BOTTOM LINE
Honest, But Lengthy
OUR RATING
2.5/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 27m
What Is the Film About?
Manu (Rakshit Shetty) and Priya (Rukmini Vasanth) love each other deeply. They dream of owning a house and settling down near a beach in each other’s company. However, their dream is shattered when a decision taken by Manu turns their lives upside down. What is the decision and its implication is the movie’s basic plot.
Performances
Rakshit Shetty is back to doing a romantic drama after a long gap. He still has the boy next door looks, but in Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati, the class makes the difference. Rakshit Shetty plays a commoner with an ordinary background.
The simple joys and glint in the eyes looking for a happy life come naturally to Rakshit Shetty. The slow change in the role as life takes an unpredictable turn is also conveyed neatly without going overboard. However, in the end, one still feels the whole thing could have had a little more depth to make it more memorable. The way it is is still acceptable, and there is nothing to complain about, but it doesn’t go to the next level.
Rukmini Vasanth, in comparison, has that growth that goes beyond what’s written. It starts like any other girl with simple wishes kind of part. But the way the drama escalates is superbly enacted. Again, everything is done subtly without overaction, keeping things close to reality.
Analysis
Hemanth M Rao directs Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati – Side A. It is a slice-of-life romantic drama on the surface, but one that takes a dark twist and continues to be a drama with a tragic bent.
The movie’s opening half an hour is all about the simple moments and joys and dreams of the couple in question. It needs an extraordinary amount of patience and chemistry from the lead to pull one through. While the actors look fine, the whole thing still appears flat due to the drag and slight repetitiveness. The music does a great job of covering the issue, though.
Things gain some moments when the first small twist comes in the narrative. Again, it isn’t new, given the set-up, and things proceed on predictable lines. The real twist comes around the interval mark, which, although expected, happens unexpectedly. Credits to the screenplay to get it across smoothly.
The second half entirely takes a dark and moody tone which is hinted at in pre-interval portions.. The drama is slowly but steadily raised within the established world. Everything looks natural and honest with no artificiality. It creates a gripping as well as grittiness to the proceedings.
It is only when we reach the midpoint of the second half that the impact of the story is finally felt. The different layers add depth to the narrative, which still looks simple on the surface.
A constant contrast is continued throughout the narrative visually and dialogue-wise concerning the rich and poor. The presence of class divide even in jail also adds to the theme. The jail versus the outside world via the lovers adds to those themes strongly. The way the maker shows that with the love of your life not by your side even the outside world is no less than prison is superb.
The drama involving the hero from a prisoner’s perspective and the heroine in a real outside world is palpable. The mother angle subtly woven into the narrative is well done, although nothing out of the blue. The emotions work, and that is all that matters.
The pre-climax and climax milk the maximum of the situation and deliver the required emotions to make the narrative work. The end makes one curious about the next part, but it won’t make one lose sleep.
Overall, Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati is an extremely slow-paced, emotional, romantic drama with predictable beats. Despite the issues, the final half an hour works ‘if’ one patiently follows the proceedings. Give it a try if you like emotional dramas with simple relatable stories. Stay away if bleak endings are not your cup of tea.
Performances by Others Actors
Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati has good casting, with supporting actors getting small but vital roles. Despite the run time, Achyuth Kumar, Pavitra Lokesh, Ramesh Indira, Sharath Lohitashwa, etc., have key roles.
Achyuth Kumar, a regular presence in Kannada movies, does well in a role with grey shades. Pavitra Lokesh mostly looks like a silent spectator but delivers where it matters. Ramesh Indira and Sharath Lohitashwa add to the grittiness. The rest of the actors, too, chip in with their bits.
Music and Other Departments?
Charan Raj’s music and background score are a major highlight of the movie. They go well with the flow and don’t seem out of place. The BGM lends the feel necessary for the films like these to work.
The cinematography, too, is beautiful. The ‘beauty’ here lies in keeping things natural yet generating that mood through the colors. A considerable portion of the film happens in jail, which is also captured realistically by Advaitha Gurumurthy. The editing could have been sharper initially. The writing is alright, but needing more depth is sometimes felt. The Telugu dubbing is done well without spoiling the ‘feel’ of the original.
Highlights?
Casting
Music And BGM
Pre-Climax And Climax
Drawbacks?
Initial Half An Hour
Predictability
Flat At Times
Drags In Places
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but only if you enjoy this genre
Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati Movie Review by M9
