BOTTOM LINE
Exciting Idea, Dull Delivery
OUR RATING
2.25/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 20m
What Is the Film About?
Saindhav Koneru (Venkatesh) has a bitter past. He finds himself in a situation where he must save his daughter, and she needs an injection that costs 17 crore. The film explores his past, how he quickly earns the money to save his daughter, and how he takes on the guns cartel that is rampant and planning something big.
Performances
Venkatesh plays the serious role of Saindhav Koneru, aka “SaiKO.” He portrays his age with dignity, and it shows on-screen. His screen presence is as lovable as always. He handles a couple of emotional blocks effortlessly, showcasing his mastery in the genre. The styling is well done, with simple costumes that look good on screen, and the beard complements the overall look. However, Saindhav is not a film that would stand out in his vast filmography; performance-wise, it’s just another outing for him.
Shraddha Srinath plays the female lead; she looks like a good fit for her role, but the way her role was written doesn’t make any positive impact on the film despite her presence throughout.
Tamil actor Arya plays a brief role that appears very patchy.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui initially brings some excitement to the narrative, but as the film progresses and by the time it ends, a performer like Nawazuddin will be out of our memory.
Analysis
Saindhav is directed by Sailesh Kolanu, who previously helmed thrillers like HIT and HIT 2. He has once again chosen a theme similar to his earlier films, but this time it’s not a core thriller; it involves action and emotion.
Sailesh presents a fascinating core idea: a father saving a girl child with an injection that costs 17 crore. The film kicks off interestingly with a gun cartel planning something significant and the potential dangers if not stopped. However, what follows, including the interval, turns out to be too simple.
The film does not take off even after taking a sweet time to establish the family setup, issues, and a little mystery with the leads. Whatever needs to raise the tempo or excitement is also presented dully, whether it’s revealing the challenges to procure the most expensive drug or how the cartel’s gun shipment gets seized.
What holds the interest is the mysterious past behind ‘SaiKO’ and the overall setup, along with some conflicts that arise in the cartel group, particularly the scenes involving Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Despite the absence of thrills or high moments overall, the first half makes for a passable watch, giving a chance for the second half to bring some real excitement.
Once the second half begins, it becomes clearer about how inconsistent the entire cartel setup and the men that are involved are. At no point is the whole setup cinematically impressive. Adding to this are underdeveloped characters like Arya thrown into the mix.
Even the main female lead Shraddha Srinath’s character presentation lacks clarity, resulting in an unorganic feel.
What works is the action choreography and the way they were designed and shot. There were a couple of emotional blocks that deliver, but due to no proper character development, the feel never hits in the right doses.
The cartel gang, like Mukesh Rishi, comes across as a typical Telugu cinema villain, and after a point, even a performer like Nawazuddin Siddiqui fails to make an impact on the proceedings.
By the time we reach the ending, Saindhav, aka “SaiKO,” powerful buildup does not provide the intended action high but partially delivers the emotions due to an ending that moves.
Overall, Saindhav, expected to deliver an emotional punch using action, does not arrive, making it an unexciting watch. Try it with low expectations for Venky on the screen during the festive season.
Performances by Others Actors
Two female supporting cast members, Andrea Jeremiah and Ruhani Sharma, do their job, but the way their roles are written leaves little for them to celebrate as they hardly make any impact in the film. In comparison, Andrea has better screen time, but no one remembers her while watching or after leaving the theater.
Others like Isshu Sengupta, Mukesh Rishi, and Getup Srinu deliver what is required.
Music and Other Departments?
Music by Santosh Narayan disappointed in terms of standalone audio quality, and he did not compensate with his background score, which is extremely important for an action thriller. The BGM is fine in some episodes, but the overall work is disappointing.
Cinematography by Manikandan is good; visually, the film looks appealing and aligns with the latest trends.
Garry Bh’s editing is a mixed bag; the film does not feel crisp, which is required for a new-age action thriller.
Production quality by Niharika Entertainment is pretty good; it shows in action episodes and does not feel compromised for cost-saving.
Highlights?
Action Episodes
Couple of emotional blocks
Venkatesh
Interesting core idea
Drawbacks?
Dull storytelling
Underwhelming Character Development
Inconsistent Villain Setup
Songs and BGM
Did I Enjoy It?
Not as much as I hoped.
Will You Recommend It?
Not exactly; watch it only for Venky
Saindhav Movie Review by M9
Final Report:
Overall, Saindhav falls short on the intensity and thrill required for a for a new age action film. While Venky delivers some emotional moments, the overall impact is disappointing. Stay tuned for a detailed review.
First Half Report:
First half of Saindhav is too simple and straightforward, with the core element holding interest to an extent. It needs a second half that compensates.
— Saindhav kicks off with the gun cartel issue and introduces SaiKO (Venki). Stay tuned for the first half report.
Stay tuned for Saindhav Review, USA Premiere Report.
Saindhav is directed by the HIT franchise director Sailesh Kolanu, who has established himself as a thriller genre director. This time, he is presenting a story with more depth, combining action and thriller elements. He has already hyped the film to be at its best in the final 20 minutes, and with performers like Venkatesh at his disposal, let’s see how successful he is.
Cast: Venkatesh Daggubati , Baby Ssara Palekar, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Arya, Shraddha Srinath, Ruhani Sharma, Andrea Jeremiah, Jisshu sen gupta, Mukesh Rishi
Written & Directed By Sailesh Kolanu
Producer : Venkat Boyanapalli
Banner : Niharika Entertainment
DOP : S.Manikandan
Music : Santosh Narayan
Editor : Garry Bh
U.S. Distributor: Prathyangira Cinemas
