As there are not many big releases this week, so many low budget films have hit the screens. Among this week’s theatrical releases, Santhana Prapthirasthu stands out for its bold and interesting concept. Let’s see how the film fares.
Story:
Chaitanya (Vikranth), a Hyderabad-based software engineer, is an introvert who struggles to talk to girls. Unexpectedly, he meets Kalyani (Chandini Chowdary). Their acquaintance slowly turns into love, and they convince their families to get married. But after marriage, Chaitanya discovers he has a low sperm count. How this young couple faces such a sensitive issue and whether they eventually have children forms the core of the story.
What about on screen performances?
Vikranth delivers an impressive performance and shows good improvement from his debut. His scenes dealing with his insecurity and the comedy portions with Murali Dhar Goud are effective.
Chandini Chowdary is the soul of the film, she shines in her simple, girl-next-door role and excels in emotional moments. For some reason, she gets good roles and is one of the most-underated actors in Telugu cinema. She should get big films.
Abhinav Gomatam’s comedy timing is another highlight, while Murali Dhar Goud steals the show in a strong, different role.
Vennela Kishore and Tharun Bhascker also add value to the film with their respective roles and Tarun, in particular is very good.
What about off screen talents?
The production values by Madhura Sreedahr and Nirvi Hariprasad are good, with neat design work matching the film’s theme and storyline.
Sunil Kashyap’s music, Back Ground Score by Ajay Arasada and Mahi Reddy’s cinematography are effective, while the editing is decent. The second half, in particular, is well executed.
Director Sanjeev Reddy impresses with his handling of a delicate topic. His blend of bold content with humor and well-written characters works nicely, though a bit more emotional balance would have elevated the film further.
The film’s biggest strength is its sensitive subject and the neat way it is handled. Without crossing any lines, the director presents the topic in a way that even family audiences can enjoy.
Though entertaining overall, the film lacks strong emotional depth. It leans heavily on comedy, and the emotional moments could have been handled with more balance.
The beginning feels a bit slow, and the love track seems too simple. Too much time has been spent in the first half to come to the actual point and when it does, things start making sense.
The best part of the film is the way the heroine’s character stuck between father and husband is handled nicely. In all these scenes Chandini Chowdary delivers a solid performance.
What’s Hot?
Basic concept
Chandini Chowdary’s performance
Comedy scenes
What’s Not?
Slow first half
Lack of gripping emotions
Verdict:
Overall, Santhana Prapthirasthu is a decent comedy-drama built around a sensitive theme. The director’s treatment, engaging comedy, and strong performances make things work. Though the film takes a slow start, once the main conflict is unvelied, things become decently entertaining.
TeluguBulletin Rating 3/5