BOTTOM LINE
Fun Rom-Com Twist
RATING
2.5/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 17m
What Is the Film About?
Siddharth (Nara Rohit) is not married despite getting older. The reason is the five qualities he expects, which are not met by any girl. What happens when he finally finds a girl of his liking? Why does he have such preferences in the first place?
There is, however, a major twist in Siddharth’s tale. What it is and how he overcomes it form the overall story.
After a gap, Nara Rohit is seen on the big screen back-to-back. Unlike the last movie, though, here he is seen in a solo lead, and in a genre, rom-com, that gave him a memorable outing, very long ago.
Nara Rohit looks fresh and stylish overall. The most notable aspect to appreciate is his presentation, where he excels. The role requires him to deliver comic lines and punches effectively, and he does so with casual, natural ease. Nothing heavy-duty is given, and he breezes through the proceedings as expected. Irrespective of the commercial success of this film, he will surely earn goodwill with this attempt, as he is already known for trying different things in his past innings.
Vriti Vaghani is a good choice for the part. She pulls off the bubbly yet charming vibe effortlessly. It is key to the proceedings as the narrative would fall flat otherwise. There is nothing much to do emotionally, and in the small bits that are given, she is alright.
Sridevi makes a comeback to Telugu cinema after a gap. Again, it’s a part that suits the actor, and in this case, Sridevi, walks through the role with confidence. She has some emotional moments during the second hour, which is done without going overboard. Sridevi also has a small segment where she has to pull off a young look, and she does it with aplomb.
Venkatesh Nimmalapudi writes and directs Sundarakanda. It is a feel-good, fun-filled rom-com that hinges on a thin story and banks heavily on the entertainment to pull off.
The first half an hour or so, establishing the hero’s character and the world, gives a little sketchy feeling. It has its moments that work, but in general, one gets the feeling that something is holding it back. Things pick up with the heroine’s introduction, and once Sathya’s character is introduced, even the flatter portions feel decent.
The narrative moves cleanly towards the interval where the twist in the tale lies. It is good if one doesn’t see it coming, but that might not be the case with everyone.
As things resume post-interval, the narrative builds on the interval bang and delivers the most engaging, funny bits of the overall narrative. However, the proceedings aren’t as smooth as they ought to be, as the drama comes across as speed breakers.
The initial parts of the drama are alright; however, as they go on, a sense of convolution creeps in. The forced way in which the hero is made to realise his mistake doesn’t strike home the point clearly. The whole thing looks unconvincing and convoluted to reach the end sooner.
Still, the comedy that punctuates the drama is where Sundarakanda manages to hold things together. It’s these comedy bits, even when things appear shaky, that make one move through the uneven parts without feeling too jittery.
The ending is neatly wrapped, but all the emotions it tries don’t work as expected. They are both rushed and unconvincing and twist the character’s arc just to reach the pre-determined conclusion.
Overall, Sundarakanda is a typical feel-good, rom-com with a decent twist in the tale. It offers some intermittent intrigue and fun, based on the hero’s unique predicament. However, the drama doesn’t entirely work, making for an uneven narrative. Watch it if you don’t have high expectations and give the shortcomings a pass.
Performances by Others Actors
Tholiprema fame Vasuki, who made a smashing comeback with 90s A Middle Class Biopic, is seen in a prominent role here. She plays the elder sister role, providing a solid anchor to ground the proceedings with emotions and fun whenever necessary.
The rest of the supporting cast comprises the usual faces like Naresh, Sathya, Abhinav Gomatam, etc. Sathya easily steals the show here. Right from his arrival and until the end, he gets something or the other dialogue-wise that adds to the fun. He goes through them in his usual style, even when the material runs thin. Naresh is dependable and does well with what’s given to him but feels underutilized. VTV Ganesh is wasted. Ajay and the rest are alright in small parts.
Leon James provides the music. The songs sound nice and are placed decently in the narrative. They don’t break the flow and take the narrative forward. However, they aren’t particularly memorable, at least on the first hearing. The background score is decent. It neatly complements the fun aspects without being too overbearing.
Pradeesh M Varma’s cinematography is typical of the rom-com space with colourful frames and visuals. A feel-good vibe is carried throughout, which is also pleasing to the eye. Rohan Chillale’s editing is crisp. At times, it is too crisp, taking away from the emotion of the situation at hand. Even the punches are sometimes lost to keep things racy. The writing has its moments, no doubt. However, it misses the consistency and sharpness seen in the rom-com space.
Highlights?
Entertainment
Interval
Post Interval Block
Writing (In Parts)
Drawbacks?
Thin Storyline
Stretched Narrative
Convoluted Drama Towards The End
Missing emotional impact (when required)
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, mainly for the fun and the casting.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but go in with moderate rom-com expectations.
Sundarakanda 2025 Movie Review by M9
U.S. Premiere Report:
#Sundarakanda is a typical feel-good watch with a decent twist in the tale. It’s a harmless festive watch for rom-com fans with some fun moments, neat making, and good casting.
Rohith known for such attempts will surely earn goodwill with this film, though stronger drama could have made a bigger impact. Watch it with the right expectations and it makes for a decent festive day watch.
First Half Report:
Sundarakanda’s first half offers a contemporary visual vibe and some neat writing. Satya’s track works well, and the interval twist adds fun. On the flip side, the slow initial setup and fun confined to only Satya’s portions hold it back.
– Sundarakanda begins with Nara Rohith’s marriage struggle and the five qualities he set as checkpoints. Stay tuned for the report.
Sundarakanda U.S. premiere begins at 3.30 AM IST.
Nara Rohith, in his comeback innings, returns with his first concept-based film. Sundarakanda (2025) promises fun with a fresh storyline. Stay tuned for Sundarakanda movie review and U.S. premiere report.
Cast: Nara Rohith, Sri Devi Vijay Kumar, Vriti Vaghani, Naresh Vijaya Krishna, Vasuki Anand, Comedian Satya, Ajay, VTV Ganesh, Abhinav Gomatham, Viswant, Rupa Lakshmi, Sunaina, Raghu Babu, Amrutham Vasu, Adhurs Raghu.
Written and Directed : Venkatesh Nimmalapudi
Producer: Santhosh Chinnapolla, Gowtham Reddy , Rakesh Mahankalli
Banner : Sandeep Picture Palace ( spp )
DOP : Pradeesh M Varma
Music director: Leon James
Editor : Rohan Chillale
U.S. Distributor: Prathyangira Cinemas
Sundarakanda 2025 Movie Review by M9
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