Venkatesh Daggubati and Anil Ravipudi earlier delivered a super successful film ‘F2’ which was released at the Sankranthi time. Now, both of them joined for a film titled ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunnam’, and released on the Sankranthi Festival day. Dil Raju and his brother Shirish are the producers and their promotions for this film are on top. Bheems Ceciroleo is the music director, while Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenkshi Chaudhary are the female leads. Did this film give Venkatesh a much-needed break? Here is the story and analysis.
Story:
Chief Minister Keshava (VK Naresh) invites top businessman Satya Akella (Avasarala Srinivas) to the State to put up a few companies from him. Meenakshi (Meenakshi Chaudhary) takes care of his security, but Pandey gang come to know that Satya is in town, so they kidnap him. Keshava doesn’t want to leak the kidnap news to the media, so he asks the IG to set up a secret mission to get back Satya Akella. The IG suggests that encounter specialist and former cop Yadagiri Damodara Raju (Venkatesh) alias Vendi Raju, is the correct person. But he may not agree to lead the operation as he gets angry with the department. Meenakshi says that she will take care of Raju to accept this secret mission as she says she is his former girlfriend. She lands in a village in Rajahmundry, where Raju is living with his wife Bhagyam (Aishwarya Rajesh) and four kids. How Meenakshi conveys Raju to accept this mission? Bhagyam, so possessive about her husband, also part of this mission and how these three along with few other people, rescue Satya Akella and what happens in the end is the crux of the story.
Analysis:
Director Anil Ravipudi and Venkatesh earlier delivered a successful film ‘F2’. It was a hilarious film and Anil Ravipudi is strong with his writing skills. Many of his films are successful, because of his strong writing, especially the comic scenes. Whether it is ‘Pataas’, ‘Raja the Great’, ‘Sarileru Neekavvaru’, ‘F2’, these films are successful because of their strong writing. But there is also criticism about Anil Ravipudi that he added some witty dialogues to his comic writing. His recent film ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunnam’ is also not much of a great film, but he mixed a crime element with a family drama. He just provided some entertainment sequences and maintained the same till the end.
A gang kidnaps a top businessman, a former police officer YD Raju along with his wife and ex-girlfriend start a rescue operation. How the operation went on and how they rescue the businessman in the end is told in a hilarious way. Director Anil has taken a temple cinema that dealt mostly with comic scenes. The first half of the film goes with Raju and his family, his flashback episode of his girlfriend with comic scenes. Bulli Raju, a kid character played by Revanth, rendered some witty and adult dialogues, which is not nice. But it seems, these days, Anil Ravipudi thinks it is entertainment for audiences. He is also told by his father, played by Venkatesh, that the kid is spoiled because of the OTTs. One doesn’t understand how a small kid watches OTTs at that age. There are many scenes, which everyone feels are entertaining in the film.
In the second half, some characters like Upendra Limaye, a jailer, and another cop Sai Kumar, are introduced and both these are egoist cops. These two provide some entertainment in the second half. The rescue operation goes with the two leading ladies, where a husband suffers between his wife and ex-girlfriend. There are also some Venkatesh’s earlier film references like ‘Intlo Illalu Vantintlo Priyuralu’. Some satirical comic scenes like where Venkatesh asks ‘on my flow of dialogues didn’t hurt someone’s feelings’. The entire story is completely predictable and goes with the routine narration. The climax fight is also made with some humour with Venkatesh narrating the satirical dialogues on life. The Sankranthi festival is in the South is a big one, and people want some entertainment, so this film definitely provides it for them. The second half is a big drag with the regular kind of comic scenes.
When it comes to the performance, Venkatesh once again showcases his comic angle. He did earlier in many films, especially in Anil Ravipudi film ‘F2’, so this time also he provides much humour with his dialogue timing, punches and body language. Aishwarya Rajesh, seen in some serious films, is first time playing in an entertainment one and she does a neat job. Her Godavari accent and the way she carries her role is superb. Meenakshi Chaudhary also comes out with flying colours as she rightly competes with Venky and Aishwarya. The kid Revanth performed really well and provided entertainment. VTV Ganesh, VK Naresh, Upendra Limaye all do their job well and provide some laughs. Avasarala and Sai Kumar support well with many other actors like Muralidhar Goud, Pammi Sayi.
Finally, ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunnam’ is packaged with loads of entertainment with a crime element. It’s a predictable movie with a normal story, but at the same time Anil Ravipudi is successful in providing a few laughs with this film. Definitely this Sankranthi belongs to Venkatesh as this film fits into the festival vibes. Producer Dil Raju, who lost money in his other film ‘Game Changer’, may get solace with this film’s success.
Film: Sankranthiki Vasthunnam
Cast: Venkatesh Daggubati, Aishwarya Rajesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, VK Naresh, Upendra Limaye, Sai Kumar, VTV Ganesh, Srinivas Reddy and others
Cinematographer: Sameer Reddy
Music: Bheems Ceciroleo
Producers: Dil Raju, Shirish
Writer and director: Anil Ravipudi
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Rating: 2.5/5
