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'Sankranthiki Vasthunam' Movie Review: Venkatesh And Anil Ravipudi Deliver A Breezy, Self-Aware Entertainer
Despite the overfamiliarity, Venkatesh's new action-comedy remains steadfast and delights consistently, delivering a film worthy of the festive box-office weekend
Director: Anil Ravipudi
Writers: Anil Ravipudi, S Krishna, G Adi Narayana
Cast: Venkatesh, Aishwarya Rajesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Naresh, VTV Ganesh, Upendra Limaye, Srinivas Avarasarala, Sai Kumar
Language: Telugu
Having scored two of his biggest hits during Sankranti/Pongal, filmmaker Anil Ravipudi is back with another ‘celebration’ that is Sankranthiki Vasthunam. One of his chief collaborators, Venkatesh, is at the forefront of things once again to dish out a romp of a movie that completes the festival package, which includes Shankar’s political thriller Game Changer and Bobby Kolli’s mass extravaganza Daaku Maharaaj.
In comparison, Sankrithiki Vasthunam comes as a breezy, silly and impressively self-aware entertainer that banks upon Ravipudi’s trademark witticisms and the sharp performances of the central cast.
Much like Ravipudi’s previous efforts, this film too employs a plot primarily as an excuse to indulge in every kind of tomfoolery. Venkatesh plays a former top cop named Yadagiri Damodar Raju, or YD Raju, who is summoned from suspension by the Telangana Chief Minister (Naresh) for a special operation involving the kidnapping of a global tech icon (played by Srinivas Avarasarala). YD Raju is now rusty and far removed from the world of cops and criminals, and his present idyllic life — with his doting wife Bhagyalakshmi (Aishwarya Rajesh), four kids and a fitting rural backdrop — is disturbed when duty comes calling again.
In the same vein beckons his ex-girlfriend Meenu (Meenakshi Chaudhary) who is hung up on Raju in the hope that even after six years of their breakup, he has remained single and open to a reunion. Thus ensues a rescue mission at the behest of the CM, wherein a motley crew’s juvenile, caper-filled journey takes centre stage. And in typical Ravipudi style, things remain intentionally nonsensical throughout.
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What works best in the film’s favour is the very intent that subverts every mildly serious moment into an opportunity to dispense a gag or two. Sankranthiki Vasthunam is outlandish right from the word go, but it weaves in a charm of its own by setting the right stage wherein every character (minor and major) has a quirk to showcase. If Bulli Raju — YD and Bhagyalakshmi’s pre-tween son — has developed a foul mouth because of his overexposure to OTT content, an honest and upright police officer cartoonishly looks to the heavens in every tricky situation thinking of his dead mother. Another daring cop pulls a muscle when he tries to gesture a salute, a dreaded gangster dies because of avakai pickle of all things... the story continually proceeds relying simply on countless other such hijinks, never bothering to pause and reflect. In a way, Sankranthiki Vasthunam parodies itself at every chance it gets and revels in its playful, innocent personality.
Venkatesh’s renowned comic timing is on full display as the 64-year-old star steers the potential-to-go-astray storyline with his self-deprecating performance. The film pokes good fun at his age and the age-defying stuff he is meant to do as a bonafide Telugu film hero; from the multiple references to the age gap between him and his two female co-stars, to the not-so-subtle jibes at his character’s declining physical prowess (Srinivasa Reddy plays a doctor, who persistently asks him to not take part in any action), the self-mockery is one of the highlights of this experience.
Even Sai Kumar gladly lampoons his iconic Agni IPS character when he is told to prove that he has enough bass in his voice. Sankranthiki Vasthunam also works pretty well as a hark-back to the EVV Sathyanarayana brand of comedies, wherein two women constantly quibble with each other over a man and other culturally-dated tropes are part of the mix. Still, director Ravipudi ensures that he doesn’t go overboard with any of them, although some of his jokes are a tad crass for the modern viewer’s liking.
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Striking perfect synergy with Venkatesh is Aishwarya Rajesh, who injects great life and energy into her character. It is her firm grip on the pitch of Bhagyalakshmi — with several one-liners and a solid screen presence — that comes to the aid of the film whenever it runs the risk of being repetitive or turning languid. Similarly, senior actors such as Naresh, VTV Ganesh and Upendra Limaye hold their own in the riot ensuing around them. Meenakshi Chaudhary, an in-demand actor of late, doesn't get too much of a fleshed-out part (nor does the rest of the cast, anyway), but she too seems fully game to participate in all the fun and frolic.
The climax sequence allows Venkatesh to deliver some heavy literal and verbal punches as Ravipudi shows some more inventiveness in making the run-of-the-mill portions amusing in a way that only he knows best. Also, it is the character of Bulli Raju that stays the most memorable as the end credits roll up, along with Bheems Ceciroleo’s spunky soundtrack.
Is Sankranthiki Vasthunam the most original movie out there? Certainly not. Does it challenge seasoned players like Anil Ravipudi and Venkatesh in any manner? The answer is another no. But what helps the film sail through is the clarity with which it wants to entertain and nothing else. Despite the overfamiliarity, it remains steadfast nevertheless and delights consistently, delivering a film worthy of the festival season.