridevi Vijay Kumar, Vruthi Vaghani, Naresh, Satya, Sunaina, Vasuki, Rupa Lakshmi, Abhinav Gomatham, Viswanth and others.

Music: Leon James

Cinematography: Pradish Varma

Producers: Santosh Chinnapolla, Gautham Reddy, Rakesh Mahankali

Written & Directed by: Venkatesh Nimmalapudi

Once known for doing back-to-back films, talented hero Nara Rohith took a break from movies in recent years. This year, he returned to the silver screen with Prathinidhi 2 and Bhairavam. Now, he is back again with his latest film, Sundarakanda. The movie created a positive buzz with its promos and was released today as a festive treat for Vinayaka Chavithi. Let’s take a look at its highlights.

Story:

Siddharth (Nara Rohith) remains single, though he crossed the marriage age long ago. His family keeps pressing him to settle down, yet he refuses every match that comes his way. The reason is his childhood crush, Vaishnavi (Sridevi), a woman he still remembers and admires. Siddharth wants his life partner to have the same qualities as her. In this search, he unexpectedly meets Aira (Vrithi Vaghani). He notices that she has some of the qualities he is looking for, and this makes him curious to know more about her. After finding out that she is a student in Visakhapatnam, Siddharth takes up a job as a lecturer in the same college just to stay close to her. Slowly, he begins to think of proposing to Aira and starting a life with her.

But just when he is ready to move forward, Vaishnavi re-enters his life. Her sudden comeback brings new questions and emotions. What is Vaishnavi doing now? How is she connected to Aira? The story unfolds around how Vaishnavi’s return changes Siddharth’s journey, and whether he finally finds the partner he has been searching for all these years.

Analysis:

Our cinema today is very different as our filmmakers are trying historical dramas, heavy action films, world-building fantasies, but forgetting reality and rooted dramas most of the time. But if a story has even a small fresh idea, but narrated with fun, fast pacing, and some entertainment, the audience tends to enjoy it. Sundarakanda is exactly this kind of film. Its main plot twist is new and interesting, while the rest of the story follows a known path. With that fresh point, the movie becomes engaging, entertaining, and lightly emotional, thus a clean family entertainer. Though it has a few ups and downs, it mostly keeps the audience interested.

The story begins with a love track in the hero’s youth, then moves to another love in his adulthood, and eventually the girl from the first love returns. Such plots are familiar, but director Venkatesh Nimmalapudi adds an unexpected twist that keeps the audience hooked. This twist is both funny and shocking, and it forms the crux of the story. Around it, the director built drama, romance, and entertainment in an effective way. Comedian Satya gets well-written scenes, creating plenty of laughs, which become a strong point in the first half. Nara Rohith’s introduction and the romantic track also keep the first half lively.

The second half begins with curiosity created by the twist, but some parts feel predictable and stretched, slowing the narrative. Still, the director manages to keep it from becoming too dull, and a few key scenes popped out well. A small emotional message is given at the end, though it could have been stronger. Sridevi’s role as Vaishnavi could have been used more effectively, and a few story logics are slightly weak.

Despite these minor flaws, Sundarakanda works because of its fun twist, comedy, and clean family-friendly entertainment. The crazy plot point and humorous moments make it worth watching, making it a film that families can enjoy together.

Performances:

After a long time, Nara Rohith has impressed audiences with his look and a refreshing love story in Sundarakanda. He has won over those who were disappointed with his Bhairavam act earlier. His acting feels natural due to his trademark subtle style, and his comedy timing is quite impressive. He also worked hard on his dance sequences, thus making the movie a strong comeback ship.

The new heroine, Vrithi Vaghani, did a decent job. Her looks and acting are good, though not extraordinary. Former heroine Sridevi, famous for Prabhas’ Eeshwar, makes a return to Telugu cinema after many years and delivers a strong performance. Even at her age, she impresses with both her beauty and acting.

Ace comedian Satya brought plenty of laughs with his signature style, becoming the biggest asset of the film. Social media fame Sunaina also stood out in the role of Satya’s wife, and Vasuki does well as the hero’s pregnant sister. Other supporting actors, including Naresh, Abhinav Gomatham, Rupa Lakshmi, VTV Ganesh, Ajay, and Viswanth, did well in their respective roles, adding strength to the narrative.

Technicians:

Technically, Sundarakanda is solid. Cinematographer Pradish Varma makes every frame look vivid and colorful. Leon James’ background score is lively and adds energy to the scenes, though the songs don’t ramp up the excitement. Better songs could have taken the film to another level altogether.

The production values are good, and debut director Venkatesh Nimmalapudi makes a strong impression. He takes an interesting twist in the story and builds drama and entertainment around it, making Sundarakanda an enjoyable family entertainer.

However, the screenplay slows down at times, and the story doesn’t always meet expectations. These are the main drawbacks of the film, but overall, it succeeds in keeping the audience engaged.

Finally: Sundarakanda.. Fun and Lively

Rating- 3/5