Movie: Saripodhaa Sanivaaram
Rating: 2.75/5
Banner: DVV Entertainment
Cast: Nani, Priyanka Arul Mohan, SJ Suryah, Abhirami, Sai Kumar, Murali Sharma, Subhalekha Sudhakar, Harsha Vardhan, Vishnu, Ajay Ghosh, Shivaji Raja, Ajay, and others
Music: Jakes Bejoy
DOP: Murali G
Editor: Karthika Srinivas R
Art Director: GM Sekhar
Action: Ram-Laxman, Real Satish
Producers: DVV Danayya, Kalyan Dasari
Written and directed by: Vivek Athreya
Release Date: Aug 29, 2024
Nani, who has been in good form, went all out to promote “Saripodhaa Sanivaaram,” claiming the film is an action drama with a unique screenplay and plenty of adrenaline-pumping moments. He asserted that it would hit the bull’s eye for sure.
Has his confidence really paid off? Let’s find out.
Story:
The story takes place in the fictional Sokula Palem, where Surya (Nani), an LIC agent, struggles with anger management. Before his mother's death, he made a promise to himself that he would only express his anger on a specific Saturday, only if he truly felt the need to do so.
On the other hand, Inspector Daya (SJ Suryah) is a ruthless cop who beats people for no reason and harasses people belong to Sokula Palem. Charulatha (Priyanka Mohan) works as a constable there and is empathetic person.
When he saves a woman from Daya's rage, Charulatha develops love for Surya. The rest of the drama is how Surya with the help of Charulatha exhibits his rage towards helping the people of Sokula Palem coming out of oppressive world.
Artistes’ Performances:
Nani gives a good performance and shines in the emotional sequences, as usual. However, it is SJ Suryah who steals the show. His characterization is terrific, and he delivers a whistle-worthy performance.
The scenes between Nani and Suryah are highly enjoyable because both actors are in top form. Murali Sharma, portraying a politician, also gets significant attention and excels in the role.
Priyanka Mohan plays her role with ease, and Saikumar, playing Nani's father, is also impressive. The other actors don’t get much screen time. Abhirami appears briefly as Nani’s mother.
Technical Excellence:
The film features top-class cinematography. Murali G has demonstrated his ability to capture action scenes by establishing specific moods through his use of lighting patterns. The filming of the action sequence when the hero reveals his face to the heroine is particularly noteworthy.
Another standout technical aspect is the background score. While Jakes Bejoy’s songs are not remarkable, the background music is certainly a huge plus.
The production design is impressive. However, the film suffers from a protracted runtime.
Highlights:
Suryah’s performance
Interval episode & other two episodes
Background score
Drawback:
Climax portion
Dragged on sequences
Length of the movie
Analysis
"Saripodhaa Sanivaaram" has a unique title, but its basic plot is nothing new. It follows a well-known formula of a common man using his strength (in this case, his fury) to improve the lives of oppressed people. It's much like any other mass film, but the concept of "Sanivaaram" (Saturday) provides a unique twist.
Director Vivek Athreya, who showcased his brilliant writing in "Brochevarevarura," attempts to present the traditional 'mass cinema' genre in his style by dividing it into parts and providing a detailed backstory for the protagonist and the reason for his anger.
The explanation of why the hero only unleashes his fury on Saturdays and not on other days is well-done, highlighting Athreya's strength.
However, after establishing this premise, the film introduces the antagonist, Police Inspector Daya (played by Suryah), and the concept of Sokulapalem, where people live in fear of this ruthless cop. From this point on, the film becomes a typical mass movie, with predictable scenes like the hero fighting at home when his pregnant sister arrives, and so on.
While Daya's characterization is unique, the sequences gradually become repetitive. There is also an unclear conflict between Daya's character and his brother's character (played by Murali Sharma).
Two scenes in the first half stand out: one where Nani and Surya meet outside a government hospital, and another during their encounter at the interval.
At the intermission, it becomes clear that the rest of the film will revolve around Nani and Surya's confrontation. As a result, the narrative becomes familiar.
Vivek Athreya’s strong writing reappears in the penultimate sequence, "Dagudu Moothalu," where the way Suryah's character discovers who attacked him is told compellingly. This approximately 20-minute sequence is very engaging. However, the film falls back into a typical mode towards the end. The drawn-out climax is a significant drawback.
The film has as many interesting and entertaining moments as it does predictable ones. Therefore, it does not make for a consistently compelling watch, nor can it be dismissed as a typical action film. The opportunity to create a clever mass action movie is missed.
In terms of screenplay, the use of a clock running ten minutes late due to a character's action in the beginning, which becomes relevant during a fight scene in the second half, is an example of a 'perfect payoff.' However, the idea that the entire population of Sokulapalem fears one cop and does not approach the courts or other politicians follows a typical mass movie template. These examples showcase both the intelligence and predictability of Vivek Athreya's narration. There are also numerous logical inconsistencies.
The length of the movie is a major drawback. With only one song, the film is nearly three hours long, making it feel quite lengthy. Many scenes could have been tightened and told more succinctly.
Overall, "Saripodhaa Sanivaaram" is an average action drama with both impressive and routine moments. It doesn’t fully satisfy, promising a lot but delivering only to some extent. You can watch it for SJ Suryah's performance and a few standout episodes, but be prepared to sit through nearly three hours. "Saripoledu," as they say, meaning "it didn't come through as expected."
Bottomline: 'Anger'day
