Rating: 2.75/5
Duration: 2 Hr 24 Mins | Genre: Family | Release Date: 14th January 2025
Cast: Venkatesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Aishwarya Rajesh, Srinivasa Reddy, Naresh, Sai Kumar, Upendra Limaye, VTV Ganesh, Srinivas Avasarala
Director: Anil Ravipudi | Producer: Dil Raju | Music: Bheems Ceciroleo
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| Source: Youtube |
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Introduction: A Strong Team, But Mixed Results
After the success of F2 and F3, the Venkatesh-Anil Ravipudi combination raised expectations for their third collaboration, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam. With a catchy song, Godari Gattu Meeda, and an extensive promotional campaign, the film generated a good amount of buzz. However, despite the high anticipation, does the film manage to live up to the hype and deliver another hit? Let’s dive in.
Plot Overview: A Family Drama with Action and Comedy
The film follows the life of Y.D. Raju (Venkatesh), an ex-cop and encounter specialist, who lives a peaceful life with his wife (Aishwarya Rajesh) and their four children in a village near Rajahmundry. Things take a turn when his ex-girlfriend (Meenakshi Chaudhary), now a police officer, approaches him for help with a secret rescue operation. As the mission progresses, family dynamics come to the forefront, with Raju’s wife insisting on joining the rescue effort. The plot explores the challenges that arise both in the operation and within the family, balancing action with comedy.
Performances: Venkatesh Shines, Aishwarya Rajesh Impresses
Venkatesh effortlessly slips into the role of Y.D. Raju, a character well-suited to his strengths. His comic timing remains impeccable, especially during the sequences where he juggles his relationships with both his wife and ex-girlfriend. His dialogues, particularly during a fight scene that delivers a "message" to men, are sure to be crowd-pleasers.
Aishwarya Rajesh delivers a standout performance as Raju’s innocent yet possessive wife. Her portrayal in the first half, where she subtly conveys the vulnerability and strength of her character, is particularly impressive. Meenakshi Chaudhary, who plays the ex-girlfriend and a cop, also does justice to her role. Her performance feels confident, and she holds her own alongside seasoned actors like Venkatesh and Aishwarya Rajesh.
The child actor who plays Bulliraju is a delightful surprise. His scenes in the first half bring much-needed charm to the narrative and are undoubtedly some of the film's highlights. On the contrary, Upendra Limaye’s portrayal of the jailer feels too exaggerated and at times, grates on the audience. His over-the-top performance detracts from the film’s overall tone.
Srinivasa Reddy, Sai Kumar, and Naresh have supporting roles that generate a few laughs, but none of them make a lasting impression. Similarly, VTV Ganesh and Srinivas Avasarala’s characters are functional but fail to leave any significant mark on the story.
Technical Aspects: A Mixed Bag
The music by Bheems Ceciroleo is undoubtedly one of the film’s strong points. Songs like Godari Gattu Meeda will likely become fan favorites, and the background score adds to the emotional depth of several scenes. The music helps in setting the mood, especially with the refreshing tunes that offer a break from the usual formulaic scores in Telugu films.
Cinematography by Sameer Reddy is functional, though not exceptional. The film’s visuals often feel underwhelming, which can be attributed to the relatively low budget. The production values are adequate but do not stand out. It’s clear that the film was made on a constrained budget, which shows in certain aspects of the visuals.
The editing by Tammiraju could have been more precise. While the first half is well-paced, the pre-interval block lingers unnecessarily, causing the film’s flow to feel sluggish. The second half is particularly marred by forced comedy and pacing issues, which could have been tightened for a more engaging experience.
Positives and Negatives: What Works and What Doesn’t
Positives:
- The sequences involving Bulliraju in the first half provide much-needed freshness and are some of the film’s best moments.
- Venkatesh’s excellent comedy timing keeps the audience entertained throughout.
- Aishwarya Rajesh delivers a heartfelt performance as the possessive wife, adding depth to the family drama.
- The music, especially the song Godari Gattu Meeda, is a major highlight.
- Bheems Ceciroleo’s background score enhances the emotional tone of the film.
Negatives:
- The second half of the film is bogged down by over-the-top sequences and forced comedy, which fail to land.
- Upendra Limaye’s character is poorly written, and his exaggerated performance detracts from the narrative.
- The story lacks depth, with an underdeveloped plot and lackluster writing in key areas.
- A social message about teachers is abruptly inserted in the climax, feeling out of place and disconnected from the rest of the film.
- The editing in the second half could have been tighter, particularly during the pre-interval and climax sequences.
Final Thoughts: A Passable Family Entertainer
Sankranthiki Vasthunnam is a film that will likely appeal to family audiences looking for a light-hearted, somewhat formulaic entertainer. While the performances, particularly by Venkatesh and Aishwarya Rajesh, keep the film grounded, the lack of a solid story and the overuse of loud comedy in the second half prevent it from being a standout. It’s a film that you can enjoy if you don’t overthink it, but it certainly doesn’t offer the same level of brilliance we’ve seen from Anil Ravipudi’s previous works.
In conclusion, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam is a decent, passable film that will entertain you for a couple of hours, but it’s not the kind of film that lingers long after you’ve left the theatre. If you’re looking for a mindless family entertainer with some fun moments, this might be worth a watch. However, if you’re expecting a cohesive and compelling story, you may be disappointed.
Rating: 2.75/5 – A Decent Family Entertainer, but Falls Short in Key Areas.